Which Kraftwerk night should I attend?

September 12, 2014 9:02 AM

So Kraftwerk is covering their catalog in 8 separate shows at the Paradiso.

I'm a electronic fan along the lines of BAD, 808 State, Consolidated. But then I'm a big fan of old disco and house as well. I like a lot of things really.

So, at €64 a pop, I'll probably only buy tickets for one night, maybe two. Any thoughts on which night? I'm thinking "Trans Europe Express", but maybe "Autobahn".

Please hope my snowflake.

posted by humboldt32 to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

I can't comment from the perspective of having seen them live (grumble grumble) but unless you have a deep, personal connection to "Autobahn," if you're only going one night I'd go with "Trans-Europe Express" just because there's more variety on that album.
posted by griphus at 9:11 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

I went to two of the NYC shows a couple of years back, and I have to tell you it was amazing. I did the Man-Machine & Computerworld nights. After each album, they played greatest hits from the others, so you'd always see TEE and Autobahn performed as individual tracks that time around (also, Tour de France & basically side 1 of Electric Cafe). The Tate shows look like they were the same way, I'd think it's a safe bet the setlists are standard for the 12345678 shows. The shows I saw were pretty small, and took place at MoMA, and the production values were very nice (brighest / largest projection I have ever seen/ sound was terrific / 3-d effects were thrilling).

I think I'd pay that price for it, even in a more crowded venue (tickets for the MoMA shows were a steal at $25, and one pair I got for free). I consider myself a Kraftwerk superfan and I was totally enthralled. It was not like seeing Beyonce or anything, but the human part of the performance was pretty captivating. Ralf even cracked a smile at one point thanks to the enthusiasm of the crowd.

Feel like I have to mention that I also saw SNL's Dieter in attendance on the Computerworld night.
posted by activitystory at 9:37 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

I saw them earlier this year - really fantastic. Personally, I'd go for Man Machine, but I don't think you can really go wrong.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:41 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

For your taste, I'd actually recommend The Mix, then Computer World or Techno Pop, then Man Machine.
posted by rhizome at 9:52 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

To be honest, it doesn't really matter much. The set lists are pretty consistent across all nights, with just one or two other tracks from the "featured" albums being thrown in. In the case of Autobahn, that also meant the full-length version, as opposed to the radio edit, which they played all other nights. I saw them here in L.A. and didn't feel like I'd missed much from one show to the next.
posted by mykescipark at 10:15 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Having seen them (for free!) at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, I'd say you can't go wrong with any show you can get tickets to.
posted by grateful at 10:48 AM on September 12, 2014 [1 favorite]

When I heard about this yesterday I actually started trembling with excitement. For a split second I fantasised about going to every single concert... but that would be silly.

I narrowed it down by imagining being in the room when they play my favourite single Kraftwerk song live and loud. More trembles. Then I thought about all the other songs on the same album and it all felt perfect.

Then I booked my ticket for a completely different night.

I reckon they're going to play all the hits off the Man Machine anyway, and Computer World really makes me giggle.
posted by ZipRibbons at 12:10 PM on September 12, 2014