hosted by wiebke | only the poets @ flex

2024-03-05 17:35:48

“Only the Poets” were guests at the Viennese Flex and impressed with good songs and rock star attitude!

I had avoided this location for almost a year and I would have liked to keep it that way. But what wouldn’t you do for a band that you really want to see live – and so I found myself in the sold-out flex to see “only the poets”. Shortly after my arrival I noticed: it was warm. and stuffy. and after a short time I started sweating. and my hair stuck to my forehead. and then the opener entered “alfie jukes“ the stage, together with a guitarist. I and the rest of the audience didn’t know his music and he seemed to know that because after a short time he surprised us with the One Direction cover “Little Things”. boom! Virtually everyone in the room knew the lyrics and sang along energetically! For many, this song was already the highlight – my highlight, however, was the ventilation that came on at some point between songs four and five.

A little later it was time for “only the poets“ – the lights went out, the intro music played, but there was no one on stage yet. The drums were illuminated by many fluorescent tubes in the background and then the remaining band members finally appeared. But only almost: the fog only disappeared after the first three songs and only then did the drummer appear. and then the show started! In contrast to the last concert in Vienna, singer Tommy Longhurst seemed like a new person – he was much more self-confident and much more of a rock star than before. He used the microphone stand as a toy, leaned over the edge of the stage and knelt during the first songs – from the first second he really gave it his all!

The band performed their songs a lot more rock than last, playing current hits like “Crash” and “Jump!” but also older songs like “Ceasefire” and “Emotional”. In addition, each song had a pompous instrumental ending. The only thing I didn’t like was that they suddenly switched from the melancholic number “Waking in the Dark” to the exuberant dance number “Nana’s Home” – somehow that didn’t feel right. Anyone who was already there on the previous tour didn’t necessarily have any new, special song moments. During the song “Every Go I Pray To” singer Tommy and guitarist Clem went into the crowd and the fan project in the form of sheets with the inscription “You’re our home” was the same as at the last concert. But: the stage show, the rockier outfit and the ecstasy they created made every moment worthwhile. it felt like the previous tour had just been training. For anyone who went to an Only The Poets concert for the first time, it must have felt like magic!

During my euphoria at the concert, I had completely forgotten my prejudices against the flex. But when I got outside again, I was quickly reminded of how unpleasant I find the Flex and its surroundings. Hopefully I won’t have to go to the Flex for the next Only the Poets concert: the band has announced they will be returning and will be performing at the Gasometer next. I am excited!