To all visitors of the official Orchid Leaves website: have a Merry X-MAS and a peaceful New Year 2007!
To all visitors of the official Orchid Leaves website: have a Merry X-MAS and a peaceful New Year 2007!
Please note that due to an administration change at Tower Records, CD Baby's deal with Tower has been indefinitely put on hiatus. That means that there will be no more sales of the Orchid Leaves CD "Free At Last" through tower.com in the future.
To all visitors of the official Orchid Leaves website: have a Merry X-MAS and a peaceful New Year 2006!
To all visitors of the official Orchid Leaves website: have a Merry X-MAS and a peaceful New Year 2005!
To all visitors of the official Orchid Leaves website: have a Merry X-MAS and a peaceful New Year 2004!
In Elmshorn, for the first time they performed "Fast Living City", which leads to the question, why it was never performed before... .
Phaedra Alexis Trass relaxing after the show.
Phaedra Alexis Trass will perform the next gigs with Orchid Leaves.
Orchid Leaves (Hartmut Kreckel & Josephine von Bassek): Berlin 06.07.2001, Foto: Annette Witt
(20.04.01)
Shock to Orchid Leaves fans - Phaedra Alexis Trass calls it a day!
Orchid Leaves' Phaedra Alexis Trass leaves Orchid Leaves! Hartmut Kreckel commented: "Well... there's fundamental business differences, so nothing personal. After christmas last year, it became obvious, that the spirit of Orchid Leaves (Mark 2) had been gone, so since then I´ve been auditioning singers for a Orchid Leaves (Mark 3). So I decided to end this, as I began to feel, that I was fooling the audience, pretending that the Orchid Leaves spirit was still there, as it was a year ago. At the end of the day, I´m not a "actor"."
Hartmut Kreckel (pictured here in Burg Klempenow 21.09.2000): "There'll be a new Orchid Leaves in the close future!"
(10.03.01)
Orchid Leaves on INET-TV!
Orchid Leaves rendition of their epic song "You'll Never Know", performed for German Rock e.V. (www.germanrock.de) in Berlin´s Rickenbaker's Inn can be tasted on INET-TV (
http://INET-TV.net ).
(04.03.01)
Orchid Leaves showcase for German Rock!
Yesterday Orchid Leaves performed a 20min. showcase for German Rock e.V. (www.germanrock.de) in Berlin's sloppy venue, the Rickenbaker's Inn. The set list consisted of: How Does The Cold Wind Cry? - Time I Learned - Highway Child - You'll Never Know. The reviews were great: "Die Orchid Leaves sind ein dt.-amerik. Duo mit Hartmut Kreckel (Yellowhouse) an der Gitarre und Phaedra Alexis Trass am Mikro. Das ruhige, lyrische Material der Gruppe ging runter wie Öl. Auch hier ragte insbesondere der Gesang heraus. Klasse.
Schnell reingeschneit waren dann das Duo Orchid Leaves. Hartmut Kreckel und seine Partnerin Phaedra Alexis Trass boten gefühlvollen ausdrucksvollen leicht souligen Blues der Extraklasse! Das machte Lust auf mehr. Man sollte sie sich mal einen Abend lang im Konzert ansehen. Es war schon etwas Besonderes: so schnell improvisiert und zwischen zwei Acts eben mal so eingesprungen... "
The whole event: 12 bands (Tom Cunningham, Sven Panne, Symbioose, Yellowhouse, Orchid Leaves, Mystery Rain, Mike Davids, S.U.F.F., Kult, Windstärke 7, Brilliant Trees, Seduce, Masters of Merriment etc.) will be broadcasted on the Intervet by INET-TV®/INET-RADIO® (www.INET-TV.net)on Friday 09.03.2001, 18.00.
Phaedra Alexis Trass (with a new haircut... again) at the German Rock showcase!
(02.03.01)
Knorre closed down!
"Knorre" (www.knorre.de), one of Orchid Leaves favourite venues in Berlin got closed down. Orchid Leaves are very sad about this, not only due to the fact that a planned show in April at this very place won't happen, but also due to the fact that this was a marvelous place! Hartmut Kreckel "... hold on, good things never last..."
(01.02.01)
Orchid Leaves "Free At Last" CD on Internet Radio!
The following songs from the Orchid Leaves CD "Free At Last" get played daily on the Internet Radio Station *Recordcaster* (
www.recordcaster.de ): "Free At Last", "Faded Glory" and "For My Own".
(14.12.00)
Orchid Leaves in law-suit.!!!
