Review and photos – Nikolaus Herdieckerhoff at Exchange Community Church, Winnipeg, July 23 2010

– text by eugene osudar/photos by April Plett

the one person band

is very
“(in)”
these days

layering
and looping
sounds

(like)

strings popped
and plucked
instruments
percussed
with tapping
fingers
strings
bowed
screeched
and (yes)
caressed
rubbed
massaged
rhythm lines
lead lines
multi lines
of supreme
symphonics/
harmonics

Andrew Bird
closed the Winnipeg
Folk Festival
with a violin
and effects

he wow’ed
and awed
youngsters
and oldersters

alike.

Danny Michel
Final Fantasy

it’s happening
everywhere

even on
the streets,

and when you think about it
that is
so punk

and i love the punk rockers

the ones with electric guitars
and the ones with
violins,
cellos
and effects

it’s the new punk rock
democracy

of performance
and beauty

and awe,
some
layers
loops

just get up
and do it!
that is punk rock.

Nikolaus Herdieckerhoff
plays cello

is there a sexier instrument?

the saxophone?
the banjo?
the accordion?

than the cello

between a sexy woman’s
or sexy man’s thighs?

that bow
that look
that eye
that penetrating gaze of wonder
awe

Niko comes from Berlin
he walks roads
and paths of beauty
with his cello
his best friend
his lover
and pulls it out
of its bedroom
(the instrument case)
and places it
between his thighs
and (so it begins)

in punk and classical styles
with effects
loops layers
punk passion
and comedy

don’t ever take (you)rself
so seriously

this is music
for the masses

Mozart
Joe Strummer
Shane MacGowan
taking it
to the masses

composers
and punk
poets

i first saw
Niko last year
on the streets
of Winnipeg
and
Ragpickers too

wonder
awe
power
passion
and movement
melody
beauty

he’s traveling
and playing
around North America
Montreal and Edmonton
are next
and then two months
in America

building his following

i’ve been looking for
punk rockers
to manage,
who will tour
for months
4-6 months

every year
focused
on
building their audience
everywhere

touching hearts
souls
hands
meeting smiles
with laughter
with beauty

meeting the people
performing for people
anywhere!
everywhere!

and Niko H
is a dream performer
musician

he’s punk rock
and
he plays
cello.

after two weeks
in Winnipeg
of another year
of taking it to the streets

playing two and
three
times a day
on the streets

he played
a venue show

Friday night

The Exchange Community Church

a midnight show
in a steaming hot venue
a hot summer night

no one was there
at 11:45
and then, at 11:55
the people
came
twos and threes and fours

he told me
a 45 minute set

well,
that expanded to 75 minutes
because we
the gathered
120
faithful followers
of Niko H

www.myspace.com/cellolitis

www.cellolitis.de/cellolitis/Home.html

wouldn’t let him go.

so much for the theory
you can’t draw people
in if you play

all the time

Niko H
is a beautiful
punk rock
classical cello
talent

the sound and light tech
couldn’t help himself

he let the fog machine
blast out
a few thick puffs

we howled and roared
and a beautiful young
man
even danced

(beautifully)

there’s a passion
here
a following
a love affair

punk cellist
and
the people
the masses

the beautiful hearts
as one.

the 75 minute set,

fool
Pachelbel Canon in D
a picture
2017
maschine
follow u
psychedelic waltz (the argument)
lullaby
tornado walk

i can’t wait for his next
punk rock
tour.

same time
next year
in Winnipeg.

next,

Montreal
Edmonton
America

come,
join the movement.

we’re all punk rockers,

aren’t we?

Niko H
Exchange Community Church.
July 23rd.