Kris Woodbird is a progressive Swedish indie folk singer song writer. He has a very special sound. It's just Kris and his Washburn guitar. Even on recordings. Maybe a backing voice or a cello to but that's rare. It's naked, true and close. To see him on a small stage is just perfect. I'm especially fond of his way to build the melodies. I'v knows Kris for many years. We meet when studying cognitive psychology i Stockholm almost 10 years ago. So in between gigs and releases he has time to work as a therapist too.
So last weekend me and my darling, and backing vocal, Åsa decided to go to Berlin to hear Kris. He played at the Madame Claude music club. Madame Claude is a very special place. Everthing is upside down. The clock on the wall, there is tables on the celing, upside down lamps on the wall, there is a parquet as a celing and even the CCTV monitor is ... yeah, upside down. Madame Claude is the name of the former madam that ran a brothel that carried her name. Same place, new audience. And new music I guess. Madame Claude is now a place for progressive music. And since it's a former brothel it is bang in the middle of Kreuzberg, the bohemian quarters of Berlin. And in the cellar there is a stage.
Kris had a great gig! The dimly lit stage, audience close up on Kris, a suprisingly good sound technician and Kris with eyes closed and slightly leaning forward.. singing about friendship and love...... Just the right setting for a Woodbird.
Me and Åsa stayed at the Berlin Palace Hotell on Kurfurstendamm for the weekend. It's in the former west-Berlin center and close to the infamous Banhof Zoo. And in December it's also right on top of the nice Berlin Chistmas market. Just 10 paces from the hotel entrance. So we had a good time in Berlin even outside of Madame Claude's. I like Berlin, I really do. It's a big city with lots to see. And it has that "anything is possible" feeling to it.
So ..... I'll be back!
/Gus