As the Orchid Leaves trademark is also registered for t-shirts, a clothing company, that has registered their clothing series "Orchidee" is sueing your favourite band. Hartmut Kreckel: "...the whole thing is just ridiculous! I mean, if we were called "Orchidea" or something, I would see the point, but "Orchid Leaves" and "Orchidee" are quite distant trademark names from each other, so that both would definetly not cause any sort of consumer misguidance. I'm quite positive that we will win this case. But... if the worst comes to the worst, we would not be able to produce Orchid Leaves t-shirts! We might create a "Orchid Leaves Tea" as merchandise..."
(12.12.00)
Orchid Leaves in car tow!
On the way back of the gig in Cottbus 08.12.2000, Orchid Leaves´ car crapped and they were involved in a car tow.Therefore Phaedra dedicated "Faded Glory" to Hartmut's car two nights afterwards at the gig in Jubinal.
"Faded Glory" for Orchid Leaves'´ car. (Note: Orchid Leaves are NOT promoting french cars...)
(12.11.00)
ORCHID LEAVES is now on number 3 on the MP3 WEB SITE www.soundclick.com !!!
Orchid Leaves is now number 3. The song is still FADED GLORY. Go
there, and help Orchid Leaves to make it N°1!. Now or never...
(08.11.00)
ORCHID LEAVES is now on number 8 on the MP3 WEB SITE www.soundclick.com !!!
There's over 200 artists on this list: Orchid Leaves is now number 8, making the chart entry on number 30 in the first week (HOT!!!). The song is FADED GLORY. Go
there, and help Orchid Leaves to make it N°1!.
(07.11.00)
ORCHID LEAVES is finally on the MP3 WEB SITE www.soundclick.com !!!
ORCHID LEAVES is finally on the MP3 WEB SITE www.soundclick.com !!!
1) When you put this URL in, the first page will ask you to choose your category click on ACOUSTIC/FOLK.
2) Then the next page will give a list of artists and what number their song is. There ´s over 200 artists on this list we are number 30 in the first week (HOT!!!). It will be moving up all the time. The song is FADED GLORY. Also there is a little history & story about us too. So...please help us to make our song N° 1!
3)Click PLAY & vote for us...
Take a taste of Orchid Leaves!!!!!!!!!
All the best
Phaedra & Hartmut
(21.10.00)
Another New Orchid Leaves Song!
Orchid Leaves has written a new song (again...), entitled "Time I Learned", and the first live performance was in Potsdam @ Gutenberg 20.10.00. The lyrics were written by Phaedra Alexis Trass and the music was written by Hartmut Kreckel and Phaedra helped out on some of the chords!
(19.09.00)
Copy of Orchid Leaves : Free At Last CD: stolen!
On August 27th, Bernie Tormé had his copy of the Orchid Leaves, "Free At Last", CD stolen. Bernie: "Unfortunately all my bags of clothes got stolen out of our van at Calais, a real drag, two pairs of caterpillar boots, stage clothes, the lot. As well as the Orchid Leaves CD, which was in my bag, and which I never heard..." This is the second reported case of an Orchid Leaves CD getting stolen, so thieves be warned: there is a special theft detection device that causes the CD to reverse the instrumentation: a stolen CD will sound as if Phaedra is playing guitar and Hartmut is singing. Furthermore, the Surgeon General warns against this cancer-causing agent.
(07.09.00)
1st Orchid Leaves (Mark II) Anniversary!
Yesterday Orchid Leaves (Mark II) celebrated their first anniversry at a Restaurant at Kollwitzplatz in East-Berlin. It was exactly one year ago since Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel had met for the very first time in a musical situation.
(28.08.00)
Another New Orchid Leaves Song!
Orchid Leaves have written a new song (again), titled "Distant Hills" and performed it live for the first time @ Cafe Goodwill 26.08.00. The lyrics were written by Phaedra Alexis Trass and the music was written by Hartmut Kreckel.
(22.08.00)
Competition : win an autographed Orchid Leaves "Free At Last" CD!!!
MMN Records kindly supplied us with a free copy of Orchid Leaves "Free At Last" CD. Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel had already agreed to sign in, be it on the front cover, the inner sleeve or the CD itself. All you have to do is to email your post address to MMNRecords@web.de and state, where you´d like Orchid Leaves to sign... and of course answer two (simple) questions:
1) What of Phaedra´s turned up missing at the Orchid Leaves Record Release Party?
2) Which song on the "Free At Last" CD Hartmut wrote over ten years ago?
Hint: both answers can be found on this website! Competition closes Sept. 30th. And... good luck!!!
(21.08.00)
Phaedra Alexis Trass with red hair!
Phaedra Alexis Trass, previously as reported with blonde hair, has now red coloured hair! So watch out for the next Orchid Leaves gigs... and take a look!
(19.08.00)
Exclusively : Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel open their diaries (Part 2)...
Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel open their diaries again to share their comments on the Orchid Leaves gigs...
