Schlesisches Tor... try saying that after a few beers. It sounds like something from a JRR Tolkien book but in fact it’s the name that was given to one of the U-Bahn stations situated along the famous U-1 overhead railway system in Berlin. The track itself acts as a vessel, carrying an eclectic mix of hipster misfits, oddballs, jaded city dwellers and wide eyed tourists (most of whom, desperately trying to assimilate) into the heart of one of the most ultra-hip districts in the city.
Kreuzberg looks and feels a bit like what Gotham City might be like if it were to manifest itself in the real world...especially when it’s raining. Tag graffiti can be seen on almost every inch of every wall, reaching areas that seem almost inconceivable to get to without some sort of ladder and pulley device. The looming U-1 snakes its way on iron stilts over roads, cars and in between buildings which further adds to the gloomy industrial vibe which Berlin is so famous for.
German innovation is notorious, and even within the depths of these gothic surroundings one can find examples of it in abundance. Built into the side of Schlesisches Tor, emanating an incandescent fiery red glow, is a music venue called Bi Nuu. People of all ages are lined up outside, generating the all familiar feeling of anticipation and excitement that lingers within the crowd before a gig. Tonight, they are here to see the Pop/Jazz/Fusion, Swedish youtube phenomenon that is ‘Dirty Loops’.
Inside, the atmosphere is similar. Groups of friends huddle together clutching beers and Club Mate (a popular yet tasteless sugary carbonated drink) whilst the large PA pumps out pleasant jazz fusion to keep the musos content as they wait for the action to begin.
The usual venue tricks are employed to encourage the crowd to reach fever pitch - dimming the lights every few minutes, leaving longer gaps between the increasingly ubiquitous jazz tracks, and last but not least... the faithful techie...that guy that tricks everyone into thinking the band are stepping onto the stage, only to rattle a few microphone stands or to move a cymbal that crucial extra 5mm towards the snare drum.
Finally, the blue stage lights flicker to life and the house lamps are cut. Dry ice hisses from behind a keyboard, fogging over into the cheering crowd whilst atmospheric entrance music drums up even more excitement and euphoria. Three immaculately groomed Swedes take the stage waving to the audience enthusiastically. They take their positions behind their instruments....and that’s where it all went a bit downhill.
There is no denying Dirty Loops' technical ability. These are musicians who are unquestionably at the top of their game. They’ve dedicated hours upon hours to their craft and it was clear as day that they were extremely well rehearsed. However, something just didn’t feel right, something wasn’t translating from the world of Youtube to the live stage. One of the culprits was the use of pre-recorded material. It seemed to completely saturate everything, simultaneously detracting from what these talented musicians were actually playing, and in the end, it was difficult to distinguish what was live and what was simply ‘triggered’.
This slightly manufactured approach became the topic of much debate amongst audience members. One couple were particularly heated about the issue.
When did you first hear about Dirty Loops?
Andy (Innsbruck) - About 24 hours ago!
Alina (Berlin) - About two and a half years ago. I’ve been waiting a long time for it!
What did you think of the performance?
Andy - Hmmm, when it comes to being musicians, they were really tight and all that yeah...but there was such a lack of creativity. They were very formulaic and generic!
Alina - I totally disagree! They created a new sound and that’s the greatest achievement you can have as a band.
Andy - The main problem is that they live in the efforts of other people. Most of their songs are just covers and they make an income from that. They should be making their own music!
Alina - I think it’s really smart though!
Andy - If you think music is special, you really have to massage it and suffer to write your own songs.
Alina - But they did, it took them two years to write the album!
Andy - Well in that case they really suck!! [laughs]
The interview was cut short at this point in fear of breaking up the relationship. Other people had less to say about the experience.
Katia (Barmaid at Bi Nuu) - I didn’t like it at all. It sounded like Disney...
Amongst all the negativity however, it was clear that some people were enjoying the concert immensely. One person in particular seemed to enjoy it more than anyone else in the entire venue. Her name was Stella Petrova and she had travelled all the way from Bulgaria exclusively to see the band play. She had long dark hair that rested just below her shoulders, a thick eastern European accent and a crazed look in her eye. The kind that only those special types of fans tend to have.
So, what exactly made you take your top off and jump on the stage at the end there?
Stella - Oooh! It was sooo AWESOME! I’m still shaking! I’m such a huge fan! I don’t know what took hold of me, it was just something inside! [laughs]
For the record, Stella not only jumped on stage wearing nothing but her underwear, she then proceeded to passionately kiss each and every one of the band members with vigor...well, all except the slightly dejected looking session musician, who only a few seconds before his untimely disappointment, wore a face that looked like a child eagerly awaiting his long coveted Christmas presents. Fandom has no time for session musicians it seems.
What did you think of the girl who took her top off at the end?
Anna (Potzdam) - [laughing] If she wants to do it then it’s cool but I thought she was maybe a friend of the band or something, like a PR gag!?
So it seems even the authenticity of the audience were being pulled into question here as well as the group's originality.
Are Dirty Loops a band to take seriously? However you look at it, the three Swedes definitely managed to divide the opinion of the people that night, and in a strange way, that might even have been their goal. In a moment of irony amongst the irony, before the band's rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”, singer Jonah Nilsson shouted to the crowd, in the way an old blues player would when introducing an old classic-
“We have to take it back to the roots man! This is called....Just Dance!”
