“Obskur Pet Shop Boys” in Berlin

[CafePicasso]

I think besides the relatively short announcement and public holidays and the fact that it's not London (!), it's maybe also a "problem" that the venue has no atmosphere, history or let's say "magic" like the Electric Ballroom that's connected to PSB

If it had been in Germany from the start, I'd have been kind of annoyed and might have second guessed whether to go.

Yes, exactly!

[VRIDD]

Tickets still showing as available for both nights in Berlin..

tickets are no more available for sunday

currently, at least

[Drico One]

Not for me, this. I was tempted by Dreamworld in the Waldbühne but thought better of it at €130 a pop or whatever it was. The prices have risen 30% or more since the same show in 2024. There are three of us, so I decided against splurging €400 on a show I'd already seen twice. And I am glad I did now, because I would have been irritated to have spent that only for them to announce these too...

I don't think there is an ideal situation here, so not griping. But if the tickets were slower to sell than expected, it's because 20,000 seem to have already spent money on a show a few nights before. It's all a little excessive to me. Given the cost of living crisis at the moment, I have better things - or, more important things, at least - to spend my money on. There was a time this would have been sacrilege to me, but that's middle age for you. The idea of having to be terminally online to even know of these shows, let alone snag a ticket, really doesn't appeal to me. And I'm arsed if I'm standing.

*Old fart shakes fist at clouds*

Enjoy!

Drico.

[y3potential]

Not for me, this. I was tempted by Dreamworld in the Waldbuhne but thought better of it at €130 a pop or whatever it was. The prices have risen 30% or more since the same show in 2024. There are three of us, so I decided against splurging €400 on a show I'd already seen twice. And I am glad I did now, because I would have been irritated to have spent that only for them to announce these too...

I don't think there is an ideal situation here, so not griping. But if the tickets were slower to sell than expected, it's because 20,000 seem to have already spent money on a show a few nights before. It's all a little excessive to me. Given the cost of living crisis at the moment, I have better things - or, more important things, at least - to spend my money on. There was a time this would have been sacrilege to me, but that's middle age for you. The idea of having to be terminally online to even know of these shows, let alone snag a ticket, really doesn't appeal to me. And I'm arsed if I'm standing.

*Old fart shakes fist at clouds*

Enjoy!

Drico.

Well, I'm absolutely stunned. Neigh, shocked and stunned. If there was one person who I thought was a shoo in for the Berlin Obscure gigs it was our dear Drico.. I totally get that listening to Neil describe how they wrote Domino Dancing yet again at the latest stop off of Dreamworld wouldn't exactly set the pulse racing, however hearing deep cuts and b sides in Berlin for the first time would be somewhat of a refreshing palette cleanser at the very least.. Oh well..

[Pinhead44]

It is of course all down to individual circumstances, but I will get to spend 2 full days in a city I have always wanted to visit, listening to the boys play the songs I have always wanted to hear them play live, so it is a an absolute no brainer for me.

Also, thanks to Ryanair, it is costing me the same price to fly from the UK, as it would for me to buy a return train ticket to London. Accepting the risk they might not get me their at all !

[Drico One]

Well, I'm absolutely stunned. Neigh, shocked and stunned. If there was one person who I thought was a shoo in for the Berlin Obscure gigs it was our dear Drico.. I totally get that listening to Neil describe how they wrote Domino Dancing yet again at the latest stop off of Dreamworld wouldn't exactly set the pulse racing, however hearing deep cuts and b sides in Berlin for the first time would be somewhat of a refreshing palette cleanser at the very least.. Oh well..

In the end, maybe the whole FOMO thing is what I really resent. "Get your Dreamworld tickets - now 33% more expensive than they were two years ago. Got them? Cool. Did you know we are also playing Obscure dates that week? Just another €115 on top of that please. Danke schön."

I mean, nobody is forcing me to pay for any of this. So, I didn't. Choice is a good thing. I just feel we're not being given full information to make a choice. So, we're making uninformed decisions. Great for the money men, not so great for our wallets. I suspect there are fans who stumped up for the Dreamworld show now feeling a little miffed at, possibly, not being in a position to get Obscure tickets. Or maybe they would have plumped only for Obscure. That said, I think they genuinely didn't know they'd play Obscure dates here when they announced the Waldbühne show, so I don't think this is as cynical as it appears. The reality is, I have other claims on my time and money at this stage of my life, so I'm not in a position to take quite the same advantage of what is an extra opportunity for more footloose fans. Truth be told, I have probably scratched the PSB live itch far more times than I really need to now they are on what feels like a slow-motion victory lap. I think, subconsciously, I am preparing myself for the end by way of distancing. So, yeah, it's not them, it's me. I think all I want from them now are a few more good songs.

Have fun.

Drico.

[Gabby]

Well, I'm absolutely stunned. Neigh, shocked and stunned. If there was one person who I thought was a shoo in for the Berlin Obscure gigs it was our dear Drico.. I totally get that listening to Neil describe how they wrote Domino Dancing yet again at the latest stop off of Dreamworld wouldn't exactly set the pulse racing, however hearing deep cuts and b sides in Berlin for the first time would be somewhat of a refreshing palette cleanser at the very least.. Oh well..

In the end, maybe the whole FOMO thing is what I really resent. "Get your Dreamworld tickets - now 33% more expensive than they were two years ago. Got them? Cool. Did you know we are also playing Obscure dates that week? Just another €115 on top of that please. Danke schön."

