The second date on my tour with the Monochrome Set saw the band descending on an excessively chilly Leipzig, the largest city in Saxony and Germany’s tenth most populous city, with a population of around 570,00 souls. On our way we passed this leather clad old rocker.
As with all the tour, we’d arrived by the civilised means of train locomotion – some of the earlier journey is documented here – and by the time we reached Leipzig the temperature was already well into the Arse! It’s Chuffing Freezing zone.
We were there in the lead-up to Christmas, and Germany doesn’t mess about when it comes to the festive season, with the station bedecked in fairy lights and all things ho-ho-ho.
Please note the steam locomotive-shaped Wafflelbackerei.
Leipzig has a real Eastern European feel to it: it reminded me of Berlin before the hipsters and gentrifiers moved in.
I took a stroll around town before we played our gig.
Leipzig’s tram network comprises of 13 lines, with a total route length of 148.3 km (92.1 mi) with 510 tram stops, making it the second biggest in Germany, after the Berlin tramway network. [—]
Poster for the gig!
This 1936 Persil advert was restored in 1993.
Oi! Of The Tiger sound entertaining.
We were playing in Naumann’s, part of the Felsenkeller in Leipzig West. Built in 1890, the building once included a venue with 1000 seats, a spacious garden, terraces and verandas. It’s a bit run down outside, but a lovely venue inside.
Soundchecking. I played a kit made by local firm Rockstroh Drums, and was very impressed with their quality. The bass drum was the biggest I’d ever played, and it was great to be able to play on a hand made kit manufactured in the town I was playing.
I took another stroll around town after the sound check. It was about -6C at this point.
We met some lovely people at the show, and they took us the Noch Besser Leben bar at Merseburger Str. 25, 04229 Leipzig. And we had a splendid time!
A look around the bar.
With a hefty hangover, I went for a bracing work in the morning before we got a cab to the station.
Arriving at Leipzig station, I spotted this wonderful steam locomotive parked in one of the platforms and immediately headed over to take a closer look.
Other vintage locomotives and carriages were on display on the same platform. Oh yes!
A model railway was on display in the station forecourt.
Leipzig station is huge. Covering 83,460 square metres (898,400 sq ft), it is the world’s largest railway station measured by floor area, with 19 overground platforms housed in six iron train sheds, a multi-level concourse with towering stone arches, and a 298 metres (978 ft) long facade.
Passing a power station on the way to our next show in Berlin. Expect more photos soon!
More photos of Germany. More about The Monochrome Set.
Related posts:
