It’s 11pm on a (way too) hot summer night at the Reeperbahn in Hamburg, Germany. In front of the Molotow, one of the most legendary clubs Hamburg has to offer, which in the past hosted the likes of Billy Talent, The Killers, The White Stripes and more, small groups of people are starting to line up. Some of them are already buzzing with excitement for what’s to come, but most of them are still completely unaware of what they’re in for, that this is not your regular late club night, even though it starts as one. The music through the speakers is actually decent, the beer is served ‘colder than your ex’s heart’ and a lot of people have brought dancing shoes, a state which is certainly not at their most sober and, most importantly, a will to party.
Now fast forward 1.5 hours, to 12:30am: The curtain opens, quite literally, to the dramatic My Chemical Romance classic “Welcome To The Black Parade“, and Airways take the stage.
The U.K. based indie rock band has opened shows for artists such as Nothing But Thieves, Sunset Sons and The Hunna in the past, and if anyone still had doubts as to whether they deserved that spot, those doubts vanish within the first minute, as the night finds its perfect start with “One Footâ€, the opening track to their debut EP “Starting To Spinâ€, which instantly sets the fully packed room of fans, tourists and locals into motion. For the next 50 minutes or so, Airways easily capture the undivided attention of the room with their diverse, musically refined and highly entertaining set.
Although or maybe exactly because at least half of the crowd apparently methodically prepared for “Starting To Spinâ€, a track all about having a little too much to drink, there is little to no hesitation to dance, jump, mosh and sing their heart out. The brand new and thus far unreleased beauty of a title track to their upcoming sophomore EP “Blue Gasolineâ€, the equally unreleased fan favourite “Alien“, the band’s solid take on the Beatles’ “Come Together†(for which singer Jake Daniels definitely did NOT need a lyric sheet), and the mysterious appearance of rubber ducks all over the room, which could later be traded for a special demo track at the band’s merch table, are only some of the highlights fans are presented with. And when the chorus of the closing track, “Mateâ€, sounds through the room, not one foot (pun intended) stays still on the ground.
Afterwards, elated fans, slightly confused tourists and impressed locals are all united in the absolute certainty that not only was this an amazing show, but it also calls for a sequel, someday, rather sooner than later.
Join in on the fun and catch Airways live at the following dates:
16/09 PARIS @ Bastille Sounds Festival
17/09 MUNICH @ Orangehouse
18/09 ZÃœRICH @ Werk 21
Or at their UK tour this fall.
We also had a lovely little interview with the guys, which will be following shortly, so watch this space!
Written by Theresa Theuerkauf
​Photos by Annabelle Lange
