A Week of Culture

Well, last week was somewhat different. On Wednesday, myself, Johanna and my flat mate [sic] Martin went to the Berliner Ensemble theatre (designed by none other than Bertold Brecht, for those of you who give a hoot) to see Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot (Warten auf Godot in German). I'd never seen or read it before, in any language, so it was an interesting experience, and it was also great to see a play in a place with such importance to the shape of modern theatre. I'm not going to go into great detail, because if there's one thing I've learned this semester, it's that in-depth analysis of plays, books etc really bores my socks off if it's someone other than me doing it,but it was....good.

A day later, not to be phased by the onset of exams and the like, I trundled off to Columbia Club to see Porcupine Tree. Not in any normal sense of the word a "metal" band, Porcupine Tree are something of an enigma on the rock scene. "Prog" is the label more normally attached to them, though comments such as that which I read recently in a German issue of Metal Hammer, describing their latest album, Fear of a Blank Planet, as "one of the most important metal albums of this year so far" are not uncommon. Generally they enjoy a mutual respect from most parts of the music world as one of the most innovative bands going, and as such this lead to a very interesting crowd. Long-haired metallers lined up next to what, in England, may be described as "chavs", with a smattering of emo kids and old, Pink Floyd types to make up the numbers.

Personally I arrived towards the end of the support act, Pure Reason Revolution, by whom I was rather impressed. With a mixture of two frontmen and one frontlady, playing various guitars, keyboards and other bleepy objects between them and all contributing vocal-wise, it was one of the more interesting support acts I've seen for a while, and it was good to see such young musicians trying (and, in this case, succeeding) to do something innovative without resorting to banging their instruments on the floor or generally disappearing up their own arses. I advise getting their album if you're into this kind of thing, I'm doing so soon.

Anyway, during PRR's set I slowly and subtly made my way towards the front of the crowded room, like the seasoned gig-goer I am, and by the time the first clock-tickings of the title track of Porcupine Tree's new album sounded, I was in optimum position for the show. Which was stonking. None of them may look like consummate rock stars, but this was completely beside the point, as their music basically speaks for itself. They broke the new album up throughout the evening, playing old favourites and a couple of obscurities in between. All in all, a very good show, and 2 bands I'd definitely pay to see again.

Plan for the weekend was mainly revision, but after a good day's work on Friday, I felt I deserved a break, so myself, Johanna, Hanna, Martin, Marcus and his brother went out for a few drinks, starting at Bar 103 in Kastanienallee and ending up rather unexpectedly in Roter Salon down at Rosa-Luxembourg Platz. It has to be said, not as much work got done the next day as hoped, but I did get my hair cut. Far too short for my liking, but isn't that always the case?