Last week I tagged along with my good friends from Portland, the Captured Tracks band BLOUSE, in Germany for a few days. We met up in Hamburg before their set at Astra Stube that night, and I left them a couple days later after their Comet Club show in Berlin. Along the way, and in between sets, drinks and mischief, I snapped some photos.
Here’s a glimpse into BLOUSE’s life on the road.
BLOUSE playing at Astra Stube in Hamburg, Germany. The venue was small, the crowd a bit quiet, but a good time was had nonetheless. The show’s promoters were fantastic, keeping everyone’s bellies full of booze all night.
Charlie and Patrick at Astra Stube in Hamburg.
Post-show shenanigans. After leaving Astra Stube, the guys and I set out to experience Hamburg’s nightlife, finding our way to a divey and dark bar on Reeperbahn Street in the city’s infamous red-light district. We were all still under the influence of booze back at the apartment. Patrick tried to wind down by listening to some tunes before turning in.
Bunk beds in Hamburg.
Backstage at the Comet Club in Berlin the band did an interview with a local radio station. I’m not sure why everyone’s head is down except Charlie.
Charlie during sound check at Comet Club in Berlin.
Patrick during sound check at Comet Club in Berlin.
Charlie and Patrick chatting between songs at Comet Club. The venue was much larger than Astra Stube, and the crowd more lively. A group of American girls studying abroad in Italy – but on vacation in Germany – stood up front, singing along with nearly every song. Surprisingly, the Germans, too, knew many of the songs and even shouted out requests during breaks.
Patrick playing the bass line on “Controller”, with Paul on drums in the back. Unlike other stages during the tour, Comet Club’s came equipped with a fog machine, which emitted the stuff from right below Paul. Most of the night he was cloaked in a foggy haze.
Charlie singing “Ghost Dreams” at Comet Club in Berlin. She started off by confessing to the audience that she has nightmares often, hence the song’s title and lyrics. Misty played keys and sang backing vocals.
Despite not having a lot of time to check out the city of Berlin, everyone had a great time. The beer flowed all night after the show. At one point, in need of food, Charlie, Misty, Patrick and I set out in search of an all-night cafe. We settled with a fast-food stand. The girls ordered “something vegetarian,” while Pat and I asked for “something with meat.”
The next morning we parted ways. I made my way back to Hamburg to catch my flight to Kiev, while BLOUSE set off to the next city on the tour.
BLOUSE still has a few dates left on their European tour. You can find a list of the remaining shows here.