L’ÂME IMMORTELLE: On Stage

15.02.2024, Music Center, Hanover
Support: Burn, Alpha Point

The tour for L’âme Immortelle ‘s 13th studio album “Ungelebte Leben” was already in full swing when they made a stop at the Musikzentrum Hannover and spread the magic of music into the hearts of the Hanoverians. On a chilly Thursday evening, the doors opened at around 7pm and the black crowd poured in.

Alpha Point kicked things off with their somewhat unconventional synth sound in today’s band constellation. Flanked on stage by two dancers, singer Alex Rush gave his all to lure us out of our shells and get us dancing. Where at the beginning of the concert you could still see somewhat reserved faces, who – set for a quiet, melancholy evening – didn’t quite know where to put the danceable electronic sounds, by the end of the show you could see some who had let themselves be infected by Alex’s energy and had already completed the compulsory work-out for the next day.

Not only L’âme Immortelle had a new album with them today – the second band of the evening, Burn, had also brought their fifth studio album with them, “Falling in Reverse”. Not as dance-oriented as Alpha Point, but more for the heart, the quartet set the mood again in the right ambience: thoughtful celebration instead of ecstatic dancing. Many of those present already seemed to be familiar with the band and so they sang along and moved their bodies to the beat. After eight songs, the set was already over, with the calm title track of the new album being chosen as a gentle finale so as not to cause too abrupt a cut.

One last changeover break, then it was time. The first notes of “Was wäre, wenn” rang out, Gerrit, Martin and Thomas Rainer entered the stage and stood there motionless – then Sonja Kraushofer’s voice rang out. But wait – where was she? Did the voice perhaps come from the tape? Of course not! Sonja had decided to walk through the audience while she sang the first song and stayed close to the fans for the entire song – sometimes facing Thomas on stage and sometimes in direct eye contact with the fans. With this opening, the ice was broken and the spark between band and audience was immediately ignited. So it was easy to transform the music center into a “Tollhaus” (as far as one can say with this rather quiet music). By the time the now almost 25-year-old “Gefallen” was played, the crowd had turned into a dancing black mass. Even though “Ungelebte Leben” took center stage that evening, the setlist also included some songs from the previous album and a few classics. Sonja’s stage performance lent every single piece that certain something, be it the mumbling during “Niemals”, the outfit changes or the facial expressions and gestures in general. It was like a little musical.

After the piece “Widerhall”, a short break was planned before the evening came to a strong conclusion with “5 Jahre” and “Es tut mir leid”. But was it really already over? The “big light” had not yet been switched back on. And indeed: L’âme Immortelle came back on stage, Sonja and Thomas sat down at the keyboard that had just been set up and Sonja sang “Bitterkeit”. The following piano version of the LAI classic should give everyone present goosebumps. How beautiful and emotional! After such a great start, the show ended on an equally grandiose note – a perfect, well-rounded affair.

Text & Photos: Elias Nike, Mina Wagner

Setlist L’âme Immortelle:
• „Was wäre, wenn“ • „Angst“ • „Wie Tränen im Regen“ • „Gefallen“ • „Tauch mich in dein Licht“ • „Stumme Schreie“ • „Push“ • „War of Silence“ • „Dem Abgrund entgegen“ • „Niemals“ (acustic) • „Nie genug“ • „Life will Never Be the Same Again“ • „Ungelebte Leben“ • „Fallen Angel“ • „Absolution“ • „Phönix“ • „Widerhall“ ••• „5 Jahre“ • „Es tut mit leid“ ••• „Bitterkeit“ (piano version)

You can also find an interview with Sonja and Thomas in our current March/April issue.

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