12.05.00 (22.00) Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg, Niederkirchner Str. 6), Voodoo Lounge
Played quite well, otherwise forgetable gig. One of those promotors, who haven´t got a clue. So it wasn´t much more that a warm up for Emergenza.(Hartmut)
19.05.00 (20.00) Berlin (Tempelhof, Columbiadamm 9-11), Columbia Fritz (Emergenza Rockfestival II.)
It didn´t go as well as the last time of Emergenza @ Knaack. Great sound nevertheless. We had been too early on the bill. Nevertheless it was a interesting experience.(Hartmut)
20.05.00 (21.00) Berlin (Wilmersdorf, Uhlandstr. 104-105), Meikel´s Espresso Bar
Was quite good. Soundwise as well.(Hartmut)
25.05.00 (21.00) Berlin (Pankow, Kreuzstr. 14), BIP
Crap P.A. with limiter, forgetabble gig. People enjoyed us anyway.(Hartmut)
02.06.00 (22.30) Berlin (Friedrichshain, Gryphiusstr. 9), Cafe Unplugged
Waste of time! Shitty audience too!! Too many potheads, really disliked the atmosphere; the Cafe Unplugged once was a respectable place, now it´s not even a dive anymore - it has become a dump!(Hartmut)
How many mory crappy gigs do we have to play before we deserve to become rich and famous" (Phaedra)
08.06.00 (21.00) Berlin (Mitte, Oranienburgerstr. 26), Cafe Goodwill
Good gig and very funny too. The Cafe Goodwill is located in the heart of the City of (East-)Berlin. It´s the red light street too... I had to stop myself from bursting out laughing, when we were in "Running In Circles" and at the very moment we were in the line that goes "... you can find a place to hide yourself in velvet city..." two prositutes walk into the cafe. Pity nobody videotaped this AFAIK...(Hartmut)
14.06.00 (23.00) Berlin (Zehlendorf, Wasgenstr. 75), Club A18
I used to live at that student village for a couple of months in 1989. It was there where I wrote "How does the cold wind cry?" Despite some technical challenges the show went down very well.(Hartmut)
16.06.00 (22.00) Berlin (Schöneberg, Potsdamer Str. 157), Blues Cafe (w/ Windigo)
Supporting act to Windigo. And some lady in the audience stole a Orchid Leaves CD!!! What a drag...(Hartmut)
I know another word for "lady" and it ain´t so polite...(Phaedra)
21.06.00 (15.00) Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg, Knaackstr. 97), Kulturbrauerei (Fete de la musique)
It was hot, so hot... 35° and more! We had to fight against this and the constantly crapping monitor system (the sound man was pretty much doing the hand-jive, I believe). But it didn´t distract us to perform a great 25 min. set... transmitting summer tastes of Orchid Leaves.(Hartmut)
Now I know how to sing with sweaty legs and shortness of breath! But I surprise even myself sometimes. (Phaedra)
21.06.00 (23.00) Berlin (Friedrichshain, Knorrpromenade 2), Knorre (Fete de la musique)
Brilliant atmosphere including the star quality spotlights and a wonderfully receptive audience. I want more gigs like this one...(Phaedra)
Great gig. I guess, we left the audience sufficiently breathless. After one encore we couldn´t carry on. It was a long (and hot) day.(Hartmut)
27.07.00 (21.00) Berlin (Pankow, Kreuzstr. 14), BIP
I think we played pretty well. Not bad and the owner is fairly amiable as well. However he should consider consulting an interior decorator for the place.(Phaedra)
Great gig. Went down very well and played very well too, despite one month of having a break, as Phaedra went to Memphis.(Hartmut)
28.07.00 (21.00) Berlin (Köpenick, F+rstenwalder Allee 96), Keller Rahnsdorf
The food was fabulous! And it's only a myth that eating pork late night makes you have nightmares.(Phaedra)
Quite good, with a shortened down set. Oh, and I should ad that the Eisbein was superb...(Hartmut)
29.07.00 (22.00) Berlin (Friedrichshain, Scharnweberstr. 54), deziBel Pub & Stage
The whole set was filmed with two cameras. Good sound too.(Hartmut)... but the pay makes peddling one´s musical talents at the subway station seem more appealing...(Phaedra)
30.07.00 (16.00) 14727 Premnitz (1. Premnitzer Parkplatz Benefit Party, Hauptstr. 36), Festzelt
Very funny gig. Played a 50 min set at 4p.m. that went down very well. After us there was a break and then the next act: a Roberto Blanco impersonator!!! Had fun really and told the promotor -while watching that unannounced surprise act - that we are Orchid Leaves impersonators (Phaedra now has blonde-coloured hair for evindence)! Nice people there too, well be back... the real Orchid Leaves!!!(Hartmut)
05.08.00 (21.30) Berlin (Friedrichshain, Simon-Dach-Str. 28), Abendland
Nice gig, nice place.(Hartmut)
11.08.00 (21.00) 17489 Greifswald (Markt 27), Chamäleon
I wasn't too impressed by those drunk guys from Hamburg in the audience, and the chili con carne sucked. Now that´s a cardinal sin!(Phaedra)
Forgetable gig.(Hartmut)
12.08.00 (19.00) 16866 Teetz (Ganzer Str. 10), Cultur Gasthof Teetz
Supreme atmosphere, amazing audience-I was even nervous ( a little) before we permormed. We really got "royal treatment"-the chickenbreast filet was to die for! I can't wait to go back. Furthermore Teetz, even with 150 inhabitants, could show Berlin a thing or two about making musicians fell appreciated. (Phaedra)
Great gig-the audience was very receptive to the tastes of Orchid Leaves. Very nice (and educated) people. It was worth the wait-13 months after we had that accident and had to cancel at the eleventh hour.(Hartmut)
(10.08.00)
Orchid Leaves on dodgy pontis Compilation CD!!!
