Carnival Youth, 10th of May 2016, @Knust

Carnival Youth is a Latvian indie rock band formed in 2011. The band consists of the twins Egars Kaupers (guitar, vocals) and Emīls Kaupers (drums, vocals), Roberts Vanags (keyboard, vocals) and Aleksis Lurinš (guitat, bass). They just published their second record "Propeller". On the 10th of March they played in Knust in Hamburg and performed songs of their new album as well as of their first one. 


It's been a long time since you guys have heard something of me, because I haven't been to a concert since Lucius on my 18th birthday. So obviously I was craving a concert again. It's been almost 3 weeks and so I decided to look for concerts to go to before AC/DC on the 26th of May. It didn't take me long until I found a concert that caught my attention; Carnival Youth, a band from Latvia, I found out about through my friend Karina, from Latvia, who is currently on an exchange here in Hamburg. She went to their last concert here in Hamburg, in November. I saw videos of it and found their music quite good so I decided to go their. Unfortunately I was broke so I messaged the  organizer and asked for a press card, which I got on the day of the concert. So I asked Karina if she wanted to come with me and so she did. 


May 10th, Carnival Youth in Hamburg

I was excited to finally go on a concert again since it's been 2 weeks since my last one already. It was a warm and sunny day in Hamburg and so I put on my maxi skirt and a T-Shirt and met with Karina. We sat outside for a little and enjoyed the sun before we decided to go to the venue. The concert was supposed to start at 9pm and so Karina had been in front of the venue at around 8:30pm where we would also sit outside and talk before we went in at 9pm. 

It was a pretty small venue since the band isn't that known, so it was a pretty chilled athmosphere everywhere and at first we sat on the stairs next to the stage and watched the support act play. It was a man from Hamburg who only had a guitar with him. His show was really simple but his deep and calming voice made the whole situation even more chilled. After the support act was done the lights went on again and Karina and I decided to get up in front of the stage shortly before the band came on stage. There were no barriers and everyone had a good space to dance since it wasn't sold out. 

When the band came on stage everyone started cheering and the boys had a big smile on their face. They started playing their first song and immediately spread a good vibe which fit the summer feelings perfectly fine. This vibe stayed throughout the whole concert. The band was interacting with the crowd and even said a few sentences in german what sounded really funny with their latvian accent following it. 

I gotta say that I didn't really know all of their songs. I have had their second record on repeat the days before the concert but since I only decided to go their shortly before I didn't really have the time to get to know all their songs and lyrics. But that's not what I was there for - to sing along to every song and pretend like I have been a fan for ages even though I just found out about them a few months ago. I was there to use the chance and see them while they are still so unknown here, to enjoy the time and the good music and because I simply love concerts and how they make me feel. 

Their show was really simple as each of them was singing and playing their instrument but their mood and their interaction with the crowd made it a really fun show! Everyone was dancing and just enjoying the indie flow of Carnival Youth as they played songs off of both albums. I really had a good time at the concerts and so did the Band. After each song they thanked us for coming and spread a lot of love and appreciation. It was amazing to see how happy they were on stage and good they performed with all their heart and breath and feelings even though one of them was sick and on medicine. 

All in all I gotta say that I had a lot of fun at the concert. Carnival Youth are amazing performers who make good music which they love and that's what it's all about because, when a band really loves their music they reflect that feeling on stage and make the whoke crowd feel it. They put on an amazing show even though it was pretty simple and I felt really welcome at the concert so that next time they come to Hamburg or to Germany in general I will definitely be there again!


Next up is Talking ToTurtles, a small indie rock band from Germany, on the 18th of March! 

PS: I just found out I'm gonna be working at the Rock am Ring Festival 2016, so stay tuned for that article at the beginning of June!