Kraftwerk have just announced some UK dates next June on their “3D” tour, and I turn to the Massive to ask, did anyone see these shows when they were last here? Is it worth it? Does it matter that Ralf Hutter’s the only original member left, or are Kraftwerk beyond petty concerns such as who’s actually on stage?
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Wilson Wilson says
And here they are being all futuristic on Tomorrow’s World:
Kid Dynamite says
I would really like to see the Bristol gig. Cheapest tickets are £48. That’s a lot, isn’t it?
Wilson Wilson says
I didn’t even check ticket prices! Yes, that is a lot, and it might be the crucial factor rather than any of the questions I asked above…
anton says
It is.
dai says
I saw them doing this a couple of years ago. It was great especially if you’ve not seen them before. The 3D effects probably could have been more pronounced, but you get a cool set of Kraftwerk glasses to keep and cherish although I seem to have misplaced them.
This was the setlist:
The Robots
Numbers
Computer World
It’s More Fun to Compute
Home Computer
Computer Love
The Man-Machine
Spacelab
The Model
Neon Lights
Autobahn
News
Airwaves
Geiger Counter
Radioactivity
Ohm Sweet Ohm
Prologue
Tour de France 1983
Tour de France Étape 1
Tour de France Étape 2
Tour de France Étape 3
Trans-Europe Express
Metal on Metal
Abzug
Boing Boom Tschak
Techno Pop
Musique Non Stop
Aéro Dynamik
Planet of Visions
yorkio says
Same here. A priceless cultural artefact which I’ve now completely lost…
I was at the Computerwelt night and it was just glorious, even if it was just Ralf and some other blokes. As someone downthread said, I doubt we’ll get more chances to see them so if you’re at all interested, go for it. I’m just trying to work out whether I stand a better chance of getting tickets online, over the phone or in person at the box office when it opens on Friday morning.
Locust says
They headlined the festival I went to this summer, and five minutes before they were due on stage I made my way through the crowd from my top spot front and centre and went home.
I just got fed up and suddenly remembered that I find the albums wildly overrated (sorry) and the whole 3D thing annoyed me (to be fair, earlier that night we had seen Mogwai play the soundtrack live to a screening of Atomic – a film that left me feeling a bit…depressed).
Oh, and you didn’t get to keep the glasses – guards were collecting them at the gates, interrogating me as I walked out if I was sure I didn’t have a pair stashed away in my bag.
But, if you enjoy Kraftwerk’s music and isn’t already knackered after three days of non stop music, I’m sure it’s great fun!
Mike_H says
Wildly overrated. That’s pretty much my impression of Kraftwerk.
Style over content.
They’re not horrible or anything, they just don’t really excite my interest very much.
I’m getting more interested in Electronica as a musical genre lately, but I can’t help feeling that there’s much better stuff around to be heard in Electronica than what Kraftwerk have done.
Vincent says
I’ll give that funf: they went off after the long “Autobahn”, IMHO. This analysis is spot-on. Not bad, just over-rated.
Paul Wad says
Fab. Playing at Sheffield City Hall too. I thought I’d missed my chance when they played in London, but a show just down the road is perfect. Don’t fancy my chances of talking Mrs W into coming along though.
anton says
Nearly £70 for good seat I think (plus booking + credit card fee no doubt). I know others here pay similar amounts to see their faves – great if they are brilliant but what if they ain’t? Personally I balk at paying more than £20. That said – I did hear good reports of the London shows and that Tomorrows’ World appearance was a “Starman” moment for me. I gather last year the tickets went in minutes so may not be a dilemma for long. Meanwhile I’m off to see Meilyr Jones again tomorrow – £9 and a stage-side position 🙂
metal mickey says
Only you can speak for your personal finances, and they are expensive tickets, but if you can afford it, I’d say “go”…
I couldn’t get tickets for the last 3D concerts, but I saw them twice in successive nights on the previous tour, at the Festival Hall and Brixton Academy, and they were fantastic both times… and LOUD (which for some reason I hadn’t expected…)
But be aware it’s (obviously) not a “gig” as such, more a performance art event, and you have to be in on the joke (and like their music of course – see Locust & Mike above for a contrary view) to really enjoy it… I’m certainly going to try and get tickets when they go on sale – I’m not convinced by the Albert Hall as an ideal venue, so Saturday night in Bristol could be on the cards for me…
Kaisfatdad says
I’ve seen them twice in thepast few years. Once with DuCool in Stockholm and then the 3D show at Roskilde. Enjoyed both gigs a lot.
The Roskilde show was right at the end of the festival, so after four days of music my braincells were rather frazzled. But I needn’t have worried. They put on a tremendous, visually exciting show and the 3D effects were fab. European pop/rock music on a grand scale that owes no debts to the US. Hats off to them.
And I still have my 3D glasses.
timtunes says
Also seen them twice recently
I hope they have some new tricks/laptops – otherwise it seems like just a retread. Some new music would help – or do another The Mix
dai says
I felt it was kind of like seeing The Beatles or (first time) Bob Dylan. Seeing the absolute best, most legendary act in their particular genre. Crowd reaction bordered on hysteria at times. Go, you may not get multiple chances and Hutter won’t be around forever. The fact 3 other people are on stage is immaterial.
pete says
Saw them at Manchester Apollo in 2003. Take out a loan if you have to. They were brilliant.
Black Celebration says
I saw them in Auckland a few years ago. I love the music and I was surprised at how emotional I felt at times. I found myself blubbing a bit to and remember saying to my civilian friend, who was looking at me sideways – “I don’t even particularly like this one…”
Johnny Concheroo says
Like many of my generation I bought the kraut rock albums by the usual suspects Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Can etc in the 70s and then drifted away from them. But in the early noughties my kids discovered Kraftwerk and I got into them all over again. It’s good music if you get into the right mindset (ie don’t listen to it as you would rock music).
Tiggerlion says
Interesting.
I find listening closely for the details very rewarding with Kraftwerk, whereas with rock music, it’s best to let the noise wash over me.
Johnny Concheroo says
I think because I have little idea what’s going on musically with Kraftwerk I listen differently than I do with guitar music where I can usually tell exactly how they are doing it. It’s the same with classical music, it’s more like sound pictures, while with guitars I’m mentally processing it all the time