The Orchid Leaves song "Faded Glory" was included on the pontis compilation CD, to be given out as a gift with the purchase of a pontis mp3 player. The mp3 files for this CD were submitted by Callasong.de.
Orchid Leaves would like to state, that this was done without permision, i.e. without asking the band! Orchid Leaves are very upset about this, for the cover looks like one of those bags, that are used in aeroplanes in case of... The only difference is that those bags have more info than the pontis cd! Callasong.de claimed to have supplied infos and pictures about the 30 bands included, so if that's true, the pontis guys must have done a hand-jive then!!!
The final (!) version of the pontis CD with the Orchid Leaves song "Faded Glory". Autographed by the band, it´s now worth the material that it was printed on!
(23.07.00)
Competition: Orchid Leaves´ "For My Own" on student radio contest @ 87.9 Rock (Star fm)!!!
Orchid Leaves song "For My Own" will be featured on the monthly competition of uniRadio 87,9 this Thursday 27.07.2000, 8p.m. - just before the Orchid Leaves gig @ BIP. Orchid Leaves (Phaedra & Hartmut) will need your support!
You can eighter send a postcard with the name of your favourite band to: uniRadio 87,9, "FEEDBACK", Thielallee 50, 14195 Berlin.
...or just send an e-Mail with the name of your favourite band to: FEEDBACK@uniRadio.de
Plus you can win 5 CDs, deadline is August 15th...
Hallo Hartmut,
wie gesagt würde ich Euren Song von Orchid Leaves "For my own" gerne in der nächsten Ausgabe von "FEEDBACK", der Newcomersendung auf uniRadio 87,9 spielen. Der Sendetermin ist bereits der kommende Donnerstag, 27.7.2000, 20 -21 Uhr auf 87,9 MHz. (Das ist dieselbe Frequenz wie der Sender "87,9 Rock").
In der Rubrik "Demo-Hitparade", treten jeden Monat drei Bands gegeneinander an. Die Zuh?????? k??????n per Postkarte oder E-Mail w?en, welche Band ihnen am besten gef?t. Die Gewinner-Band tritt dann bei der n?sten "FEEDBACK"-Sendung in einem Monat gegen zwei neue Herausforderer an. (?rigens: "FEEDBACK" gibt es immer am letzten Donnerstag im Monat, von 20 bis 21 Uhr auf uniRadio 87,9).
In der kommenden Sendung tretet ihr gegen die Band "recorder" und die Gewinner der letzten Demo-Hitparade, "Falling Down", an.
Vielleicht sagt ihr ja noch Euren Fans bescheid, damit m??????chst viele f??????uch stimmen.
Postkarte oder E-Mail mit Eurem Bandnamen bis 15.8. an folgende Adresse: uniRadio 87,9, "FEEDBACK", Thielallee 50, 14195 Berlin.
E-Mail: FEEDBACK@uniRadio.de
Unter den Einsendungen werden fünf CDs verlost. Der Rechtsweg ist ausgeschlossen.
(01.07.00)
Orchid Leaves CD @ fancity ...
The Orchid Leaves Maxi CD "Free At Last" can now be ordered via fancity... click
here to get your copy.
The original version of the "Free At Last" CD cover.
(14.06.00)
Another New Orchid Leaves Song!
Orchid Leaves have written a new song on (again) Tuesday 13.06.00, titled "Sea Gull" and performed it live for the first time the following day @ Club A18, leaving out "Spanish Sword Fighter". The lyrics were written by Hartmut Kreckel and Phaedra Alexis Trass and the music was written by Hartmut Kreckel ("...it's about an old friend of mine: she always flies out and always returns...").
(09.06.00)
Orchid Leaves on the radio in South Africa (Part 3)!
