Experienced live: KITE

Report from September 24, 2024, Cologne, Gebäude 9
Photos from September 20, 2024, Hamburg, Reeperbahn-Festival, Knust

Late summer was now suddenly over. Having recently been able to recharge your inner sun batteries in pleasant temperatures in order to be ready for the fall, an uncomfortable drizzle was now setting in. It was also unthinkable to go outside without a jacket. On a former factory site in Cologne’s Deutz district, Kite and Henric de la Cour made a stop in the Rhine metropolis on their current tour.

A warm welcome

In 2008, singer Nicklas Stenemo and keyboardist Christian Hutchinson from Sweden founded their band Kite. Should this be another synth-pop project that comes and goes, perhaps writing a single hit as a one-hit wonder? Not at all! With their keen sense for great moments and their unparalleled live performances, the duo have earned themselves a firm place in the electronic scene. And once you’ve experienced Kite on stage, you can no longer escape the sometimes delicate, sometimes opulent sounds of Nicklas and Christian. What immediately stood out in Building 9 was the pleasantly friendly staff. No matter where you met the staff, everyone was obviously happy to be here. They smiled cheerfully at you, had a snappy remark here and there – you immediately felt welcome. The audience was just as friendly that evening. The relaxed atmosphere made it easy to get into conversation and the waiting time passed in a flash.

Let there be light

Henric de la Cour ‘s 30-minute set was followed by a half-hour changeover break. It was almost as if the special guest’s keyboard had to be removed from the perfectly arranged setting. Numerous Kite keyboards were positioned on several stands and various floors. LED fluorescent tubes, spotlights and lampshades could also be seen all around. Incidentally, Building 9 could hold 400 guests when the house was completely full. Although the club wasn’t sold out that evening, it was still well filled for a Tuesday. Kite got us in the mood for their performance with the 8-minute opener “Remember Me”. It was pitch black in the room. But the bright LED lights were already moving in time to the rhythms. Fog rose and a white beam of light made its way between the duo across the tense crowd. Right from the start, the fans joined in with the lyrics. The spherical and melodically strong track “Changing” immediately got the fans moving. Meanwhile, the Swedes delivered a wild performance. Christian even played two different keyboards with his arms outstretched to the left and right of him.

Magic unleashed

Completely surprisingly, Kite then suddenly played a completely new song. “Heaven & Hell”. Full of emotion and partly with his eyes closed, Nicklas sang the lines of this enchanting synthpop anthem. Right from the start, it was noticeable how far a concert, but also the band’s sound, was from the musical uniformity of many of their colleagues. This made it all the easier to fully embrace this refreshing style. “I Can’t Stand” was powerful with EBM elements and flickering strobe lights. “The Rhythm” triggered enthusiastic shouts of “Woohoo” from the crowd. Driving beats enveloped Stenemo’s penetrating, clear voice. Jumping and exuberant, he surrendered to the electronic sounds. And yet he always managed to make direct eye contact with his followers.

Messengers of happiness

The duo then struck a calmer note with “Glassy Eyes”. Surrounded by warm lights in yellow tones, it now became really melancholy. Full of passion, the singer presented us with this dramatic ballad about emotional emptiness and exhaustion. As the heat had built up in the club by now, it was very pleasant to be able to take a deep breath and let the song gently sway back and forth. And before a depressed mood took over, arms went up in the air to “True Colors”. Concise rhythms and an atmospheric sound made our thoughts float around. Although Nickla’s high voice in “Don’t Take the Light Away” was provided with an autotune, the song immediately captivated us. Perfectly arranged, the rousing dancefloor number built up impressively and the mood in the club rose analogously to the exuberant movements. If endorphins were visible, you would have seen them dancing in the light with us. We thanked the band with loud cheers.

Everything flows…

“Dance Again” was a little more moderate, but no less intense. Some fans even closed their eyes to the sweet melody in order to fully internalize the moment. As the light turned purple and green, the striking electric drums of “Jonny Boy” filtered through to us. The cheerful sound of the song brought another smile to our faces. By now, the hot and humid air in the room was ignored both in front of and on stage. There was simply no escaping the energetic music and the fantastic atmosphere. From the very first second, “Panic Music” hinted at an incendiary dance grenade. Only the calmer middle section allowed the impressions of the fabulous light show and the duo’s strong stage presence to sink in for a moment. The sound and lights seemed to explode again and carry the crowd away with them. Phenomenal!

Generous donation

Just like at the beginning, the white beam lit up between the musicians. For the closer, Henric de la Cour appeared alongside Nicklas for a joint duet. The musicians wrote the piece “Losing” together anyway. The voices of both singers harmonized perfectly to the calm sounds of the longing song. After a polite bow and a grateful air kiss, the artists said their goodbyes after 65 minutes. Anyone who was confused here – Kite deliberately focus on short but memorable concerts. Shortly after the lights went up, the merchandising stand was virtually overrun. Despite the impressive prices, rows and rows of textiles and LPs were sold here. It has to be said, however, that the quality was really excellent. After just a few moments, the three musicians, who were in the best of moods, appeared to be available to their fans for photos, autographs and short small talks. It was a pleasure to watch the lively goings-on. In a careless moment, Christian accidentally spilled a bottle of cola on a handful of shirts. His little faux pas was a source of amusement. He spontaneously grabbed the wet goods and gave them away to the extremely happy fans. They were visibly delighted with the unexpected mementos. May you enjoy them for a long time.

Conclusion:

For a concert, the Swedes released us back into the night quite early. But something special happened during this short time. Full of bliss, we realized again how beautiful the third season can be. After all, this special melancholy arises here, which makes experiences or small moments touch you even more intensely. Now autumn can come!

Setlist KITE:

“Remember Me” – “Changing” – “Heaven & Hell” – “I Can’t Stand” – “The Rhythm” – “Glassy Eyes” – “True Colours” – “Don’t Take the Light Away” – “Dance Again ” – “Jonny Boy” – “Panic Music ” – “Losing” (feat. Henric de la Cour)

Text: Nadine Kloppert
Photos: Thomas Friedel Fuhrmann

Check out our picture gallery with photos from September 20, 2024, Hamburg, Reeperbahn-Festival, Knust: