DARKLIFE Online - V X.9
WGT 2010 Fri-Sat commentary [online V X.9]
Like every year gothics and friends of the black scene from all over the world came to Leipzig on Whitsun to celebrate the 19th Wave Gotik Treffen (short WGT) from 21st until the 24th May. All along the WGT is the biggest gathering of the gothic scene. It is the biggest convention in this kind worldwide.
About 180 bands played in the whole city and presented their own variety: gothic, wave, metal, future-pop, ebm and medival sounds. The concerts and events happened at over 40 different places, all over the city. For example at the “Moritzbastei” in the center of the city, at the “Kohlrabizirkus”, the “Parkbüehne” (a stage in the middle of a park), at the “Krypta” of the “Voelkerschlachtdenkmal” and of course in the “AGRA”.
Friday 21 May 2010
How could a year pass by so quickly? And here we were again. At Leipzig ready for four great days! It is the highlight of the year. To be honest, this year it wasn't really spectacular, but it was so much fun and so great, that I won't miss a second. I couldn't imagine a year without visiting the Wave Gotik Treffen. It was my 9th WGT and I'm pretty sure that it won't be the last.
On friday I was really excited and I couldn't wait to get into the city to the “Sixtina” for the first absinthe of the WGT this year. It felt so good to be back. The weather was great. And although the weather service told the weather would be cold and rainy, we had sun! Lot of sun! Awesome! Don't think that gothic people don't like sun. If I speak for me: I love the sun. It's way more fun. And it was a lot of fun to sit there in the backyard of the “Sixtina”, sipping a cold absinthe and enjoy to be back again. The “Sixtina” became one of my favourite places. It is an absinthery where you can choose from over 130 different absinthe brands. In the last three years I maybe tried like 6 or 7 different brands. One of my favourite is the Mansinthe. It is really good and not just because of the nice 
label. If you like it more sweet and creamy you should try a Lehmann Mousse. It is like Baileys. Just with the taste of absinthe. I love it. I could go on for hours now with talking about absinthe. I became an addict.... Just kidding. It is a nice ritual for special moments like the WGT. If you want to know more about the Sixtina you could check out their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/absintherie_sixtina
But the “Sixtina” isn't the only absinthery in Leipzig. Since last year there is a new place where you can enjoy a nice glass of absinthe. It's called the "Petite Absintherie". It is really small but very friendly. The nice couple who owns the small bar and works their are very well informed about absinthe and always in the mood for a little chat. Of course it is another atmosphere there, like in the “Sixtina”, but it isn't so crowded and loud. I like both places!
First my friend and I wanted to visit the "Victorian Picnic" near to the “Parkbuehne”. But we were so busy in the city that we didn't make it. What a pity. Maybe next year. I always wanted to go there, but then something else happened and we hadn't the time for it. Next year we'll be there. For sure. The reason why we were so busy, was because we met some friends at the “Moritzbastei” on the medieval market. We haven't seen them for a long time, so we spend our lunch with them and talked a lot. That is so cool about the WGT, wherever you are, you'll always will meet someone you know!
Now it was time to head to the “AGRA”. Hanging around in the shopping hall, meeting people there and finally go to the ZEROMANCER concert. I wasn't in the mood for the music and we had to hurry to get to the “Kohlrabizirkus” for watching the GENITORTURERS. That band was really kind of weird. In my 
opinion. Maybe that's how american 
bands are shocking in the states. The female singer made some obscene gestures and posed with a Jack Daniels bottle in her hand. The dancers showed bare breasts and the show was just strange. Usually I like weird shows, but that wasn't my taste.
So I wasn't sad when it was over and CREMATORY entered the stage.
Finally some metal and headbanging. Yes! It seemed that the singer was a little bit bored, but the show was good. The next show was my personal highlight of the day, because I am a big fan of Liv Kristine. She 
is awesome. And so LEAVES 
EYES were the band I was waiting for the whole day. I loved it! Liv and her husband Alexander Krull (singer of the band Atrocity) made a great show. I never saw her with THEATRE OF TRAGEDY so I was very happy to see her with LEAVES EYES
That was a great day and an awesome start to the 19th Wave Gotik Treffen.
Saturday 22 May 2010
The Saturday was pretty similar to the Friday. First we went to the city and later to the AGRA, where we watched some songs of ROTERSAND. But again we were in a hurry to get again to the “Kohlrabizirkus” to seePOISONBLACK" and MOONSPELL. To be honest I was a little bit confused because I thought that I'd seen MOONSPELL on the WGT two years ago and liked it very much. But when I saw the band, I realized that I had seen someone else some years ago. Anyway it wasn't too bad. It wasn't the fault of the band, that I'm getting old and confused.
After two great metal concerts we headed again to the "Petite Absintherie" for a nice glass of absinthe. Now we could call it a day!
Sarah Marx
Photos © 2010 Michael Schmid (aka Therion)
Friday, 4 June 2010