Orchid Leaves had the following review of the "Free At Last" CD:
Orchid Leaves - Free at last, on MMN Records. Still on the subject of Captain Beyond, Dinosaur Days listeners will recall that a while ago, we featured an album called "A Tribute to Captain Beyond - Thousand Days of Yesterdays". One of the bands featured on this album was Orchid Leaves, and they chose to do a stunning version of the CB track "Starglow Energy" on the album. Orchid Leaves is Hartmut Kreckel on acoustic guitars and Phaedra Alexis Trass on vocals, and their "Free at Last" album is actually a four track acoustic EP, with all four songs written by Kreckel with Trass co-writing one of them. Trass has the most remarkable voice and is perfectly suited to Kreckel's gentle, uncomplicated and pleasant style. The four tracks are "Free at Last", "For my Own", "Prisoner of Time", and "Faded Glory", with "Free at Last" being the stand-out track, although all four tracks are very good, making it a fine addition to your collection.
Here's the link to
"Dinosaur Days", for more.
(08.06.00)
Orchid Leaves @ Fete de la musique!
From the official program of the Fete de la musique 21.06.2000:
Kulturbrauerei: Knaackstr. 97/ Danziger Str. 10435 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg
U2 Schönhauser Allee 
Emergenza-Showcase
Das Programm wird betreut von der Berliner Dependence des Emergenza-European Festivals, dem grösten europäischen Newcomer-Festival, dessen Bandbreite und Qualität heute von einigen Wettbewerbs-Teilnehmern vorgestellt wird.
Orchid Leaves: Pheadra Alexis Trass und Hartmut Kreckel liefern den Gänsehaut erregenden Beweis, wieviel Soul aus einer Stimme und einer Gitarre flie?n kann.
Knorre: Knorrpromenade 2 10245 Berlin Friedrichshain
S-Bahn Ostkreuz/Wahrschauer Str., Tram 23
Orchid Leaves: Schwer getan haben sich viele in der Beschreibung des musikalischen Stils dieses Duos, das von Gitarrist Hartmut Kreckel gegründet wurde. Zu grundlegend und damit zu weitgreifend scheinen die Songs, die Kreckel mit der US-Amerikanerin Phaedra Alexis Trass aufführt: Folk ist es aufgrund seiner Instrumentierung, doch im Einflussbereich liegen zweifellos auch Pop, Soul, Funk und Rock.
(04.06.00)
New Orchid Leaves Song!
Orchid Leaves have written a new song on Thursday 01.06.00, titled "Highway Child" and performed it live for the first time the following day @ Cafe Unplugged, leaving out "Spanish Sword Fighter". The lyrics were written by Phaedra Alexis Trass and the music was written by Hartmut Kreckel.
(26.05.00)
Orchid Leaves on the radio in South Africa (Part 2)!
Three Orchid Leaves songs from the "Free At Last"-CD (i.e. "For My Own" was not played) got played on air on the national radio station in South Africa, named 5fM, during last sunday´s evening program
"Dinosaur Days", conducted by Phil Wright and Leon Economides.
(22.05.00)
ORCHID LEAVES @ Emergenza-Festival (2nd round).
Orchid Leaves performed at second round of the Emergenza-Festival: with 7 mainly hardcore and "punk-orientated" bands at this Europe´s biggest band competition at Berlin´s Columbia Fritz. Your "favourite" performed a 25 min. set that consisted of : Free At Last - Just Another World - For My Own - Starglow Energy - Faded Glory - You´ll Never Know. Sadly, it wasn´t enough votes to make it to the final round, despite a better performance than at Emergenza (1st round).
Orchid Leaves (Hartmut Kreckel & Phaedra Alexis Trass) during the Emergenza showcase @ Columbia Fritz, Berlin 19.05.2000.
(18.05.00)
Orchid Leaves @ Besonic.com!
Orchid Leaves are also @ Virtual-Volume.com, that (also) at least hinted (again!) to make Orchid Leaves rich and famous. The song "Faded Glory" from the "Free At Last"-CD, can be downloaded
here.
(12.05.00)
Orchid Leaves have new Concert Posters!!!
Orchid Leaves have new DIN A2 sized black and white Concert Posters.
The demo version of the new Orchid Leaves Concert Poster. The original has a bar added at the bottom to place the venue/date lettering.
(10.05.00)
Competition: win a genuinely autographed Orchid Leaves CD!!!
You can win a genuinely autographed "Free At Last"-CD by Orchid Leaves and more: you can decide, whether you´d like to have the autographs on the front cover, on the inner cover or on the CD itself!! Phaedra & Hartmut have already agreed to sign in on the lucky winner´s request!!! All you have to do is to be the 2.000th visitor of the official Orchid Leaves website, as the counter indicates. The lucky winner please send a e-mail (no cheating!) with her/his address and indication where the autographs should be signed. Please note that this is a one-off competition: special thanks to MMN Records, who kindly provided a copy of Orchid Leaves' "Free At Last"-CD.
