Review: Hallogallo 2010 (Michael Rother of NEU! and Friends) Live in Philly 8.8.10
For those of you who are not familiar with the Krautrock legends, NEU! was formed by Drummer Klaus Dinger and Guitarist Michael Rother in 1971, after they left an early, traditional instrument-based incarnation of Kraftwerk. Their spacey guitars and driving, machine-like rhythm, dubbed “the Motorik beat”, served as a blue-print for future generations of punks, space-rockers and electronic music producers.
Last Sunday, I headed to the Ibrahim Theater in West Philly for a rare night of live NEU! music presented by Hallogallo 2010 (surviving member Michael Rother on guitar and effects, Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth on drums and Aaron Mullan of Tall Firs on bass), in anticipation of hearing that now-classic “Motorik” beat live. The set was a mesmerizing and thunderous blast of refreshed ’70s NEU! material and tributes to Krautrock legends of yore, some of which could have served as soundtracks to Olympic footage or Sci-fi Thriller films. Brilliant, as expected.
Set list:
Hallogallo 2010
Neutronics 98 (A Tribute to Conny Plank)
Aroma Club B3
Deluxe
Veteranissimo
Dino
You can see photos from the Philly gig here and listen to a stream from their recent NYC show below:
(via WNYC)
The NEU! Vinyl Box Set is available now on Gronland Records.




























