Cologne 15.12.12

[Bill B]

Well there is that I suppose...Cologne at Christmas is like revisiting Brixton Academy 1990 over and over again...quite the trip down Memory Lane

[Paul..]

Being a contrary so-and-so I like Cologne - it's nice to see them play the odd big venue like they did back in the day, and I like the atmosphere with so many people there.

Back in the day they were playing Polytechnic & University gigs if memory serves! 

[Erekosë]

Being a contrary so-and-so I like Cologne - it's nice to see them play the odd big venue like they did back in the day, and I like the atmosphere with so many people there.

Back in the day they were playing Polytechnic & University gigs if memory serves! 

I'm not old enough to remember *that* much back in the day...      

[tist sadist]

NMA at Collogne is in fact -up to now- since about 10 years or so - and I hope for a long time more - the only concert I'm sure of going to when a new year starts.  The only thing I need to accept is waiting appr. 12 more months.  It is THE NMA gathering of the year for me !  Me and the mates only discuss one thing really : who'll be driving ? 
And I wouldn't mind Rock la Roca at Loreley to become a next nice tradition 
See ya all at Cologne !  Be there !

But, Marloes, I have to admit : sometimes the smaller venues are better...

[Danny]

Seeing as we can't do Nottingham (or any of the other Xmas gigs for that matter) we've now booked flights and tickets, so see you all in Cologne!! I was there for the 20th anniversary double bill last, really looking forward to going back!

Now, the question: where are people staying? Does anyone have any recommendation for cheap/convenient hotels? Is it worth/better trying to get a place near the venue (and are there any?), or it doesn't really matter? I seem to remember staying at some youth hostel last time, but it was 12 years ago after all, so I suppose a few things have changed...

Any input would be greatly appreciated, cheers

[Stoney]

I really enjoyed Cologne last year!!!!!!!!! Gutted to not be going this time......... But Rock City will make up for it! If I win the lottery I'll be in the Palladium no doubt about it! 

[lotus]

Only a few things have changed 
not the transport system, so there is no problem to book a hotel near the main station (Kölner Dom) or near the Paladium (Schanzenstraße/Wiener Platz)

http://www.cologne.de/transportation.html

perhaps you test www.hrs.de -  hotel Ziel "Kölner Dom"

a lot of the nma family members without a car prefer "Ibis" near the airport or the one near Kölner Dom/main station

MaggiD - your recommendation?

[BlackCountryMaggiD]

The one in the centre "Am Dom" is the much better option if you're spending some time in the city but can be rather expensive (for an Ibis) at this time of year because of the amount of tourists who flood into the city for the Christmas Markets, especially if you try and book it now.
A good alternative are the hotels on the other side of the river at "Messe Deutz" where there is an Ibis and and Ibis Budget. Both are near to the train station and actually on the right side of the river for the gig.
We're in the Ibis Budget. 45€uro for a room. (Not the Ritz but after Limes kicks us out at 4am we'll only be there for a couple of hours before heading for Amsterdam. :-)

[Danny]

Cheers Lotus and MaggiD, I'll look into it - because we're only doing Cologne we are flying in on Friday evening with the idea of having a wander around town on Sat before coming to the gig - so maybe the centre would be a better option, but then again it seems it's easy enough to get there from the Messe area too (and there are direct trains from the airport to it) so maybe we'll get something there...

Thanks anyway, like I said I'll look into it over the weekend

[BlackCountryMaggiD]

Oh the trains and S-Bahn run about every 7 minutes (sometimes less) into the City. It's only over the bridge!

[Danny]

That's it, all booked now - we're staying at the Ibis Budget Koeln Messe (is it the same as you're staying MaggiD?), which is gonna cost us a whopping €76 for both nights (yep, €38 per night, can't knock it really)!!

See you all there, can't wait!

[lotus]

If supports is
Slime
and
Ausgerechnet Wir
as special guests

One reason more to be there?

Or it doesn`t matter?

[sam37]

agree, Cologne is allways great,small or big venue dosen`t matter, but NMA maybe is better "indoor" then "outdoor"?

[cthulhu]

If supports is
Slime
and
Ausgerechnet Wir
as special guests

One reason more to be there?

Or it doesn`t matter?

Wow, just found out about Slime as support, and for those who don't know them: pure punk. In germany they are almost legends of the punk scene since the 80s and i'm really looking forward to an energetic, pogo excessive danse fest even before nma is on stage.
here a link to a new slime vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aMXAfTQtOo

i'm so excited to have them and think it shows somehow that nma still rock so damn good and watch out for good support bands with the spirit needed in these dark times.

see you there...

[Billy T]

i'm so excited to have them and think it shows somehow that nma still rock so damn good and watch out for good support bands with the spirit needed in these dark times.

see you there...

It sounds like you're saying "dark times" as something bad or undesirable...I thought that's what you elder gods were after....Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn indeed!