Man Man @ Astra Kulturhaus, Berlin (22/11/13)

Man Man is in Berlin as part of a European tour in which it brings the recent and wonderful long player ‘On Oni Pond’ to life. The stage presence and the energy of this band live are intoxicating. That’s before even mentioning the music, a cacophony of many influences and ideas, that boils over here to great effect. When Honus Honus, the lead figure of the madcap Man Man puts on what appears to be a unique, sparkling and self made hooded boxing/wizard cloak and turns his back on the audience, standing on the lip of the stage at an elevated height for the start of ‘End Boss’ from the recent album you realise what a wonderful stage persona this man, and in fact the whole band, is. It’s a band in a pool of its own, swimming around, looking for new toys and ways of amusing itself. When these guys are on stage they look like they are having the time of their lives. It doesn’t look like a job, it looks like a mission. More people should be following, that’s for sure.

The whole band is wearing skeleton costumes and the ghoulish vibe of recent album ‘On Oni Pond’ is fully realised. Those songs live, which make up most of tonight’s all too short set, are a little more raw, edgy and vibrant than the studio versions. It’s a good representation of the band that hopefully wins it some new fans as the act is here supporting Gogol Bordello.

Then another track, not from the new album, starts up. It can only be described as heavily percussive Ghost rock. Most of the band brings drum sticks crashing down on their instruments, in what looks like a group ritual. ‘I don’t know your name’ is repeatedly uttered, and then mostly indecipherable lyrics follow. The seated drummer and singer leap from their stools before a brass rock wig out ensues. It’s a cooking pot of noise, beautifully pulled together and fascinating to witness.

It’s rare nowadays for a band this original and special to be appreciated, as it should be, and its fans can only hope they keep going. It has so much to offer, and a support slot is nowhere near enough to hear the magnificent back catalogue it possesses. What the audience did get to hear, whether they were there to see the main act or not, was an inspirational 40 minutes of the highest order. A must see act that delivers time and time again!