That’s how it was at WELLE: ERDBALL

March 08, 2025, Hamburg, Markthalle
Support: Versus

Electronic revolution with a cool attitude

Welle: Erdball is different! Welle: Erdball is a constantly moving radio station that has been a cult for a long time and is no longer an insider tip. They send their electrifying radio waves through the ether straight into your head. With the charm of the eighties, a consistent fifties aesthetic and the backing of over 30 years of studio and stage experience, they now present a new, crazy concept: The Experiment² – a tour with analog synthesizers, Commodore C=64 computers and a soundtrack for a party evening where every beat is a promise: here you are alive … and in stereo! We were there in Hamburg.

Ahoy Pop in its coolest form

The Dresden band Versus, known for their self-named Ahoy Pop, opened the evening with an energy that literally electrified the room. With a mix of cheeky charm, rousing rhythms and a pinch of rebellious esprit, they have made a name for themselves in the scene – and that’s exactly what you could feel on this special evening. Right at the beginning, charismatic singer André Steinigen surprised the audience in an unconventional way: In the middle of the crowd, surrounded by astonished fans, the first song “Welle Sieben” rang out. Wasn’t that the perfect start to blur the boundaries between stage and audience? And so it was clear from the start that no standards would be played tonight. With the other tracks “Wenn Gedanken fliegen lernen”, “Scheisstränen”, “Revolution” and “FreakWaves”, the evening turned into a real party. Each song was a statement that convinced and enthralled the Hamburg audience with a mixture of clever lyrics and a sound that invited you to tap along.

The first highlight of the evening came when Tim Green from Alienare took to the stage as a special guest – a moment that captured everyone’s attention. Together with André Steinigen, they went straight into full swing when they performed the Alienare hit“To Who with May Concern”. This duet was not only a musical explosion, but also a sign that real surprises make this evening really come alive. Now, at the latest, the party evening began for the last members of the audience. And that was not all: shortly afterwards, both Tim and André stole the hearts of the fans with their joint performance of the Versus song“Kosmonaut”. This was followed by a powerful performance of “Immer dann” and “Am Ende aller Tage”, which continued to drive the flow of the evening. The crowning finale then came from the middle of the enthusiastic audience again: André sang “Into the Galaxy” – and released the now well warmed-up Hamburg audience into a short changeover break.

Electrifying magic – Part 1

The first notes of the Welle: Erdball song “Wir sind elektronisch” literally made the audience burst with enthusiasm. Behind large rectangles covered in white cloth, only mysterious silhouettes appeared, charging the atmosphere with their driving beats like lightning in the dark. Out of the darkness and into the light of the stage came “Welle: Erdball” – a statement that proclaimed the band’s name in every bar. With “Tanzpalast 2000”, the hall was transformed into a pulsating dance floor. The driving rhythms invited the audience to dive wildly into the night. In contrast, the new single “Die Menschen sterben nicht” brought an unexpected depth to the show. The mixture of melancholic sounds and energetic breakdowns allowed the audience to sink into their thoughts, while the bass vibrated unstoppably through the hall, but also invited them to sing along. Things became visually special during “Hoch die Fahnen”: Lady Lila and M. A. Peel waved the flags with such fervor that the room almost seemed to be charged with the patriotic passion typical of Welle: Erdball . Afterwards, “Mama Papa Zombie” and “Lady Dracula” provided an unforgettable mixture of irony and creepy atmosphere mixed with a touch of the eighties and danceable Neue Deutsche Welle.

The Hamburg audience, now an active part of a vibrant collective, took a breather during “Tote Frauen kommen leise”, a piece that sometimes plunged the room into an almost sacred silence with its subtle drama, before the powerful “Mumien im Autokino” got the hall shaking. During “1000 Engel”, Lady Lila took to the stage as a radiant angel to accompany the song with an unforgettable performance. The people of Hamburg danced and sang their hearts out before being released for a well-earned break to cool down.

Electrifying magic – Part 2

After a short but for many refreshing break, Welle: Erdball returned with a new set and opened the second part with “Pareidolie” and “23”, whose driving beats immediately rekindled the energy, while “8-Bit Raumstation” was played on a C=64 and a nostalgic excursion into the world of retro electronics took place.

The first highlight of the second part came with “Schweben fliegen fallen”. Here, large balloons flew into the audience and put a smile on everyone’s face – and the exuberant joy was almost tangible. The following track “Drogenexzess Musikexpress” got the pulse racing again before “Feuerwerk” rocked the stage and the hall with an explosive soundscape. The only thing that mattered here was the rhythm, which was electrifying and captivating. The second part concluded with the David Bowie classic “Space Oddity”, another interstellar excursion that transported the audience to distant galaxies. Welle: Erdball thanked the Hamburg audience and left the stage to thunderous applause.

But in Hamburg they wanted more. More Welle: Erdball and more party! And that came with the pulsating encore “Monoton & Minimal”. The final hit “Video Killed the Radiostar” followed, which was performed together with Tim Green from Alienare and the guys from Versus. This was the energetic, unforgettable climax that filled Hamburg’s Markthalle with a final, unstoppable beat and sent the enthusiastic audience blissfully off into the dark Hamburg night.

A party evening to remember

This evening in the Markthalle was the soundtrack for our head cinema with songs from our parties that have been with us for a lifetime. Welle: Erdball prove time and time again that they don’t just make music, but also evoke emotions and create memories with their shows. They invite you to leave everyday life behind and plunge into an analog world where every beat is an adventure.

Setlist VERSUS:
“Welle Sieben” – “Wenn Gedanken fliegen lernen” – “Scheisstränen” – “Revolution” – “FreakWaves” – “To Whom It May Concern” (Alienare cover) – “Kosmonaut” – “Immer dann” – “Am Ende aller Tage” – “Into the Galaxy

Setlist WELLE: ERDBALL:
“Wir sind elektronisch” – “Welle:Erdball” – “Tanzpalast 2000” – “Menschen sterben nicht” “Hoch die Fahnen” – “Mama Papa Zombie” – “Lady Dracula” – “Tote Frauen kommen leise” – “Mumie im Autokino” – “Es geht ab” – “Türspion” – “Experiment” – “Wahnsinns Fette Beute” – “1000 Engel” – “Pareidolie” – “23” – “8-Bit Raumstation” – “Schweben fliegen fallen” – “Drogenexzess Musikexpress” – “Feuerwerk” – “Space Oddity” (David Bowie cover) — “Monoton & Minimal” – “Video killed the radio star”

Text & Photos: Thomas Friedel Fuhrmann