gwEm Live in Berlin #2 - (and prepares to DJ with Atari STs) - Gameboy Camera images taken on the 19th to 27th February 2003

If you read my web pages you might remember last time I visited Berlin I wished that I could return soon.... It only took a few months and I was back there again for a live show and Atari buying mission.

I was sent to outer space
Because I had some teaching to do on the morning of my gig I packed all my gear the night before and set my alarm for 6.30. The citizens of London unhelpfully did not make any room for me on the tube with my oversize guitar case filled with heavy stuff. I vowed to be more tolerant of tourists going to the airport, and cursed captialism. After 2 tubes passed me I (just) managed to catch the 3rd and made my way towards work.

I arrived late for the class and I stuck my gear next to my office desk and went down into the lab. The students I was teaching noticed my new belt, which I was pretty flattered about...

I decided to swap my normal bullet belt for something less controversial because of Saddam and Bush. I went to a DIY Superstore the night before and brought a 'mild steel welded security chain', which was the heaviest and most expensive they had. I tried to do the usual dodge of making the chain length slightly longer than a meter and claiming it was a cheaper kind, but the checkout assistant was too observant and charged me for it ;-/ The chain was fastened to my waist with one of those things climbers use.

Overall the look was pretty camden_town_skate_style, not what I was aiming for, but surely better than causing an international incident.

Because the students were pretty bright, they had very few questions for me and the lab session dragged on for 3 long hours. But I busted out of there as soon as I could, got my bags and went to Heathrow.

To find another happy place

British Airways tickets

This time I was flying to Berlin by British Airways, who were actually the cheapest airline for the days I was flying. The service was way impressive! They are definately the most guitar friendly airline... My guitar and I got escorted on board early, and it was given a special cupboard. Also impressive on the flight was a wide selection of drinks, and a BIG sandwich... Amazing the flight was actually cheaper than Lufthansa, Buzz Air and Air Berlin.

The plane looked like this outside...

...and this inside

The flight was pretty full, and I listened to a hardcore mix by DJ Slipmatt for most of the journey. As I had an aisle seat, there was no possibility to look outside ;-<

Now I'm left here all alone
The Captain of the plane told me 'it was a pleasure to take your guitar' as I walked off the flight. I doubt that it was... but I thought it was a nice lie all the same. The customs formalities seemed to take forever but I was soon outside in the bright sun and freezing cold of Berlin Tegel airport.

The journey to 'The Bastard' where I was playing took some time... I caught a bus (laughingly called an 'express') and finally a taxi. At the venue I said hi to my friends from microdisco (Manou, Benji DF and Frank Sunrise) who had been organising the night. I thought that it could be a good idea to set up my equipment as the party was starting soon. I found the sound guy at 'The Bastard' to very professional, and he got exactly the sound I wanted for my set - it was as clear as crystal and LOUD!

If you are a guitar geek here are the pedals I was using:

SansAmp GT2 and Arion Stage Tuner

Like in Barcelona the sound guy was using DI boxes:

Professional looking box

These prevent noise and distortion with long cables used in night clubs... In Barcelona I wasn't sure if they were necessary, but I now noticed that at both the gigs where I played through these little things my sound quality was really good, so that set me thinking.... hmmm

Before I played live Benji DF played an excellent set of really accessible music, including some early house, electro and hip-hop. I was pretty impressed. While Benji hung his thing, I talked to a friend of mine called Charlie who had come to the gig to see me. She lives in Berlin and I randomly ran into her at Christmas time. It was great the catch up, I orginally met her when I called myself DJ NovaNova1 and span hardcore on a more regular basis. Charlie also changed styles and has started to become a singer.

It was soon time for my set... I was a little nervous... After Brussels I had completely changed my set, and not only that I had a new belt /and/ a new t-shirt:

camden_town_skate_style Atari t-shirt

...obviously since UK childrens television presenters started to wear this kind of gear most people wouldn't wish to be seen in this shirt. However I actually use and love Atari, so I thought had the right to wear the Fuji logo... that is if anyone really does.

A million miles away from home
I decided to keep my set short... I didn't have much time to write new material since Christmas, but the new tracks were recieved the best out of all the songs I played. I could possibly have played longer than 35 minutes, but it went pretty good and I didn't want to spoil it. In many ways this show was the best I've done, I was happy with my set.

This monitor speaker generated the most awesome feedback

The sound was *sooo good* and at the end of my set I had to bask in the most amazing guitar feedback. It was so good, the guitar felt alive in my hands - like holding a wild lizard or whatever... A sound system like this makes life worthwhile.