(09.05.00)
Orchid Leaves @ Virtual-Volume.com!
Orchid Leaves are also @ Virtual-Volume.com, that (also) at least hinted to make Orchid Leaves rich and famous. The song "Faded Glory" from the "Free At Last"-CD, can be downloaded
here.
(02.05.00)
Tickets for Emergenza Festival!
Tickets for the Emergenza Festival on Friday May 19th can be purchased for 16.- through the Orchid Leaves website. Orchid Leaves will be the second act (out of eight) to perform at 20.30 @ Columbia Fritz. This is the second round of the Emergenza Festival, and Orchid Leaves will be transmitting those tastes... as every vote counts, Orchid Leaves (Phaedra & Hartmut) will need your support!!! So be there on time...
(01.05.00)
Orchid Leaves in photo session!
Orchid Leaves did a photo session on the bright lit sunny afternoon, that turned into a rainy day, of Sunday April 30th in Berlin's Tiergarten, with view to a new concert poster. Thanks to Antonis and Claudia for their services.
(22.04.00)
Exclusively : Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel open their diaries...
Phaedra Alexis Trass and Hartmut Kreckel open their diaries to share their comments on the Orchid Leaves gigs...
Phaedra Alexis Trass:
Wille 07.04.2000: "As we all know, there are good days and bad days-in every profession. Well, the Wille was definetely a good experience. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed-and that certainly isn't always the case. Because the Wille is a youth center with an established *family*, I felt as if we´d been invited as friends to jam at a get-together. How comfortable."
Wagenburg 26.03.2000: "It was a small scale Rainbow gathering. Everybody was very cool and accepting, The candlelit tent evoked a beautiful feeling among everyone. Also a woman illustrated our performance (thanks Anke!), which was pleasant surprise. I can not leave out the fact that they treated us to the best bowl of mexican tomato soup in the western hemisphere. But of all, I met a sweet little girl, Cairo, who absolutely stole my heart with her clever charm. I don't believe I'll ever forget how much the individuals in that tent touched me. There really is still beauty in this cruel f***ed-up world."
Hartmut Kreckel:
"The gig @ Wille 07.04.2000 started off on a low point: I picked up Phaedra from the station on that evening, she was coming from Amsterdam at 8.00pm, but the train was 75 min. late. I informed the promotor and the audience was waiting, yes they were waiting... great gig it was too, the audience was very receptive to the tastes of Orchid Leaves and we did two encores, had to perform *Wet City* twice plus the fact that I met a nice girl the day before helped in one way or another: during *Fly High, Fly Away* I changed the line that follows *What's your plan?* from the original line of *I'm moving on* to *lots of plans*... but two gigs later I had to change it again to the original line. That's life... The gig @ Wagenburg 26.03.2000 was another story: at that commune people were very receptive and we got a great response. The whole set up was like taken from a picture book and exactly suitable to transmit those tastes of Orchid Leaves to the audience. We played some bizarre places so far, but that one takes the cake. Best moment was during the last song of the set *You'll Never Know*, when the electricity went down and we kept going on, 'til the song was over..."
The handdrawing of Orchid Leaves performance @ Wagenburg 26.03.2000.
(20.03.00)
Orchid Leaves Gig @ Taubenschlag announced in "Berlin Guide"!
The Orchid Leaves Gig @ Taubenschlag was announced in "Berlin Guide" with the Free At Last CD cover artwork and the following article:
In der Vergangenheit warfen ahnungslose Journalisten die Orchid Leaves oft versehntlich in den Jazztopf, ein Irrtum, der sich zwingend aus der Tatsache ergeben mu?e, da?Konzertank??????gungen des Duetts dessen Musikstil mit "Fusion" betitelten. Soviel also vorweg, eine "Fusion", ob zwischen Jazz, Rock, Reggae, HipHop oder sonst irgenwelcher Musikrichtung findet bei den Orchid Leaves garantiert nicht statt. Vielmehr handelt es sich bei Phaedra Alexis Trass und Hartmut Kreckel vermutlich um das wohl puristischste Folk-Pop-Duo der Stadt. Mit gem??????ch angeschlagener Gitarre und einer netten Stimme, irgendwo zwischen Joni Mitchel und Carole King, wird unbescholten ohne Zuhilfenahme von Rhythmen, Instrumenten und moderner Technik im Wohnzimmer vor sich hinmusiziert, um die hier entstehenden feierabendlichen Ergüsse schließich auf Bühne und nun auch endlich auf CD zu präsentieren. Der entspannte Abend zwischen Birds, Woody Guthrie und Frouwenfolk.
