(I see) Wonderful things, said Howard Carter when he found the grave vault of Tutankhamun. A travesty of that here and now could be: I hear wonderful things 2025. And many of them on newly released live albums.
Brotstock, a tripple live album by Hamburg hiphop legends Fettes Brot, is out this year. A great celebration of the unfortunately final Fettes Brot concert, from 2023. RSD 3LP vinyl version is on tripple-colour vinyl, cool. A magnificent live album, with all hits, and then some, included. Jeun is a fine, groovy start and one of my favorite segments is Hamburg Calling followed by a magnificent The Grosser, that really makes your body move. And of course Nordisch by Nature does so too, but the vibe is great throughout. The album title is also wonderfully fun, so tongue-in-cheek. A beautiful last statement from the ”Fat Breads”. And bonus info: König Boris has also released a book ” FC St. Pauli - eine Liebeserklärung”, in 2025. Early bird signed copies could be bought at FC StP club shop on Reeperbahn. So Cool.
And who can neglect Depeche Mode? M and Memento Mori: Mexico City (live) were both very high on my waiting list this Fall, both the 4LP version and the 2 Blueray + 2 CD version. One of the most important bands on my radar, and they didn’t disappoint this December. M is the movie version, and the only regret is that they could have played out more widely with the Mexican theme, perhaps prolonged the film with 15-20 mins to get some more depth into the material between the live scores. Fine as it is, it could have been even better. Especially as the whole concert material is also available as such in the same package, and a great concert film it is too.
Yes, the vinyls and cd:s are also stunning, great new songs performed live and some very cool and refreshed versions of classics like Everything counts. Showstarter My Cosmos Is Mine was a surprise, but opened strongly for a refreshed DM concert experience. Too sad that the concert that I had tickets to on the Memento Mori tour was cancelled, but instead a free DM club night was organized for fans and that surprisingly turned out to one of the best club night experiences ever. Danced for five hours straight. And had so fun that I nearly didn’t mind that the concert was cancelled. DM fans form a great community.
Now, on formally released live album and film(s) from the tour, we hear and see DM, currently only a (power)duo, but well-assisted on stage by two great veteran live band members, and sounding amazingly fresh.
A must, no less.
A third new live album out now is Antilopen Gang and their Anti Alles Aktion Live. Interestingly, their controversial political hit Oktober in Europa is not included, perhaps not performed during this tour. Nevermind, it is still a great live hiphop/punk album. Antilopen Gang has combined these genres successfully on studio album and now show how great the combination also works live. Pizza and Beate Zschäpe Hört U2, Weg Von Hier and Muttertag, are among the impressive highlights before it is all ends in an intense live finale, Anti Alles Aktion.
Potent, powerful and highly entertaining.
A wonderful catalogue live find from 2021 must also be mentioned. Springsteen E Street Band, performing live on legendary No Nukes festival 1979. I’ve had it on vinyl for years, but this Fall bought the Blueray/2CD version that first came out in 2021. And this is just mindblowing stuff. Bruce and the band are exceptional live artists, personally I have seen them live on three occasions, all superb performances. But this really is exceptional stuff. This is right up there with the very best. Before the megastardom of Born in the USA, when Bruce was big but not yet the biggest rock star, the band already was among the very best. Frenetic energy, strong showman- and musicianships and the pure happiness to perform live results in a stellar set. And all for a good cause too. My personal favorite is when they invite Jackson Browne & co on stage for a spectacular version of Stay.
Yes, please, stay, just a little bit longer!
Well worth hearing - and seeing.
Many music pearls for this Christmastime were live (on album), but not all.
A most certain coming classic is the impressive compilation album King Size Dub Hamburg. And already a rarity. Both the LP and the double-cd are limited to 500 ex. Prices will rise. Not only because it is limited, but because it is sooo good. Many will want this album. Many will need this album. Even more will not yet know that they would want and need this album. Brilliant. Magnificent stuff, and lots of it. Vinyl version is only a single album, not covering more than half of CD one. That’s why I opted for the double CD version, as many of the best dubs are not on the vinyl. Had it been a 2 LP set, I would have bought that. But, in retrospect, I probably still should have bought the single vinyl LP too.
Tracks from this compilation, and these live albums, will most likely be heard on my playlists in 2026.
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