MATTHIAS REIM – LIVE IN MUNICH

The last time MATTHIAS REIM performed live on stage in Munich was 20 years ago – he admitted to being nervous. The stage fright dissolved possibly soon with the warm greeting of the audience present.

Shortly after 8 p.m. first the band then the Maestro REIM himself took the stage in the Circus Krone venue. MATTHIAS REIM opened the concert with a good-humored “Munich, are you ready for action?” After an hour of new and old songs from his extensive repertoire there was a 20-minute break – especially the older fans were grateful for the opportunity to get some fresh air and refreshments at the concession stands. A little surprise guest was REIM’s son Julian, who was fetched to the stage as additional guitarist near the end of the concert. Any misconceptions about whether a son might possibly be ashamed of his folk-singing father were wiped out.

Last song of the concert before the encore was “Ich hab geträumt von dir” (I dreamed of you). The concert was over at about 10:15 p.m. With his very first single and all-time biggest hit “Verdammt ich lieb dich” (Damn It I Love You) that rode the German charts on position 1 for 16 consecutive weeks, he sent his audience off into the mild spring evening with their favorite tune. For some of them, this song might have been the main draw for attending the live performance.

The herd of concert-goers was mixed in age – from the mid-20s to an age similar to REIM himself – a wide range, whereby the ladies were understandably in the majority. During the song “I Love You” the audience sang along enthusiastically to lines like “Hab dir oft gesagt, wenn’s dir bei mir nicht mehr passt, dann hau doch ab und suche dir einen wo du’s besser hast” (I’ve often told you, if you don’t like it with me then get out and look for something better”) and started to move.

Of course songs from his current album “Sieben Leben” (Seven Lives), created in collaboration with the componist Joachim Horn-Bernges, were played most the time - the album was just released last October on the label EMI.

Although folk music is REIM’s main focus, his band performs it in a rock style. The two guitarists and especially the drummer were visibly enjoying their jobs. MATTHIAS REIM also played a harmonica, acoustic and electric guitars.

The live spectacle was somewhat one-dimensional, due to the fact that MATTHIAS REIM has always written more or less “concept albums” dealing with love situations. But he knows what he’s talking about there, not the least because he’s married for the third time already. There are only a few exceptions to the rule. For example in “Träumer” (Dreamer), he processes his own life story, from mega-success and millions of album sales evolving to bankruptcy.