Orchid Leaves
Dienstag, 28.03.2000
Musikcafe Taubenschlag
B?chstraße 79
Berlin Friedrichshain
(19.03.00)
The Orchid Leaves Record Release Party.
The Orchid Leaves "Free At Last" CD Record Release Party @ Berlin's deziBel was great. The international Duo Orchid Leaves performed to a very warm audience reception, transmitting the tastes of Orchid Leaves to the audience. They performed the whole set plus "Spanish Sword Fighter" and the two newly written songs ("Second Time Around" / "You'll Never Know"), that were rehearsed the night before the party. In spite of this sort of "just in time-production", these songs went down so well, that "You'll Never Know" was performed again as a second encore, preceding the third encore "How Does The Cold Wind Cry?", which was also done twice, as your favourite act run out of songs. Hartmut Kreckel: "...we haven't rehearsed all the old songs yet, I´m perfectly aware that some people expect "Fast Living City" and "Another End". We will do them in the future, as we like them as well of course... on the other side, we don´t want to rest down solely on past laurels and look into the future, for Phaedra and myself have a lot of creative potential, and "For My Own" from the CD and the two new performed songs "You'll Never Know" and "Second Time Around" are just the top of the iceberg, so to speak... so that'll be where Orchid Leaves will be heading to... remember, this is just the begining of a new chapter in Orchid Leaves..." The only bad thing on that night was that Phaedra Alexis Trass' black cardigan (Phaedra's spring sweater, as she puts it) was stolen after the gig!!! Phaedra is very sad about this and would like to have it back, for she bought it just after coming to Germany and it's unique to her!!!
(17.03.00)
Orchid Leaves Record Release Party announced in "Berliner Morgenpost"!
The Orchid Leaves Record Release Party was featured in "Berliner Morgenpost":
Bittersüsse Sinnlichkeit
Folk vom Feinsten: Orchid Leaves im Dezibel
«Unser sehr unterschiedlicher musikalischer Hintergrund, einerseits Folk, andererseits Rock, ist f??????ns Erg?ung und Herausforderung zugleich», erz?t Gitarrist und Songschreiber Hartmut Kreckel. Der Berliner Musiker, der auch Frontmann der Rockformation Yellowhouse ist, gr??????te k??????ich gemeinsam mit der aus Memphis/Tennessee stammenden amerikanischen S?erin Phaedra Alexis Trass das Duo Orchid Leaves.
Phaedra Trass war nach Bandprojekten zwischen Jazz, TripHop und Rock auf ihren neuen Partner gesto?n. Die Nummer «Free At Last» gibt der Deb??????D des Duos den Titel. Trass' Stimme, die in einigen Passagen von Songs wie «Prisoner Of Time» ein tiefes souliges Gospel-Timbre offenbart, ist so etwas wie die sinnliche Kraftquelle dieser jungen «Folk-Orchideen» von der Spree.
Ein trauriger Song steht am Schluss der CD. «Das ist im Grunde ein bitteres St???????????? einen ehemals erfolgreichen Rocks?er, der von skrupellosen Managern hintergangen und am Ende im Stich gelassen wurde», so erz?t Hartmut Kreckel ?????? den Song «Faded Glory», den das Duo heute auf ihrer Record-Release-Party im Club Dezibel live vorstellen wird. k??????r>Dezibel, Scharnweberstr. 54, Friedrichshain. Tel.: 29 00 39 39. Heute, 21 Uhr.
(13.03.00)
Orchid Leaves on the radio in South Africa!
Orchid Leaves´ version of "Starglow Energy" got played on air on a national radio station in South Africa, named 5fM, during the sunday evening program "Dinosaur Days", conducted by Phil Wright and Leon Economides.
(09.03.00)
Orchid Leaves @ peoplesound.com!
Orchid Leaves are @ peoplesound.com, that (also) promised to make Orchid Leaves rich and famous. Two songs ("Free At Last" / "For My Own") of the forthcoming release "Free At Last", can be downloaded
here.
(03.03.00)
Orchid Leaves @ mukkelpu.de!
Orchid Leaves are @ mukkelpu.de, that did not promise to make Orchid Leaves rich and famous. However they featured your favourite act
here ...and wrote the following article:
Orchid Leaves sind in Berlin beheimatet. Die beiden Mitglieder haben einen grundverschiedenen musikalischen Background, was sie aber als Herausforderung, Erg?ung und Bereicherung ansehen. So ist der Stil schwer zu definieren. Lyrische Texte und akustische Gitarren vor einem folkloristischen mit Rockmusik durchwobenen Hintergrund. Anspruchsvolle Musik f??????ufgeschlossene Zuh??????.
(17.02.00)
Orchid Leaves CD Release!!! "ORCHID LEAVES - Free At Last" Record Release Party @ Berlin, deziBel, March 17th...
