Dortmund Concert

So I had been a Mumiy Troll fan for nearly 2 years, but never had much hope to ever catch them live - as living in Belgium doesn't open much perspective to finding a gig close to home. But somehow fate actually took my side for once...as I found out about a little tour through Germany!

Germany, wow, still not home but it probably wouldn't get any closer than this! So what if my friends didn't feel like coming along? So what if it is still quite a journey? There was absolutely nothing going to stop me from finally enjoying my favourite trolls for real!

And thanks to the help of some of my wonderful Mumiy-troll-lovin' friends, I got into contact with the right people and managed to get a ticket for the Dortmund gig, which was supposed to be the most cosy-intimate gig of the little tour. Actually the trip to Dortmund Friday was quite a disaster! My first train at 6.50 AM was half an hour late and so I missed my connection to Cologne in Germany. That already got me in a panic because the next train was only in the afternoon and that way I could never pick up my tickets on time. Luckily...thank god actually...there was still another solution with plenty of detours but I made it to Dortmund only few hours later than planned at around 3 in the afternoon

Dortmund is quite a nice city...I did some walking around and checked into the hotel early enough to ask for directions to this club where MT was supposed to perform. After a bit of a search I did find the club, must be the right place 'cos the tour bus was already in the front. There was also some big security guy who stopped me from getting in, but after he saw my name was on the "guest list" it was alright :)

In the club I was supposed to meet Mark, the 'Manager' of the German tour. I had actually seen him already because he was bringing in the equipment with another guy- but didn't recognise him. I had expected a real manager in a suit...But this was a much better surprise :)a nice alternative type of guy in his twenties...Anyway, he was really nice and we started talking about how the tour had been already etc...But of course he still had to work and asked me to come back around 20.00 BUT...I just HAD to go and eat in the cafe across the road...

Why this caf� and not another? but it soon came clear to me why. While I was eating, a group of Russian people came in and after a while they moved to the back of the cafe were they were setting up spotlights, a microphone and a camera. And I heard them say in German to the cafe staff that the "interview" would be in about an hour. Now it started to dawn on me....that interview can only be with MT!!!!! That must be the reason why Mark said I should eat in this place...he probably couldn't say that MT would be there while all the other people buying tickets could hear :)

Anyway, I had finished my food but wanted to stay there of course so I ordered desert as well and some tea...When a man came in with half long dark blonde hair, a beard, wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I didn't really stare because I was eating but I thought...well he looks a bit like Ilia in those pictures of their Crimean tour this Summer. But then I thought to myself, nah...this cannot be Ilia, the TV people would imemdiately go to him and start the interview...And they all just staid there at their place without noticing this man.

Then he walked past my table to the one after me and I just smiled and said " Guten Abend"...finishing my ice cream and then returning to the club, because the gig was about to start in about half an hour. In case I would stay and see the interview, I might only be in the back to watch the performance...and so I decided it would be better to choose for the show! Going out, I nodded again to the man at the table behind me as a way of politeness just...still thinking he looks quite a bit like Ilia, but not really believing it. This man was quite different from the Eurovision pictures. Then when I returned to the club, Mark asked how the food was...so I said it was pretty good and then he said he had recommanded Ilia to go and eat there too!!!!

I was feeling excited and disappointed at the same time. So this was Ilia who I just said hi to...and I didn't even recognise him!!! Stupid me..I could probably have striked up a conversation but I lost the chance. God I am such an idiot. But on the other hand I was quite excited: it makes for a funny little memory:) The gig was in a very small room, like a normal bar where in the back they improvised an area of about 4 meters long and 3 wide only for the band to perform. I just ordered a drink and went to stand on one table right next to that stage. Sadly before getting in, the big security guy checked my bag and took my camera away :( Bummer!!!!

It was still a while before the gig would start but the place was already quite crowded. There were about 60 people that night and nearly all Russians. I probably was the only foreigner there. But luckily Russians are the greatest people. I didn't stand there alone for long. Some guy tapped me on my shoulder asking in Russian what was my name. We then started talking and he was amazed I was not Russian. Then some other boys and girls from his groups joined the conversation and we started talking in English now. They were all Russians living in the area...and they immediately made me feel like part of their gang!

At 21.00 then finally the concert started! The Trolls just walked in, got to the stage and Ilia started some welcome speech in Russian. One friendly guyhelped me translating things here and there. There were so few people and it was such a small club that it felt very very cosy and comfortable. It really felt like you would go with a bunch of friends to a local bar to see a local band, perhaps some friends who are in a band, perform. It was an extremely relaxed atmosphere! It was amazing how close I was standing to them...I never was this close in a concert. The stage was same height as the floor and I was standing less than half a meter away from Yuri. I could have touched him if I wanted :) And then there was Zvig next to him; then Ilia on a bar stool; Oleg at the drums and another young guy at the keyboard.

Ilia started off joking around and saying some silly things in German like " Guten Abend" and " H�nde Hogh" :) They then kicked off with Klubnichna, Na Jadi and Nevesta. Wow; simply amazing. Usually a live performance sounds a lot different from the studio version, but not with Mumiy Troll. The music was the same quality and ...well it was simply amazingly good. People immediately started dancing and singing along and it was great to see the guys improvise, change the lyrics a bit with joke texts and just jamming and improvising with their instruments. Then Ilia started talking again and interacting with the audience. Just joking around wit the fans and asking them to teach him some German:) It sure says that MT cares about their fans and like to stay friendly with them.

They played quite many songs from Ikra, my favourite album, so I was very happy about that, singing along :) They also played some new material. They said this song was normally in English but they would do it in Russian tonight since it was 99% Russian audience. But it got really cool when Oleg left the drums and started playing accoustic guitar. I didn't know he could play guitar and so well! He did the lead guitar on Zabavy and then they had Mark join as well to play bongos!!! He played really well too :)

They started with Ne Zvezda and Ilia was constantly imitating the way Mark hit the bongos. I also loved the special version of Devochka. Here they completely changed the lyrics and everyone was laughing so it must have been funny :) Also the crowed was singing louder than the band. After about 1.5 hour Ilia announced that that was it and they stopped with Obeschania...and sadly didn't come back for encores anymore. Pity, but I was not too sad...it had been good and my new gang of friends managed to take 3 pictures before the security guy came to take their camera too...

We all staid at the club for a few more drinks. I didn't get all the Russian talk but just staid a bit longer and enjoyed the atmosphere before returning to the hotel feeling like this was all just a dream...It seemed so unbelievable but I never dared to hope it would be so great! My new friends then decided to go to a nearby town named Bochum to continue the party...so I said bye, exchanged e-mails and phone nrs and decided to return to the hotel. Later I heard the others staid until about 4 and then the bar closed, and decided to go and party in this town Bochum now. Oleg and Yuri wanted to come along still but we waited forever for a taxi and then eventually only few people went and none of the band members. Then Saturday in the afternoon some of my new friends gave me a call. So we met again in Dortmund and hung around until I took my train back last night. I still feel like I am dreaming...