Once again I’ve been to two shows of Self Deception’s current headline tour with their new album Destroy The Art. And stuff’s getting a little complicated, because a) I took photos at both shows but b) only at the first show in Vechta I took photos of THECITYISOURS and Eyes Wide Open and c) I don’t have the best memory of the show in Vechta because I started feeling terribly unwell mid-show, which overshadowed large parts of the concert experience. So in my review, I’ll focus on the Cologne show, which I could enjoy to the fullest. I’ll most likely prepare a separate gallery post for my photos from Vechta.
The venue
It was my first time at Club Volta, which is a smaller „club room“ that belongs to Carlswerk Victoria. Basically both venues share a backyard, the cloakroom and toilets. It’s smaller than Carlswerk Victoria and they have a separate entrance. I can’t say much about accessibility and I didn’t use any other facilities that night than the toilet, so I can’t say much about the venue itself. It’s nice, but, just like at Carlswerk Victoria, they have the tendency to kick you out as fast as they can after the show (which sucked a little because if you know Self Deception, you might also know that they love spending time with their fans, taking photos and signing stuff and I think they had about 30 minutes for that after the show until the security expected everyone to be gone).
So … not super spectacular, but not bad. It’s one of the better venues in Cologne I’d say.
THECITYISOURS
THECITYISOURS is a British metalcore band, at least according to the internet. If I remember correctly I rather put them on the punkish side of -core music. Then again, it’s difficult to say „if I remember correctly“ because there was one big issue with their sound at both performances I’ve seen: The sound wasn’t the best. In Cologne I overheard someone say that it was because they had so little time for the soundcheck since their van had broken down and they arrived at the venue pretty late. The thing is: The sound at their show in Vechta (which was before their van broke down) wasn’t better either, so I highly doubt that the lack of time for the soundcheck was the real issue.
All in all their live performance and stage presence were nice, they looked cool, but I just didn’t hear much. It was a pity, because I feel like I might’ve liked their music. What I’ve heard was good. But especially the vocals were, once again, way too silent. I still feel like they managed to warm up the crowd a little, but there could’ve been more.
Eyes Wide Open
Before I saw them in Vechta, I hadn’t known Eyes Wide Open before. In Vechta, I fell in love with them and in Cologne, I fell even deeper. I love their sound and their stage presence. They’re very energetic and managed to hype up the crowd from the start. The overall atmosphere in the room was great. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I love it when you can see that an artist is having fun on stage. And EWO definitely show that they enjoy what they’re doing.
Their set was only about 40 minutes long and they went by way too fast. I’ve included their setlist below, hidden behind the spoiler.
Disheartened Song
Til The Day We Die
Burn Em
End of Days
Die Another Day
Black Clover
Watch You Bleed
Cross My Heart
They’re definitely a band I’d not only go and see again, I could easily imagine attending a headline show if they ever happen to play any here in Germany. For me, them together with Self Deception was a perfect match sound-wise.
For one song, Hagge joined them on stage (if you know Self Deception, you might also know how much Hagge loves doing little guest appearances for the other acts of the night) and that was yet another perfect match. It was all in all just a very positive, uplifting experience. I loved every bit of their show.
Self Deception
I gotta start with the whiny part: Why are Self Deception headline shows always just one hour sets đ I need longer sets. Definitely. One hour goes by way too fast.
For me, this tour started with a very positive „surprise“, as they opened the set with Blood & Scars which I’d been longing for for months, but they didn’t play it at their support shows for Normandie (neither did they play it at Bochum Total). So basically the show was already a great success for me after the first song.
The remaining set obviously included a lot of bangers from their new album Destroy the Art, but they also played a few older songs from You are only as sick as your secrets and Shapes. You’ll find the full setlist hidden behind the spoiler.
Blood & Scars
The Scandinavian Dream
Matthew McConaughey
The Great Escape
Beautiful Disaster
Intoxicated Haze
Stockholm Hearts
Hysteria
Tictoc
Hell And Back
Holy Water
Smoke You Out
PSYCHO
Fight Fire With Gasoline
Their set was energetic as always, with Beautiful Disaster marking a nice little break to take a breath. It’s also always very touching when they play Intoxicated Haze – the song is introduced by singer Ante by telling the crowd to reply „Hi Andreas“ when he introduces himself, followed by telling the crowd he’s an alcoholic. I’m not gonna lie: This song breaks me every time I hear it. It broke me when I heard it at their last headline tour, knowing that his struggles and his demons were the reason why Andreas wasn’t with the band last year. And it broke me hearing it sung by him this time. I can’t help but cry during this song.
For me personally, another big favourite is Hell And Back, which kinda describes my personal relationship to this band quite well. And it’s another tiny break before they enter the grand final of their set, which requires the audience to go all in.
The energy that night was amazing. There were mosh pits. There were circle pits. People were singing and screaming along. If I remember correctly, there even was a crowdsurfer? Self Deception are incredibly great performers and at each show I meet people who saw them for the first time and return back home fully convinced by them. Which says a lot about their performances, I guess.
Well, you know I love this band. I will probably never stop loving them. I’m happy I discovered them and I’m happy I got to see them several times this year. Every single show is worth the money – and the trip.
*Photos will be added later*