Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

Despite postponments, McCartney fans still got their fix

Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk

June 20, 2012 - 10:19

**** (4 stars out of 6); June 18 at Store Vega

Tim Christensen's charisma was in full swing while playing tribute to the former Beatle (Photo: Rasmus B.S. Hansen / www.terranaut.dk)

Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney caused some major disappointment earlier this month with the postponement of two highly anticipated concerts in Horsens, previously scheduled for the end of June.  This minor hiccup did not stop McCartney’s fan base in Copenhagen from celebrating his 70th birthday on Monday night with a close-to-packed McCartney tribute concert at Store Vega.  

Ex Dizzy Mizzy Lizzy co-founder Tim Christensen and his backing band The Damn Crystals were on hand to provide the evening's entertainment, playing songs predominantly off McCartney's first album Ram, alongside many of Christensen’s own numbers. The evening turned out to be a jovial fest that attracted the young and the old alike: from grey-haired grannies that were taken back to pleasant memories of the peak of their youth to curious teenagers who flocked to the front of the concert to get as close to the stage as they possibly could.  

Christensen and pals didn't put a foot wrong from start to finish, playing with passion and cool sophistication in what many will remember as a very accessible and easy-to-follow concert.  The band toyed and tinkered with numerous instruments as they rattled out one lively track after another, much to the delight of the partisan crowd, who rallied and raved to timeless classics such as  'Live and Let Die'.  Christensen himself was at his charismatic best, beaming with the sort of smile that suggested that he probably enjoyed the concert more than anybody else at the show.

And whilst at times things did sound a bit like a well-timed ensemble of Guitar Hero songs, at others Tim Christensen and the Damn Crystals were both endearing and entertaining to all those present. With Roskilde Festival looming over the near horizon, one would have expected less of a showing, particularly on a Monday night. The amount of people present and their response to the evening's entertainment truly proves that Denmark hasn't forgotten Paul McCartney, decades on from his heyday. 

Speed Painting spotlight : Line Beinkamp

There's a flood of speed painting videos on Youtube at the moment. Here's yet another, a particularly good black and white sketch on Pocahontas by my creative friend Line Beinkamp.

Pre- Summer

Distortion Review

Original doc at: 

http://cphpost.dk/inout/concerts/it-doesnt-get-any-more-distorted

Or in tomorrow's physical copy of The Copenhagen Post  

It doesn't get any more Distorted than this

Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk

June 4, 2012 - 12:06

A look at the musical highlights of Distortion 2012

Distortion 2012 was one that will live on in the memories of the revellers (Photo: Emil Thiim Berner Hansen)

Four days after it all started, Copenhagen's craziest cavalcade came to an abrupt end. Those who partook in the proceedings will no doubt have plenty of smiles and positive recollections that they will be talking about for a while to come. Here's a quick glance through the rear view mirror at some of the best moments of Distortion 2012

Pete Tong at Vor Frue Plads,Wednesday, May 30

One of the grand old men of electronic music, the pioneer of Radio One's Essential Mix, Pete Tong sprung a surprise at this year's festival when it was announced that he'd be playing at Vor Frue Plads a mere three days before his appearance. Lulu Rouge and Rune RK were on the warm-up duties but ultimately the show was all about Pete. To say that his performance was epic would be a gross understatement.

Anders Trentemøller in Nørrebro, Thursday May 31

Anders Trentemøller has the rare privilege of being Denmark's best DJs whilst simultaneously being rather anonymous in Copenhagen.  One may well have easily walked by him playing a laissez-faire set in the heart of Nørrebro on Thursday; a rare blend of electronica laced with occasional outbursts of rock and indie. This was all before his more publicised show at the skate park the day after, which was no less than anyone would have expected.

Mike Skinner at Lastbilscenen, Friday June 1

Brummie Mike Skinner, a man who has managed to shine in his performances in Denmark year after year, was on hand to chase away the rain on Friday night. Performing to a mix of hefty dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass, Skinner was at his usual best and not even a heavy downpour could deter the crowd from turning out in the hundreds.

Distortion Rave S-train, Friday June 1

Imagine an S-train packed to the brim with a horde of merrymakers all bouncing to the sound of heavy beats and blazing bass lines. Distortion's cherry on the cake this year was one such-like concoction, a circus that ended up being taken over by a marching band who decided they'd waltz in on Mike Sheridan's set and steal the show.

If you cut me will I Not Bleed ?

If you cut me will I not bleed

And won't my blood be red, just like yours

Not black, not brown, not white but red, as blood should be

If you twist my heart will it not crumble

And when it does will my soul not quiver

will it not explode in ten thousand deft shades

If you hurt me will I not cry

And won't my tears be pure and crystalline

Not black, not brown not white but transparent as tears should be

If you hit me will I not feel pain

And won't this pain be a colourless pain

Not black, not brown not white but blunt and bare as pain always is

I have No Tales Left To Tell

I have no tales left to tell, no stories left to write, no parchment to stain, no tears to cry.

I am naked, as I came into this world, defenseless against the perils of the day

I feel as if the essence of life has been drained from my flesh

As if I am dead and that I am a mere spectator in my own life

A stranger in my own body, a foreigner in my world

I once loved a girl, I once loved many girls, and somehow maybe I still do

They are happy now, somewhere far away with someone else

And I am happy that they are happy.