10-04-2010 FAQ

Supports: The Cold Rush; Venue: Knaack, Berlin (Germany)
By: Nina Mende

After quite some time I finally got to see FAQ on stage again. In 1994, the band was formed under the name Carpe Diem and soon became “the spearhead for Swiss made independent electro-pop music” (Bravo magazine). The band became popular in the international electro-scene after going on tour with acclaimed acts like Deine Lakaien, De/Vision, Mesh and Clan of Xymox. After supporting Apoptygma Berzerk during their “Welcome to Earth” tour in 2000, and releasing the two albums RE-SUBSTITUTE and SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY, Carpe Diem became firmly established in the music scene. After a long break and band name complications which resulted in confusion and an uncertain legal situation, the band was finally back in 2003 with a new album and a new name, ready to answer the Frequently Asked Questions. As a tribute to the former band name, FAQ named their album released in March 2003 CARPE DIEM. The opportunity for a new start was used to take a new musical direction. After keyboarder Dino left the band just before the successful support tour with De/Vision, Phil asked his old friend Thomas Daverio (head and producer of Kartagon, formerly Panic On The Titanic) to join FAQ in Spring 2004. Pille was found and asked to take over the guitars in the same year and completed the trio.
Tonight they played at Knaack in Berlin. The event was called „Jack The Ripper Night“.

Opening act was The Cold Rush.

The club was not too crowded in the beginning but it was filling up slowly. Unfortunately not many people dressed up for the theme party. There were two lanterns on stage as well as a Jack The Ripper poster. Butt hat didn’t matter.

The Cold Rush entered the stage, fronted by a female vocalist they warmed up the audience with their music. The guitar player I had seen on stage with Staubkind before. The singer talked a lot to the audience in between the songs. The light on stage was dark and there was quite some fog. Many people in the audience danced along to the music. The Cold Rush was a little hard to be put into one exact genre, they float along somewhere between rock, electro and synth pop.

Now it was time for FAQ. As they entered the stage I was surprised to see a live band with drummer and bass player come on stage as well. Now I was even more excited to see the show. Everybody in the audience cheered out loud for the now five guys from Switzerland. And off we went. With awesome beats and melodies everybody danced around in the club. For one song Rubberdoll, the latex fetish model from the USA, joined Phil on the vocals. FAQ played old and new songs. It was different but great to see an entire band perform the electro and synth pop songs of FAQ. Phil was dancing around on stage. You could tell the entire band enjoyed performing, they all gave their everything. The audience appreciated the energy and effort by cheering out loud and dancing along to each song as well as clapping along. The guys even played a cover from Apoptygma Berzerk, a great choice because almost everybody in the audience loved Apoptygma Berzerk as much as they loved FAQ. It was a very energetic and powerful performance and I wish I could see them more often. As very last song after the encore they played a cover of The Subways, they played “Rock’n’Roll Queen”.

Here is what FAQ played: Dear Boss Absinthe & Laudanum Sunday Afternoon Grapes Birth of The 20th Century Ten Bells How To Make Love Like We Come In Pieces Buck’s Row Tuning In To The Frequency One Trip One Noise The World Is Cold EnoughA Violet From Mothers Grave From Hell Learning To Fly Never AgainRock’n’ Roll Queen

Links:
The Cold Rush MySpace
The Cold Rush Official
FAQ Official