Indienial

5 years ago, if someone said they're a Belieber, they were most likely 10 years old and had no rational thoughts on 'real' music (God, how I despite this term) whatsoever. Nowadays, I, an adult woman who is probably one of the most pretentious human beings currently alive, have no shame in admitting that I know Bieber's lyrics to his latest songs better than my vegan meals, super duper indie secondhand shops or 100% recyclable vinyls. Why is that?
I'd like to answer that in one sentence:
BECAUSE HIS NEW ALBUM IS F*CKING GOOD.
But I don't get a full article out of that, so let me eloberate further on this:
Justin Bieber is a dickhead. He has been for many years. Not even in a "uh he's such a bad boy but I still like him" kinda way. Just plain dickhead way. Plus, his music was dogshit. No wonder it seemed people would rather discuss his mistakes than all the other things going on in the world that were worth talking about but apparently not interesting enough. So what has changed now?

I personally have always felt kind of sorry for him. Of course he is stupid, but how much of it is really his fault? Of course his music was bad, but how much of it was really his fault?

What has changed is that he's still some kind of stupid, but he realised. He's aware. And I believe in the goods of people, so I believe he does try to change. But in his circumstances every normal everyday decision or action can become difficult.
I think people have started to notice that he's trying, that's one part. The other one would be that his new music is actually catchy and enjoyable. That combined with the new trend to like Bieber makes it easy for everyone to openly shout along to What Do You Mean? and not get dirty looks for it but rather have someone continue with the next lyrics.

Most of the things that happened to Bieber were out of his control, but he's trying now. Its finally not cool anymore to call him gay for no apparent reason. To a certain extent it has become cool to like him. Good for him.

Anyone who has seen these four lads from Liverpool before knows that every live show is phenomenal. Even sadder that the small 300 capacity club in the centre of Cologne wasn't even nearly sold out, despite it being the second time of them playing it. Might have been because it was a Monday, might have been because of the lack of promo, but it didn't do any greater damage: the club filled as the evening went by and Circa Waves smashed the tiny stage. Okay, there weren't as many people as at their show at Brixton Academy in London a few weeks earlier, but the fans who did attend showed what it really takes for a good live performance: a good band and even better fans who are willing to heat everything up.

Circa Waves played their usual songs but with much more energy. It seemed like Kieran, the lead singer, had a particular good day. Some random guy who I believe was not German managed to start a moshpit and with such a small crowd it was inevitable for anyone to stay out of it. Beer got spilled everywhere, people got hurt, it was a good night.

But, back to the show: as I said before, it doesn't necessarily take loads of people to make a good show, it just takes the right one, who definitely were there that evening. Although half a year earlier there were more people, there was less passion and singing along was impossible for almost everyone. This time, Kieran didn't even get the choice of letting us take over to sing the chorus or not, we just did.

Him letting me play his guitar for the intro of a song was one of my highlights that could only be shadowed by the traditional jumping on stage during their last and most popular song T-Shirt Weather. Back in May only my friends and I dared to jump the stage and it was more awkward than wild. This time everyone followed sued and it almost looked like the whole crowd ended up on stage.

Cologne again was the final stop of the European tour and this time they really did leave with a bang.

Follow Circa Waves
Get their album Young Chasers here

How do you review a gig of a person that has been reviewed a thousand times over the course of 30 years? How do you describe the indescribable experience to other people? Here goes me attempting to do exactly that.

On Thursday, 1st October, the time was finally there. Despite only arriving about an hour before doors opened, I catched a rather good spot at the front. For there were 50-year-old die-hard fans from England, who have queued since 5 in the morning, there wouldn't have been a point for me to arrive earlier anyways. It all had a One Direction reunion concert in 30 years time vibe to it.

As expected, there wasn't a support act for the living legend, but I was fine with that. Instead, at 8pm, we got shown a thirty minute long video of different performances of various acts, mostly from the 70s or earlier. I for my part would've been okay with them only showing Ramones, but an old lady reading some kind of poetry out loud was interesting too.

At 8.30 pm Morrissey quietly and almost unnoticeably walked on stage, just as you'd expect him to. I couldn't stop grinning once I saw his famous pained expression, it's not a faux, he actually does always look like he's suffering. He opened the show with the words "Kunst, Kunst, Kunst" which means "art" in German. From that moment on I knew, this was where I was supposed to be.

What I and many more have noticed was that he was in a surprisingly good mood. He smiled a lot at no one in particular, cracked a few jokes every now and again and embraced everyone who tried to jump on stage with open arms.

Yet, one thing was clear: Morrissey tried to get his political message across, and he succeeded. We all know his infamous Meat Is Murder video so I was able to prepare myself emotionally for that one, but I didn't expect a video showing police brutality or memes of the British monarchy. Everything fit somehow, and I already declared a few years ago that I'm not questioning his kind of activism anymore, so I blankly accepted how he used Hebrew letters while mentioning the Holocaust in his video of dying animals.

He didn't play many crowd pleasers, I think he wanted to make the gig more about him, but that's what we know and love him for.

My favourite song of the evening must have been You Have Killed Me, for it felt like the air got lighter, the people got nicer and Morrissey got more lighthearted, it was incredible to watch.

After finishing The Queen Is Dead, with a picture of the Lizard woman showing her middle fingers appearing on the big screen behind, various 50-year-olds took the chance and jumped over the barrier in hopes to reach Mozza. While both me and the security were seemingly scared of the health of those aged rebels, I must admit it gave the whole room a carefree feeling.

Morrissey was on top of it and I'm more than thankful he gave me the opportunity to witness him live. Now, all my wounds are healed. I'm glad he brought band-aids.