28.06.2002 - Einlass: 21:00:00 Beginn: 21:30:00
Jazzkeller Treptow - Puschkinallee 5, 12435

News from Poland: KRISTEN

KRISTEN - Marcin Piekoszewski - Schlagzeug, Gitarre
KRISTEN - Mateusz Rychlicki - Schlagzeug
KRISTEN - Lukasz Rychlicki - Gitarre
KRISTEN - Michal Biela - Bass, Vocal

Kristen is a Polish band which tries to defy the rigid rules of indie rock despite its indie rock beginnings and quite a traditional set of instruments: guitars, bass, drums. That's why, when they supported Chokebore at the Knaack-Club in Berlin earlier this May, the most repeated word among the public was 'crazy'. Indeed, Kristen sometimes use two drum kits to provide space and texture evoking the music of wild free jazz artists of the 60's, but more than often their music is warm, subtle and uniquely melodic, closer to post-rock and more Tortoise-like. The two guitars have a strange, neurotic but still very warm sound, giving enough space for calm and almost-whispered vocals, everything is arranged in a surprising and a varied way. Their concerts burst with energy and emotion, which is difficult to imagine while listening to their latest intimate and calm record, 'Stiff Upper Worlds' (Gusstaff Rec. 2002, gusstaff@terra.pl), but their gigs do not last more than an hour due to the apparent exhaustion of the two meters tall singer and bass player. It is probably the only thing they have in common with the 'typical rock band' and they are actually proud of that. Kristen is a must-see band if you want to get the good grasp of what is most interesting in the Polish underground music.