| Doors: 7 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 53.85 Euro + fees | SOLD OUT |

[Dajana] Can’t help myself… I need to babble it out immediately. I’m brimming over… This show tonight, MADRUGADA, was just overwhelming. Mind-blowing. Spine-tingling. Intensive. And highly emotional. To me, this one was already THE show in 2019. It can hardly be topped. I HIGHLY recommend attending one of those shows if possible! Well, most of them are sold out for ages, but just try it! Go, go, go! And sorry, now I’m going to start right from the beginning… ;)
[BRT] Totally agree! Songs, atmosphere, charisma… It was all perfect. Absolutely awesome!

[Dajana] BRT was the one, who infected me with MADRUGADA. I think it was on the way back home from one of the Party San Open Airs, where we like to listen to non-metal stuff to calm down. However, at this time the band did not exist anymore. MADRUGADA disbanded in 2008 after the sudden passing of guitarist Robert S. Burås. The music of the Norwegians has left a huge (musical) impact on me, and especially their first both albums, The Nightly Disease and Industrial Silence are always again on rotation in my players. I would have given anything to see MADRUGADA playing live one day…
[BRT] I actually have seen them live once. It was shortly after The Nightly Disease was released in 2001, during the last edition of Bonner Rheinkultur Festival. Back then, it was pouring cats and dogs – a perfect atmosphere for MADRUGADA, who, of course, played a stunning show.

[Dajana] At the end, I had not to give everything to see MADRUGADA playing live but to wait and to drive to Cologne ;) Thanks to the 20th anniversary of the debut album, Industrial Silence, the remaining members, Sivert Høyem, Frode Jacobsen and Jon Lauvland Pettersen, decided to reunite and to celebrate this anniversary. After a 3-days residency in MADRUGADAs hometown Oslo, which was sold out in a twinkling of an eye, an extended European tour was announced. And its dates sold out likewise rapid. Many of the shows needed to be upgraded to bigger venues and sold out again. In fact, there are only a handful of shows of the tour were a few tickets are still left. That I call a very impressive comeback, a massive statement of this legendary band!

:: pics :: MADRUGADA ::

[Dajana] It is not only the first time that I see :: MADRUGADA :: playing live but also the first time I attend the newly opened venue :: Carlswerk Victoria ::. I have to say, I really like this new location. It is a double-club: On one side the Club Volta for ca. 450 fans, on the other side the Carlswerk Victoria hall for ca. 1600 fans. In between there is a little “promenade” with food and drinks, seats and tables. The roofs of the booths are planted, so I guess it looks and feels beautiful during summer. The hall was - although completely sold out - a comfortable place to be in. No packed and squeezed standing, good sight from everywhere and fresh air. Yep, perfect! Great locations. Also recommended! Well, to drive to Cologne was once again a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea. We have chosen the deep blue sea and made it through quite smooth. Most time we actually frittered away while looking for parking around the venue complex. We ended up in a parking garage next door to the club for 4.50 Euro fixed price (for events). By the way, pricing for beer and food was ok and so was the merch pricing this time. 25 Euro for shirts. Only downer was the fact that MADRUGADA had supply difficulties for the LPs. Cologne residents could order ones and pick them up next day. All the others, like me, were left empty-handed. Damn…
[BRT] When we entered the courtyard, I realized that I was already here. Some weeks ago, I attended a show at Club Volta. Yes, it is a great location. Spacious halls, good sound, nice atmosphere.

[Dajana] With a slight delay MADRUGADA were welcomed with thundering applause and broke into Vocal.
[BRT] 10 seconds played and I had goosebumps all over. The sound was crystal clear and the songs immediately conjured an almost cinematic atmosphere, supported by an excellent light show. The crowd was spellbound. Mr. Sivert Höyem did not talk that much and though, the audience hang on his lips. This man has such an outstanding voice. Sometimes, I felt remembered on Chris Isaak and Jim Morrison. Sivert Höyem did not show any airs and graces. There was no need for. And this was quite pleasant after some recent shows. The band played super tight, homogenous but acted much more reserved than the frontman. The performance was just brilliant; the songs outstanding and time flew by way too fast.

[Dajana] For obvious reasons the debut album, Industrial Silence, was played in its entirety but not in its original order. Yes, already the first tunes sent shivers up and down the spine and caused goosebumps. And yes again: Sivert Höyem is not only an exceptionally gifted singer but also a charismatic man. No wonder that I heard ladies screaming when he put off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. Aaahhh, yeah… um… no comment ;)
Another gimmick was to put on a glitter-jacket to perform Norwegian Hammerworks Corp., which was specially lighted and worked like a disco ball. The whole stage and the ceiling of the hall turned into a starry sky. Awww.

[Dajana] After a very short break MADRUGADA returned on stage for the second set, which, in fact, was the encore. A seven-song encore, where the Norwegian gents focused on my fave album The Nightly Disease (2001). They played three hits from this one, starting with Black Mambo. Again, the first tunes already drove me crazy. Blown away, totally. The other songs came from the remaining records Grit, The Deep End and Madrugada.
[BRT] Aaahhh… Black Mambo, Valley Of Deception and Majesty – timeless songs, songs for eternity that will still cause goosebumps in 50 years and more. Of course, I would have loved to hear more and other songs like Sister (from The Nightly Disease) too. Well, you can’t have it all, right? When the last track faded, the crowd applauded frenetically, for minutes. Standing ovations, you know. Even the so cool acting band was impressed. So were we. Of course. Just wow!
[Dajana] If I had something to say, MADRUGADA would have played the The Nightly Disease in its entirety too :) But, well, who knows… The Nightly Disease has its 20th anniversary in 2021… *hint* ;)

[Dajana] Summing up it should be clear by now how fucking awesome this concert night was. How big, how unique and memorable. For nothing in this world, I would have wanted to miss it. Truly an evening of awesomeness that was!

Band: Sivert Høyem (vox/git), Frode Jacobsen (Bass), Jon Lauvland (Drums), Pettersen Christer Knutsen (Live Keyboards & Gitarre), Cato Salsa Thomassen (Live Gitarre)

Setlist: Vocal, Belladonna, Higher, Sirens, Shine, This Old House, Strange Colour Blue, Salt, Norwegian Hammerworks Corp., Beautyproof, Quite Emotional, Terraplane, Electric // Black Mambo, Hands Up - I Love You, Only When You're Gone, What's On Your Mind?, Majesty, The Kids Are On High Street, Valley Of Deception

story © BRT & Dajana • pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography