24-02-2009 Polarkreis 18

Venue: Batschkapp, Frankfurt (Germany)
By: Nina Mende

After being in the charts a lot, on the radio all the time and even on TV Polarkreis18 were also on tour now. Tonight they hit Frankfurt.

As far as I can remember Super700 was supposed to tour with them, but tonight was Polarkreis18 only. The Batschkapp was sold out and most of the audience seemed to be common after-work party people, very business-like. Not many young kids were there, only several teenagers.

Polarkreis18 is a German band from Dresden, founded about 10 years ago. But only since 2004 the band is called Polarkreis18. So far they have two full-length albums released and are touring with the latest of them “The Colour Of Snow”. The official music style they play is pop and synth-pop although during the show I was more finding it like chill out-lounge music at times. It is definitely very electronic and the focus seemed to be on the melodies and different music instruments instead of vocals and songs like we know it from other rock or pop bands. Their performance seemed like a mix between Blue Man Group (only in white) and A-Ha. They banged the drums – there was a complete drum set and some drums standing next to the keyboarder and guitar player so everybody got to bang every now and then – and the high pitched vocals and synth-melodies reminded of A-Ha. Six guys dressed in all white, one having his hoody zipped up to half of his face, they entered the stage in thick fog with lights on their heads like doing an arctic expedition. A nice mix between funky groovy sounds and slow melodic songs was keeping the audience dancing and cheering. Most of the songs were in English, some choruses were in German though. The singer moved like a doll when singing, shook his arm and danced around. A bit of one song he sang from the audience, for a couple seconds even without a mic which seemed to have impressed the people around him. I am not sure though if his soft voice was hear able at the other side of the club as well.

They came back twice for an encore and sang a Toto cover “It’s A Shame”.
The sold out Batschkapp was sweaty and warm because everybody was dancing and had a great time.