Anyone still looking for a spot with a clear view on Friday night was out of luck: the Backstage Halle was packed to the rafters when Tanzwut came to Munich on 23 October. Seven weeks after the release of "Herz aus Stein", the band around singer Teufel was back on a Munich stage, and the crowd was with them from the very first note.
Sagenbringer: folk metal to warm up
Sagenbringer opened the night. The crowd visibly went along with their folk metal and gave the band a big celebration. The remark that they would be back in the area in spring, namely in Bamberg, drew hearty laughter. By Munich standards, a rather generous interpretation of "in the area".
Tanzwut: bagpipes, power and goosebumps
Then the stage belonged to Tanzwut. Bagpipes, heavy guitars and electronic elements, plus Teufel with horns and red make-up: the mix that has defined the band since 1997 worked once again. The sound was very well mixed, and the lighting got an astonishing amount out of the comparatively small hall. Plenty of red, plus sharp white beams cutting through the haze, perfect for a band that thrives on its staging.
The most moving moment came with "Noch eine Flasche Wein". The crowd didn't just sing along, there were tears among the very loyal fans. By then at the latest it was clear that for many people in the room, Tanzwut are far more than a band you just happen to go and see.
From 10 to 79
What surprised me most was the audience itself: from around 10 to 79 years old, every age group was there. Medieval rock clearly brings generations together, and not just on paper. Everyone celebrated together, and nobody seemed out of place.
Verdict: a packed hall, a band on top form and an audience any musician would wish for. In Munich, Tanzwut showed why, after almost three decades, they still fill venues.