I mean, nobody is forcing me to pay for any of this. So, I didn't. Choice is a good thing. I just feel we're not being given full information to make a choice. So, we're making uninformed decisions. Great for the money men, not so great for our wallets. I suspect there are fans who stumped up for the Dreamworld show now feeling a little miffed at, possibly, not being in a position to get Obscure tickets. Or maybe they would have plumped only for Obscure. That said, I think they genuinely didn't know they'd play Obscure dates here when they announced the Waldbuhne show, so I don't think this is as cynical as it appears. The reality is, I have other claims on my time and money at this stage of my life, so I'm not in a position to take quite the same advantage of what is an extra opportunity for more footloose fans. Truth be told, I have probably scratched the PSB live itch far more times than I really need to now they are on what feels like a slow-motion victory lap. I think, subconsciously, I am preparing myself for the end by way of distancing. So, yeah, it's not them, it's me. I think all I want from them now are a few more good songs.

Have fun.

Drico.

I get this. And if they release a box set of the reissued CD gatefold albums, I'll agree with you on the lack of transparency all the more.

Since the Unity Tour it was a "that's it for me and live PSB" (and New Order frankly), but then Obscure happened. Total no brainer and sod the expense (which regrettably has come back to bite me in an unexpected way I don't care to discuss right now).

A North American leg of the full Dreamworld would be a tough sell for me now. Obscure in Toronto? Possibly but what chance is there of that ever happening?

Nope, I'm with you, Drico. We're going down the other side of the hill now, with responsibilities, priorities, and finite amounts of cash to spend, so a more measured approach is definitely required.

[TallThinMan]

Leaving aside increasing ticket prices, I don’t think there was any cynical marketing ploy here. I think the Berlin Dreamworld date was booked long in advance, then Obscure happened, was a big success and likely a different promoter offered them the chance to play two dates in Germany.

I saw the last night of Obscure with my partner in Camden. We were pretty stupid, not turning up at the venue until near the start. Consequently we spent most of the evening staring at the back of people’s heads in the central balcony, near the noisy bar. Like many here I’ve been a fan for over forty years, but I couldn’t be arsed with queuing for hours for the chance to stand in a crowded sweatbox down the front.

I probably sound ungrateful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I got to experience Obscure, but it was very far from the Performance or 2016 ROH show PSB live zenith for me.

[Drico One]

Yeah, I don't think it was a cynical move - these shows were surely added as an afterthought. It's just the effect is the same: imperfect knowledge with which to make a choice - should one wish to choose. For others, of course, this is just more of a good thing and choice doesn't come into it: "Too much of everything is never enough..."

I think it's just an age thing, for me. I love PSB to death, but the lovely thing about lifelong fandom is it evolves over time, transforming into whatever complements the stage of life. I think these shows are wonderful for superfans. But I'm not nor ever was a superfan. My fandom is intense - but semi-detached and on my own terms. So, I'll shut up now and emote in age-appropriate terms.

Drico.

[Zoops]

Hi Drico,
I don't know you. I've been a fan since 1987. I missed the *Performance* tour because I broke my leg the day before the show. I attended the *Equality* show, the Savoy gigs, and every tour that was offered. I went to *Obscure* twice. I won't be traveling to the Waldbühne—even though the idea appeals to me, since I've never been there before. But I've seen *Dreamworld* enough times. I'll be at *Obskur* on Sunday. For me, it's simply an opportunity to hear the other songs performed live. I likely won't get many other chances to do so.
However, I totally understand where you're coming from. I also don't believe that the sheer number of concerts attended is what really matters. Besides, everyone is free to handle things however they wish.
I do think the situation with the additional dates is unfortunate, though. Those who bought tickets for the Saturday show at the Waldbühne may have already booked all their travel arrangements. On the other hand, it’s also a clever strategic move: anyone who hasn't secured a ticket yet might now decide to book three instead. At the very least, the remaining available seats at the Waldbühne suggest that ticket sales have really picked up over the last few days.

[slurmjunkie]

I saw the last night of Obscure with my partner in Camden. We were pretty stupid, not turning up at the venue until near the start. Consequently we spent most of the evening staring at the back of people’s heads in the central balcony, near the noisy bar. Like many here I’ve been a fan for over forty years, but I couldn’t be arsed with queuing for hours for the chance to stand in a crowded sweatbox down the front.

I probably sound ungrateful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I got to experience Obscure, but it was very far from the Performance or 2016 ROH show PSB live zenith for me.

I flew in from Germany for the Wednesday show of Obscure, which I wouldn't have done if I had known about the Berlin shows. I'm still glad I went, though, as it was great so see Johnny Marr play with them. I will be in Berlin again because it offers an opportunity to bring my wife and daughter who couldn't join me in London, and to likely catch some of my favourites they didn't play on the day I went. I also don't mind seeing the other songs performed again as I've only seen them played once or twice before.

It sounds like you were unlucky with the venue and the behaviour of the people surrounding you. Thankfully, I had luck: even though I only queued one hour before doors opened, I got a nice spot in about the 8th row. It wasn't very crowded and surprisingly not a sweatbox. The air condition actually forced me to keep on my jumper for the first half of the set.

It definitely was one of my best PSB concert experiences.

I've been to a sold-out show at the Berlin venue this year, and the views from the back are much better than in the Electric Ballroom and the front wasn't crowded at all.

[JZU73]

I’d assumed the tickets would sell out just as quickly as the Obscure tickets for April, so I rushed to get one on Friday. Now I’m surprised there are still tickets available. Obscure in London was a wonderful experience for me and I’m looking forward to going again.

[leesmapman]

Just got my ticket!

[Pinhead44]

Mine too. How refreshing to have the option for physical printed tickets!

[slurmjunkie]

Mine too. How refreshing to have the option for physical printed tickets!

Yes, that's an advantage here in Germany. They look great and are nice keepsakes just like in the olden days. Also, no need to worry in advance when the digital tickets will finally arrive too close to the event.