once more with feeling

Matthias Frey and me – a musical lovestory.
It’s been now nearly two years ago that I heard him playing for the first time. And with “heard” I mean heard – since I was not the only one who had the great idea to go to the Transporter Bar on that warm night in the end of August 2009, the completely crammed location didn’t even allow me shortest glimpse on the guy who was playing his violin with so much passion.
It took me a while to actually get to know the seemingly shy, incredibly talented boy behind this wonderful music. He might seem to be hiding in his own world from time to time, but as soon as he is on stage he couldn’t be any more present, putting his heart and soul into his songs. So far, I’ve seen Sweet Sweet Moon (the name of M.’s solo project) playing in the most random places: the basement of Angewandte, Wien Museum, Badeschiff, Roter Bogen, rhiz, Weberknecht and several other locations either solo, with his friend Toni, with the collective Loose Lips Sink Ships or his band destroy, munich. And everytime has been different, has been special.

For They Shoot Music Don’t They, M. did two songs in spring this year at the Top Kino, while I was working there for the Poolinale (Vienna’s music film festival). Here is one of them, together with Toni: a cover of The Weakerthans and one of my favorite Sweet Sweet Moon songs.
And for all those people going to Frequency Festival: catch M. live, he’ll be playing at the Brandwagen on Thursday from 5 pm to 6.40 pm.

Oh, protect our secret handshake
once more with feeling.
Let the toast to absent members
push through the ceiling.
Before we say goodnight.

I remember how exciting it was for me to go to Popfest last year. For all of you non-Viennese people: Popfest is more or less a little open air festival (some locations are also inside) for Austrian indie-pop bands that started last year, something that my little indie-heart always wanted and never had so close.
I loved sitting on the stairs of the big lake/fountain thing next to the stage, drinking my beer, chatting with friends, listening to Bunny Lake in the background, standing under the balcony of the Wien Museum & watching Paper Bird doing her thing high up there or watching garish improvising when the speakers suddenly won’t work anymore. If I remember correctly, I even saw C. on one of those days for the first time…
Well, however, even though it was lovely, it wasn’t perfect. The big stage was not high enough so nobody from the rows in the back could see shit, the sound from left, right & behind the stage was terrible and there was nearly no food/beer available if you didn’t bring enough.

Tomorrow, the second round of Popfest is starting. I’m looking foward to see what has been improved, and I’ll be there probably every day even though I’m not quite convinced of the line-up – not because it’s not good, but just because over the last year, I’ve seen many of those bands multiple times already. Anyway, here are some of my recommendations, maybe I’ll see you at a show!

Meaghan Burke: Even though she doesn’t live in Vienna anymore, she’s still a regular visitor. Her shows are always amazing, intoxicating and funny. She’ll play on Thursday at 11 pm at Wien Museum.
Trouble Over Tokyo: Because there’s just no excuse for not going to see Toph. Friday, 7 pm, Seebühne.
Panel “Tod der Popkritik”: A friend of mine from fm5 and Susi from fm4 will be discussing there with some other people. Friday, 2 pm, Kunsthalle project space.
Francis International Airport, Ja, Panik & Sex Jams: Three gigs for Saturday where you can go from one straight to the other (FIA 8.30 pm Seebühne, JP 10 pm Seebühne, SJ 00.30 Prechtlsaal) and of which you shouldn’t miss a single one.
Tanz Baby: Because he’s sexy, strange, melancholic, elegant, sad and orotund at the same time. Sunday, 5 pm, Wien Museum.
Ginga: They already played last year at Popfest and were one of the big “discoveries” there – they were all over the press. Which means: if you still don’t know who they are, you’re missing something!! Sunday, 8.30 pm, Seebühne.
Last but really not least: Sweet Sweet Moon. Because I’ll always recommend Matthias. He might seem to be a confused boy living in his own world… and maybe he is. But his music will take your heart and place it on cloud nine. Promised. He’s playing on Saturday at 4 pm at Wien Museum. And while you’re waiting for his gig, you can and should check out his new and very poppy, summery song “Smoke Up”.

See you at Popfest!