Tag Archives: “Glücklich in Berlin”

The night is dark and full of ice cream: Moldover and Alfred Ladylike at Posh Teckel in Neukölln.

Moldover performing at Posh Teckel drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 10 2017Seriously, nukes could fly any second. The world is ON FIRE because of some dimwitted psychopaths. Life has returned to 80’s conditions, a world of “tomorrow I’ll ____, unless nukes. Thursday I’ll _____, unless nukes.”

And yet, I am full of joy, and I got to see an amazing show, and I made art.

I’ve drawn Alfred Ladylike before, on two occasions. I am a fan of Alfred both in solo and Donut Heart incarnations. Although I did not draw her the first time I saw her perform, when she opened with “Professional” for Amanda Palmer at the show I drew at last Fall! Alfred played at Posh Teckel in Neukölln last night.Alfred Ladylike performing at Posh Teckel drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 10 2017

“Teckel” means “dachshund” and there has never been a bar as dachshund-themed as Posh Teckel ever in the history of the world.

It is pretty damn delightful, and also it is a bar that cares a lot about music. It is smaller than our flat but charming. The music sounded great. Alfred performed a few songs but I only made one drawing because it was entirely red and dark and very, very hot in the music part of the bar!

Luckily the music space cooled off a bit as the evening went on. I asserted my needs and dragged in a bar chair to sit on in front of the stage. No-one minded. It’s Berlin, we do what we like.

Moldover drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 10 2017Then Moldover played and wow he is a crackerjack musician and terrific live performer.

He was really just extremely good. I knew pretty much nothing about controllerism, or that Moldover is known worldwide as the Godfather of Controllerism. But I know musicians, and I know performers, and I was just thrilled to see such a terrific show out of the blue on a Thursday night in Berlin when we might all die in a nuclear firestorm tomorrow.

Moldover drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 10 2017Boy howdy, I sure hope I get to go back and read this six months from now and say “wasn’t it scary, thank heavens things are better now.”

Because this is the sweetest and brightest and most joyful and meaningful my life has ever been and I’m drawing like blue hot holy hell. I headed home at midnight; I stopped at our all-night bistro to get ice-cream. Mango eis in the velvet dark and coolness of the summer night, our neighborhood still quietly bustling. I was so happy I scared the cats my husband by dancing in the front door. It would be a shame to get radiation sickness at a time like this.

Anyway, If you like me going around and documenting Berlin life and art, you can help make it possible by supporting me on Patreon. It’s easy and you can pledge as a little as a buck a month; I’ll be thrilled! Moldover has a Patreon too and is on bandcamp and both those corporations are being pretty decent world citizens, as corporations go, so far. So you could go support this fine musician here on Patreon (I did!) or buy his music and music devices on bandcamp. And watch this video, where Moldover wears a tinfoil jumpsuit and performs inside a giant computer chip.

Or maybe he’s really tiny? Whichever, check it out.

Don’t wait too long, in case nukes.

Dr. Sketchy’s Weimar Berlin – Bridge Markland as Anita Berber!

Bridge Markland at Cafe Kalwil reclining drawn by Suzanne Forbes Aug 6 2017What a fabulous Dr. Sketchy’s! Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin is SO FUCKING GOOD.

The atmosphere, the models, the music – always on lock. This session’s theme was Anita Berber and her Weimar Berlin life of decadence, debauchery and artistic fervor.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017Bridge Markland, an incredible performer, portrayed Anita Berber late in life, bitter and caustic.

As well as a Drag King, actor and puppeteer, Bridge is an artist’s model with decades of experience. She imbued her characterization with such wickedness and sensuality, such louche elegance.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017We also enjoyed legendary Berlin model and performer Le Pustra posing – portraying Anita’s husband and betrayer, genderqueer icon Sebastian Droste.

Bridge Markland as Anita Berber drawn by Suzanne Forbes at Dr Sketchys Berlin Aug 6 2017You can see the post of my drawings of him here!

Both Le Pustra and Bridge have made a deep dive into the Berlin of the 20s and 30s.

They captured the feel of the time so beautifully, lounging in their silk robes on devore velvet furniture and sniping at each other. When they fought over a fox stole I almost died of happiness!

Since we were working in a very elegant salon setting, we used only graphite and pencils. I added some pastel and ink later, at home.

The exquisite setting was queer space Cafe Kalwil on Berlin’s historic gay boulevard Motzstraße.

So much gratitude and thanks to LaLaVox and Le Pustra for organizing such a dream event for artists! Thanks so much to Bridge Markland for bringing Anita to life in all her rage, sensitivity and passion! More drawings here! You can see my drawings from the previous Dr. Sketchy’s Berlin here, and here’s the Instagram for Dr Sketchy’s Berlin.