The songs blasted out in the tents during the famous Oktoberfest in Munich this year included, among predictably cheesy but enjoyable favourites such as “Angels” by Robbie Williams or “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams, two slightly surprising tracks: “Ruby” by the Kaiser Chiefs and The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”. Granted, none of those will win awards for outstanding indie-ness and are in the oompah-band’s repertoire mainly for their sing-alongability, but they do at least point towards the inclusion of (English and American) Indie music in the European mainstream.
In tune with this general development, it is fitting that Reading’s finest Pete & The Pirates should bring their brand of guitar pop over to Munich at this time to try and win over some of the punters who are, presumably, filled with sausages and beer. As a spiky Rock ‘n’ Roll-riff introduces the opener “Bright Lights”, this feat seems achievable, and even more so when the 3-way harmonies kick in. They are executed wonderfully and create a sense of momentum that the band will find hard to re-create during the set.

Despite sporting a cheeky sailor’s hat, lead singer Tom Sanders does not seem to be in the mood for crowd interaction and only once asking without real interest if everyone is enjoying the Oktoberfest. The enthusiastic crowd doesn’t let that dampen their mood and hop along joyously, yet one cannot help but remark that the band could make more of the audience’s receptiveness, especially considering the great appeal of indiepop-gems like “Knots” with its drilled staccato riffs and jerky rhythm or “Come On Feet”, a speedy gallop through the Beatles’ early days and the band’s second biggest hit.

Quite what is holding the boys back tonight is hard to pinpoint, but it can’t be a pressing matter if people have as good a time as during “Mr Understanding”, the set closer. While they are not quite yet ready to play to the masses that fit into the beer tents at the “Wiesn”, Pete & The Pirates foray into the dense German culture can be dubbed a success.

By Matthias Scherer

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