Barns Courtney @ Lido in Berlin
In a city with the clubs open uninterruptedly from Friday to Monday, surely more than one of us made it to Lido last Sunday night to see Barns Courtney without much energy left. The feeling got even worse when after the (good) performances of "Retro Video Club" and "Blackwaters" it was almost 10 o'clock and the main show had not started yet.
But it took just a few chords of "Fun never ends" for Barns Courtney and his 3 great band mates, to have all the people at a near half-full chamber jumping and singing, dispelling any doubt and forgetting the fatigue.
Barns Courtney performing on Sunday night at Lido, Berlin
Between all the concert venues from Berlin, I count Lido as one of my favorites. Located in what used to be the main street (Schlesische Straße) of the Kreuzberg district, in the 50s and 60s the place was a landmark for the underground culture in the East Berlin. After a decade marked by Rock'n'Roll, the 80s and 90s were years of decline away from music until it opened again in 2006.
Like Lido and despite his young age (28), Barns has a thrilling personal history (type his name on Google and surf a bit, you will not be disappointed) and now that he might be successful, it sure feels more pleasant to remember and it will have given him some vulnerability awareness. The good news is that whether Barns has a past, he has even more future, something to celebrate.
On Sunday he came with the lesson well learnt and eager to tear up the stage, and together with the rest of the band they gave a round concert -he even sang mixed with the audience and brought a fan up to the stage to dance with him- in front of an audience so difficult as the German, not very prone to externalize emotions.
Bass boss Milkie, stealing glances at Lido, Berlin
With an energetic and powerful direct, a meticulous rock aesthetic and a short but well-grounded repertoire, Barns Courtney (former leader of indie-punk band Dive Bella Dive) is definitely a scenic animal, tanned after years of ups and downs (including surviving with lots of creepy jobs and many nights at some friends couch) until he could put out his first record ("The Attractions of Youth", EMI) back in 2017.
So mark it as a must see whether he is stopping in your city or is in the line up of any Summer festival.
Setlist Barns Courtney at Lido on March 17th, 2019:
Fun Never Ends
Hands
Rather Die
London Girls
Hobo Rocket
Never Let You Down
Little Boy
Hell Fire
Glitter & Gold
99`
Golden Dandelions
Kicks
Fire
Cover photograph by Page Sara Photo
