Vingio Parkas, Vilnius, Lithuania – May 22, 2023
We thought that the LIFAD Rehearsal show was basically what we’d get for Rammstein’s first official concert of their 2023 Europe Stadium Tour. We were wrong.
By Sez and KidArctica
22. May 2023, Rammstein officially started this year’s tour leg in Vingio Parkas in Vilnius, Lithuania. While the park is nice and everything, lining up early at such a place is certainly an experience. Thankfully, due to some checking out of the (as mentioned in the previous blog) huge location, and thanks to the entry experiences gathered from the LIFAD Rehearsal, the supposedly optimal queuing entrance was determined, and the wait could begin.
During last year‘s tour, fans had tried on multiple occasions to implement numbering in the queue. Sometimes, security actually played along with this, like in Gothenburg, where head of security Anna let in the first hundred people or so based on their numbers. The same happened this time – thanks to Renata, head of security in Vilnius, who is now probably revered as another legend amongst early queuers. So, when the fans lined up by numbers, the mood was fairly optimistic.
Then something truly unexpected happened. The random soundcheck snippets that had been audible from within the queue for some time suddenly transformed into a familiar tune: the Angst intro! Fans who had attended the LIFAD rehearsal two days prior could hardly believe their ears, but sure enough, the band seemed to perform a last-minute rehearsal of Angst in its full glory.
It is hard to describe the crowd’s reaction to this, but some keywords would be disbelief, screams, jaws hitting the ground, and then loud singing along with tremendous amounts of passion – especially the long AAAAANNNNNGGGGGSSSSSTTTTT!
The biggest question everyone had was: Had the band really been misleading their fans by omitting the song from the LIFAD Rehearsal?
After long minutes of waiting, the clock finally showed time for doors. In theory, entry should have been smooth sailing, with the first 20 to 30 people at each entrance lining up by their numbers.
Turned out it was smooth only for the people fortunate enough to get to a security person equipped with a functioning ticket scanner. Eventually, everyone managed to get in, although no comments can be made on the state of their mental health upon arriving in the pit. (Author‘s note: It was bad.)
Abélard started playing at 8 pm. The duo performed the same setlist they played at the LIFAD Rehearsal two days prior, and on 9. June, they will release an album with their own interpretations of Rammstein’s songs.
At around 9:07 pm, fans erupted in cheers as the gong gonged, followed by everyone being wished a pleasant evening with Rammstein. As people were respectfully asked to not film the show, they respectfully decided to start filming immediately.
Again, the crowd was not greeted with a big explosion and the driving beat of Armee der Tristen. After Music for the Royal Fireworks, the intro to Rammlied started playing, just like at the LIFAD Rehearsal. For all Armee der Tristen lovers: Sadly, this seems to confirm Rammlied as the definitive opener for this year’s tour leg.
Rammstein had made a slight change from the fan club show though. Instead of showing a big, round light and zooming out to reveal Till Lindemann, the light appeared and immediately cut to a zoomed-out view of Till in the stage elevator. From there on, Rammlied was performed like during the rehearsal, with the song’s final beat accompanied by the startling grand opener explosion.
All of the band members wore the same outfits they had previously worn for the LIFAD Rehearsal. This of course meant that bassist Oliver Riedel stole the show in his spectacular “astronaut” attire. Fun fact: his outfit has been designed by his wife, Marie Riedel.
Up until Puppe, the setlist was the same as for the fan show. Then came the highlight of the evening. With the giant pram off the stage, the band members regrouped, and then the audience took a hit straight to the face by two tom hits followed by a HUH!
Erupting like Eyjafjallajökull (google that if you’re confused), the crowd immediately fell into the rhythm, eagerly clapping and HUH-ing along until the guitars screamed out the first tones of the Angst riff. Bass and drums followed and sent the audience into pure ecstasy. The atmosphere was indescribable. People were screaming their lungs out. It didn’t even matter that Till improvised his way through half the lyrics – as soon as the chorus hit, people were more concerned about outscreaming their neighbour. The enthusiasm compared to, or perhaps even surpassed, that of all-time classics such as Sonne and Du hast.
The soundgasm from stage did not end with the main riff though. Instead, the stickman was back, guiding the crowd through a proper viking clap before Rammstein finished everyone off with a Christoph Schneider solo.
The only sad thing about Angst was that it actually took away from the next song. A ballad after such a powerful banger just didn’t work that well, and “der schwarze Mann” did cast some shade over the tender Zeit.
It seems like the background dancers of Mein Teil are a thing of the past. Also, it seems like Paul Landers and Richard Z. Kruspe have ended their Ausländer relationship until further notice, as Rammstein skipped the extended outro again and went straight into Du riechst so gut. No smooches for the shippers.
Apart from Angst, the rest of the setlist remained unchanged from the LIFAD Rehearsal, meaning that the band played a total of 23 songs. In 2019, the band started their tour leg with 23 songs, however, Sex was removed after two fan club shows and three regular concerts. And in 2022, Diamant was removed after one fan club show, also putting the set list at 22 songs. This begs the question: Will Rammstein drop a song from the setlist this year as well, to cut down to 22 songs total?
Luckily, there were no pyrotechnics malfunctions for this concert. However, Till gave everyone a proper scare when he got up after the band kneeled to the crowd. The vocalist didn’t seem to notice that the hatch in the middle of the stage was lowered down, and he tripped and fell down the ramp. Paul and Flake Lorenz immediately went offstage to go check on him, and the camera that normally showed the band entering the elevator was never turned on.
Fortunately, he did show up in the elevator, even waved to the crowd, and we can calm anyone worried about Till‘s health – he hasn‘t sustained any major injuries and seems to be ready to take on upcoming shows.
Also present at the show were tour photographer Jens Koch and guest photographer Paul Harries, who have delivered some spectacular footage from the fantastic show.
Overall, the opening show for the 2023 Europe Stadium Tour was a definitive step up from the LIFAD Rehearsal, much thanks to the addition of Angst, a song many fans already hoped to see at last year‘s tour. Playing Angst seriously threw fans for a loop, as many had already accepted the sad fate of it not having made the cut.
Rammstein’s show in Vilnius was a great start to what seems to be a phenomenal tour leg from our six favourite Germans.
- Rammlied
- Links 2-3-4
- Bestrafe mich
- Giftig
- Sehnsucht
- Mein Herz brennt
- Puppe
- Angst
- Zeit
- Deutschland RMX
- Deutschland
- Radio
- Mein Teil
- Du hast
- Sonne
- Ohne dich
(Piano version with Abélard) - Engel
(Piano version with Abélard) - Ausländer
- Du riechst so gut
- Pussy
- Rammstein
- Ich will
- Adieu
Sez and KidArctica are RammWiki editors. They have been part of the website for years, working in the background with edits and content. Fun Fact: KidArctica has openly expressed surprise that Flake is wearing underwear beneath his golden suit this year.
I had the same thought as KidArctica when I saw pics of him 😀