After I finished Manou DJed chip style music for a time. She competantly DJed a wide selection including some very obscure chip and experimental music. I sat down with a water bottle and talked to some very cool people (big up!) who gave me some helpful comments and Ridge Racer tips.

The guys from Transformer Di Roboter...

...were a very Puss style duo - one very tall and one very short. They will play at the next microdisco event and had totally American accents. I found them very happy and friendly.

The toilets at The Bastard...

.., which I was busting to go to, were incredible - the each had a mosquito net over the urinal. I guess it was to stop cigarettes and chewing gum from causing a smelly blockage.... but the look was amazing. If you ever go there you should check them out (if you are a girl its worth the danger to go in).

As the club began to empty we ate cake together and cleared up the equipment... Then it was time to go to bed and sleep.

I was standing in the corner
I might have played at microdisco and met my friends, but there was other important things to do whilst in Berlin.... Of course I'm talking about checking out ice cream parlours and picking up cheap Atari stuff.

I was looking for an Atari ST Mega computer. In the UK such a computer would be easily worth 100 pounds, but in Germany its possible to pick up a machine for a more realistically priced 40Euros (or about 26 pounds).

I went into town early, and found the place was totally closed up - even at 9:30. I waited until places started to open at 11... I thought Berlin was supposed to be an international city - do people not want my money? Capitalism rulez....

Anyroad I called round some computer shops in the town, but none had any Atari stuff. At about lunchtime I gave up and decided to checkout the local version of 'The Loot' (a secondhand paper popular in England).

The shop owner noticed that people sneakily check out these papers and dial likely numbers into their mobile phones... And she had put the paper on the counter next to the till. I was a bit pissed off that I couldn't freeload, but I brought the paper anyway.

The Zweitehand newspaper I brought

The paper also included adverts for jobs and a dating section.

A searching for my rizla
Luckily for me there was an advert for an Atari Mega1 ST. I called the guy up and went round to his gaff. He used the computer to play backing MIDI files for his cheesy covers band. He got so pissed off with Cubase that he decided to sell the machine. This suited me very well, he included a massive 80Mb Hard Drive and a mono screen (which I later left in Automaten Bar with note saying someone should take it).

Phatt 80Mb hard drive

The mouse he gave me was pained in a retro 1980s colour scheme and was called 'fancy mouse':

Check the paint job!

And of course as I got a Mega machine it had a seperate keyboard...

...which looked like this

When I ran some tests at home later I found that the computer had been upgraded to the maximum 4Mb of RAM, so it was a real power machine. The most powerful Atari I own, and also one of the cheapest!

I had some marijuana
After my successul Atari buying mission, I decided to take in some Berlin vibrations. I put the Atari somewhere safe and went on a little stroll. Here are the things I saw on the way:

Berlin has so much stuff for kids - here is a cool looking playground

These two trees are cuddling each other in a sweet way

This shop has a weird name... Perhaps it is selling feminist merchandise?

On the way to Alexander Platz to buy an ice-cream I saw there were some people under the world clock:

They were protesting against the possible war in Iraq and had not moved or eaten for some days

After my banana ice-cream I went to 'Saturn' and music and electronics store. I wanted to get some groovy German music:

I saw this CD by 'Right Said Fred', I cannot believe they had a 2002 Live Tour. No one in England has heard of them for 10 years

This CD of Scooter's live material is not available in the UK

What I should have searched for was 'History' by 'Dune', but I forgot... I will search next time.

It was all too soon before I had to go back to London, I had a great time in Berlin again. Its a really friendly and cosmopolitan city.

I needed to get high
When I got back to London I straightaway started to prepare for my next gig at 'New Bleep'. This time I was doing a DJ set... But I added an extra twist by not DJing with records, but with Atari ST computers. I tried to take some Gameboy shots in the club, but it was not possible as I ran out of space on the camera ;-< However here is how I prepared:

I used two Atari 1040STFMs, which look like this

To mix between the two I used this DJ mixer

This microphone was used for 'where its at' rapping, and all your shouts and dedications. (actually I used it to introduce the tracks)

These disks contained the music and programs I needed for my set

This TV was used as monitor for my Ataris. Here it is showing the display of quality music playing software by cream_hq

The whole thing looked like this

Just before the gig I gave advice to potential Atari DJs on the YM Rockerz website: CLICK HERE

I recieved, a positive response from some really nice people at the people at the party, who said I was 'authetic' as well as 'real'. I'm happy no one noticed the little problems I had with the Ataris, and the fact the my microphone didnt sound very clear didn't seem to put people off that much. It was nice to see the New Bleep crew, and also Tryst and Pussy Galore from micromusic, even though it was not really possible to chat at such a busy bar. It was lucky for me that *everyone* is a secret Atari g33k!

(c)gwem 2003
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