That was the case with ASP

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Hamburg, Friedrich-Ebert-Halle on May 22, 2025

ASP – “Dark romantic main nights”

“When you sing, you give something of yourself. You can’t lie when you sing. When you sing, you are all for yourself – and for others.” – Asp

The whisper of the night

When a whisper wafts through the shadows and black hearts beat in unison, then you know: ASP have called. And when ASP call, the darkness answers. Asp is the master of the dark: His songs are epic narratives, his lyrics poetic and always visually powerful with stirring melodies, unafraid to upend all expectations for once. He knows what the fans want – and serves up dark, profound poetry and the ability to capture the inexpressible in sonorous lines. His works are stories, his performances narratives in sound and body. It is precisely this contrast between dark pathos and tongue-in-cheek joie de vivre that makes ASP so unique. A shining example for all those who have never wanted – or been able – to fit into the mainstream.

Dark romantic main nights

There are concerts that you go to – and there are evenings like this that you go to. On May 22, 2025, Hamburg’s Friedrich-Ebert-Halle became the heart of the black scene. ASP hosted the Dark Romantic Main Nights, and anyone who was there knows that it was far more than just a concert. It was a black confession. A ritual. An invitation to withdraw from the glaring noise of the world for an evening – into the maelstrom of depth, poetry and darkness.

But what exactly is behind the “Dark Romantic Main Nights”? Basically, they are a declaration of love to the intimate side of dark romanticism. Asp has deliberately opted for a reduced, almost chamber music-like concept for this concert series. Everything is kept “unplugged” – no pompous laser shows, just cones of light and shadows, gentle acoustic guitars, classical instruments and sometimes just a whisper instead of loud vocal rhetoric. They are more intimate than festival performances, more dramatic than club shows and yet full of closeness. Every song gets the chance to have an intimate effect on the audience.

Between shadows, strings and soul fire

The first veil was lifted with the very first note of “Beschwörung” – dark, slow, haunting. Even the darkest soul would have felt joy with this opening. Asp, the charismatic frontman as always, greeted the audience with a mischievous smile – a final promise that a few more surprises would follow today. At the latest with the following “20,000 Meilen” it was clear: the journey goes deep. And far. From there, it was a wild, beautiful ride through a darkly romantic discography that only ASP can pull off. “Bernsteinmeerengel”, “Abertausend Fragen”, the melancholy and shiny “Schwarzer Schmetterling” – each song a chapter in the collective diary of the black scene.

And yet the evening was not only remarkable musically – Asp himself was in top form. Charming, self-deprecating and as eloquent as ever, he regularly broke through the front wall of the stage to communicate with his audience at eye level. With a twinkle in his eye, he explained early on: “I need to hear you a bit between songs, because it’s so reverent here, so I think, I hope they like it!” (Enthusiastic cheers followed) Or his legendary tattoo confession: “There was a game on the last tour. If the audience really joins in with a song, a certain older gentleman – me – gets his very first tattoo. I thought long and hard about whether I wouldn’t have preferred a sports car … but as I don’t have a driver’s license, I got the tattoo.” (Shouts from the audience: “Show!”) – “Bet won! I knew that would be the first heckle. And now – no, it’s not a tramp stamp. Not a unicorn either. It’s an infinity sign with the word ‘foreign’ written on it.” The crowd went wild. Even when he smugly added: “You really are the only people who dare to come onto school grounds again.” (The Friedrich-Ebert-Halle is located on school grounds)

When music catches fire – premieres and goosebump moments

A total of 20 pieces were played – a finely curated set between deep roots and new wings. Particularly noteworthy: the live premieres. “Everything but this”, for the very first time on stage, unleashed a mixture of amazement, fascination and sheer devotion. Darkly pulsating, direct and yet full of in-between lines – a highlight of the evening. The second premiere also made black hearts beat faster: as the final encore, “Höllenfahrt” was performed in front of an audience for the first time. A song that is less a track than a dramatic manifesto. Dark, powerful, cutting – and presented by Asp with a look that will stay with you for a long time.

Of course, the classics were not missing either: the furiously beautiful “Ich, der Teufel und du”, the poetic “Tintakel”, the mysterious “Sandmann GmbH & Compagnie”, the atmospheric “Stille der Nacht” and the visually stunning “Krabat”. In the encore, the goosebump-guarantee par excellence: “Ich will brennen”, this time in an ensemble version – more haunting, more powerful, more emotional than ever before. A musical firestorm.

Pause with meaning – and a scene that breathes together

After the first half, there was a 25-minute break – rarely has it been so well deserved. And rarely has an intermission felt like reading a novel together and needing to take a deep breath before the finale begins. This is where the essence of the black scene was revealed: conversations at eye level, encounters without masks, laughter in the shadows. The “Dunkelromantische Mainächte” are not just ASP’s stage – they are a meeting place, a home.

An evening like a dark poem

What remains of this evening? Goosebumps. Gratitude. And this quiet, tender feeling that you have been seen – not just as a concertgoer, but as a person, with all its facets. ASP do not provide fleeting entertainment. They give depth. They give stories, spaces, intermediate worlds. Because in a world that is often too glaring, we need places like these where we can celebrate the shadows together. The “Dark Romantic Main Nights” may only be one chapter – but what they have ignited remains.

Setlist:
“Beschwörung” – “20.000 Meilen” – “Amber Sea Angel” – “A Thousand and One Questions” – “Black Butterfly” – “Duet (Minstrel Song of the Incubi)” – “Me” – “Tintakel” – “Everything but that” – “Me, the Devil and You” (intermission 25 min.) – “Carpe Noctem” – “Sandmann GmbH & Compagnie” – “Silence of the Night” – “Krabat” – “Changeling” – “Water lily blossoms of yore” – “Werben” – “Unrelated” — “I want to burn” – “Höllenfahrt”

Text & Photos: Thomas Friedel Fuhrmann