photos by Paul Birman, words by Black Bubblegum

Twenty-five years, almost as many albums and an ever-changing band of misfits follow Sascha Konietzko, frontman and the only original member of KMFDM, around this year on the band’s world tour. The Philly crowd at the TLA was a mixture of 80’s metal heads who have been around since the beginning, Hot Topic goth kids and mosh-pit junkies. Not many were standing yet as opening group Angelspit started its set, but the crowd quickly filled just before KMFDM hit the stage. Lucia Cifarelli and Konietzko (half the time with a cigarette in his mouth) were front and center pushing buttons and turning knobs, generating KMFDM’s signature ‘ultra heavy beats,’ joined by guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White and drummer Andy Selway. No time was wasted on talking, and they started right into the music, which was a good combination of old and new songs plucked from their vast play list….Twenty-five years and still running strong with no signs of slowing down is what makes KMFDM one of the greatest heavy-hitting bands of all time.- [Magnet]

That was a review of KMFDM’s Philly show. The pictures in this post are from the 9/25 NYC show at Gramercy Theatre. The industrial band’s appearance was part of an ongoing tour for the pair to celebrate KMFDM’s 25th anniversary, and is billed as “Kein Mitlied World Tour 2009: 25 Years of the Ultra-Heavy Beat”.

Another industrial heavyweight, Nitzer Ebb, has reformed and is heading back to the states for a “The Industrial Complex” tour which includes Gramercy on 12/4. Tickets are on sale. The band has a song on the new Saw VI soundtrack and are working on their first LP in 14 years.

Full KMFDM/Angelspit and Nitzer Ebb tour dates, KMFDM pics and a video from the show are below…

Continue reading “KMFDM on tour (dates), played Gramercy Theatre (pics). Nitzer Ebb there in December, kicks off tour in Nov. (dates) “ at BrooklynVegan.com