Event:	Rammstein: Made In Germany 1995-2011 Tour
Written by:	ArgoP
Published:	13.02.2012

I got the ticket for the Rammstein concert in Riga 5 months after they came on sale, and still there were some standing tickets available, so I couldn't resist to get one. I've been fan of the band since their Mutter album and seen them live once only, as their gigs are sold out very fast.

I wasn't very keen on the support band earlier in 2010, when Combichrist supported them. It's just their music isn't what I usually listen and they don't have any special stage show either. So it was with Deathstars this time. But there are always some songs, less or more, that you listen later on CD after you've seen the band. Deathstars was quite attractive, musically and their performance was enjoyable as well. Their Night Electric Night - Gold Edition (with DVD) is a perfect example to get familiar with the band's music and style. Guitarist Cat Casino is great for those who like rock instead of metal because of his glam rock-style and being merry instead of grave zombie on the stage, he brought humanity to the show. But the audience seemed not to be interested of them, despite their efforts to warm-up them.

That band went off, lights on, and another hour waiting, for the headliners this time. Rammstein was in the city with their "Made In Germany" tour, playing "best of" songs since their very first album. Then, at the right time, a local choir came on stage, only in Riga, to perform "Ohne Dich" and "Stein Um Stein". It was quite enjoyable, especially when the first song was going to perform once more in the real concert, so you could compare them.

The show is the thing that makes one like Rammstein. A large bridge landed down over the people, the band arrived somewhere from the audience to the smaller B-stage, crossed the bridge to the stage. It could be compare with the military, where you just march in a group and then stand when the flag is hoisted (this time it was the fire, which was ignited). They started with "Sonne" ("Sun"), and it came really hot because of the flames that extended to the ceiling. There were also bottles of water for the fans standing in front rows.

During "Mein Teil" a big cauldron was brought to the stage, where Till heated Flake with big flamethrowers. Most of the "Du Hast" lyrical side was performed by the audience; the singer just sang the refrain of the song. Then came "Haifisch", where Flake went into a boat and was carried by the hands of people in the arena.

Then, somehow, Kirspe was at the smaller B-stage playing keyboards there. After a while the bridge landed down again and rest of the band arrived there as slaves, led by Christoph (drummer). There they performed 3 songs and they ended like it was the final of the concert. But there came more, when the stage went into red light for "Mein Herz Brennt". During the 2nd outro a crew member shared stickers for those who were in front rows that said "I survived 1st row with Rammstein". Again, and last time, the band came back on stage, to play "Engel" (with big wings on Till's back) and "Pussy", where no one nearby stage was untouched.

Talk about pyros, Rammstein used them much as possible: flames came from the floor and ceiling, microphones were burning so band members breathed fire from flamethrowers in their mouths. To sum up, Rammstein has built-up their imago of live shows with theatrical elements, pyros and of course the songs, songs that you might not understand, but you sing along because you know some lyrics.

Setlist:

• Sonne
  
• Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen
  
• Keine Lust
  
• Sehnsucht
  
• Asche zu asche
  
• Feuer Frei
  
• Mutter
  
• Mein Teil
  
• Du Riechst So Gut
  
• Links 234
  
• Du Hast
  
• Haifisch
  
• Bück Dich
  
• Mann Gegen Mann
  
• Ohne Dich
  
  Encore 1
  
• Mein Herz Brennt
  
• Amerika
  
• Ich Will
  
  Encore 2
  
• Engel
  
• Pussy