Orchid Leaves CD Release!!! "ORCHID LEAVES - Free At Last" Record Release Party @ Berlin, deziBel, March 17th. The long awaited CD "ORCHID LEAVES - Free At Last" will be sold for the first time at the record release party at deziBel. The first ten buyers will receive a special surprise... So come and take a taste of Orchid Leaves... and make sure to be there on time!!!!!!
The demo version of the CD cover.
(09.02.00)
Orchid Leaves @ callasong.de!
Orchid Leaves are @ callasong.de, that promised to make Orchid Leaves rich and famous. Two songs ("Free At Last" / "For My Own") of the forthcoming release "Free At Last", can be downloaded
here. Callasong wrote the following article about your favourite band:
Orchid Leaves - Die amerikanische Sängerin Phaedra Alexis Trass und Yellowhouse-Gitarrist Hartmut Kreckel wollen aufgeschlossenen Zuhörern etwas Besonderes bieten. Sie konzentrieren sich auf das Notwendige und haben sich auf Unplugged-Stücke spezialisiert. Orchid Leaves steht für gut arrangierte Folk- und Folk-Rock-Songs. Im März bringt das Duo die Scheibe "Free At Last" heraus.(rd)
(03.02.00)
Orchid Leaves on the radio!
Orchid Leaves´ version of "Starglow Energy" got played on air yesterday by WSUM (Madison Student Radio, Wisc.), during a three hour lasting "Captain Beyond Radio Extravaganza", conducted by Ryan Patrick Meehan.
(02.02.00)
ORCHID LEAVES hit at Emergenza-Festival!!!
Orchid Leaves hit at Emergenza-Festival really big: performing with 6 mainly hardcore and "punk-orientated" bands at this Europe´s biggest band competition at Berlin´s Knaack, your "favourite" gained 83 votes from the audience, which was comprised of 99% non-Orchid Leaves afficionados and therefore qualifying Orchid Leaves for the next round of the competition to be performed at Berlin´s top venue Columbia Fritz. Phaedra Alexis Trass: "...it was unbelievable, we got such a warm reception from the audience that really accepted our music..." Orchid Leaves performed a 25 min. set that consisted of : How Does The Cold Wind Cry? - Just Another World - For My Own - Faded Glory - Free At Last. Since "Running In Circles", which was originally planned to be the second song was omitted, there remained time for one more at the end, so Phaedra suggested: "...what about "Starglow Energy"?" and well, you know... It seemed as if the audience was enjoying the set, already having waived their cig lighters during "Just Another World" and asking for more and more... but now the time was up. Hartmut Kreckel: "... I´ll never forget this night in my life, not only that it was a total risk to play at such a venue, for Orchid Leaves are quite different to the other bands, I would never have thought that we´d gonna pull such a excitement from a mainly "hardcore/punk-orientated" audience, they really loved us... and when we´d been asked for one more, well there would be one band in the world, whose song I would have agreed to be played and that was Captain Beyond. So we did "Starglow Energy" and as with the previous original songs, we transmitted those "tastes of Orchid Leaves" to the audience. There are very few things that could impress me, but that was one of those things..."
(06.01.00)
Orchid Leaves auditioning...
Orchid Leaves are currently auditioning some ladies for the position of guitar and vocals to make it a trio then. Phaedra Alexis Trass: "... we need someone, who can play acoustic guitar, sing well enough for being a back up-vocalist and most of all have a professional attitude!!"
(03.01.00)
Orchid Leaves performed the millenium gig!
Orchid Leaves (Mark 2) performed the long awaited millenium gig. Phaedra just arrived from Memphis on Dec. 30th and therefore half jet-lagged, Orchid Leaves went through the set on Dec. 31th just before the gig. Despite only one rehearsal the set went quite well and was 45 min. long and contained: Intro - How Does The Cold Wind Cry? - Now I´m Here - Prisoner Of Time - Free At Last - Mistreated - Running In Circles - For My Own - Starglow Energy - Just Another World - Wet City. Hartmut Kreckel: "I was quite scared to perform with only one rehearsal because the video, that I made of our last rehearsal, before Phaedra flew home to Memphis, was really crappy... as a a matter of fact, the video quality was not even good enough to aid my memory, so I couldn´t watch it in order to remember a few things. However, the gig went very well, though it was a challenge to break the ice and eventually entertain the mainly one-hand-clapping audience at that black-tie affair. And the money, I should say, made up for it..."
(02.12.99)
Tribute CD with Orchid Leaves song finally released!
The "Tribute to Captain Beyond - A Thousand Days Of Yesterdays" CD with Orchid Leaves performance of the song "Starglow Energy" has finally been released by Record Heaven. It can be ordered from their website or from Orchid Leaves directly. Please note that the latter offer does not guarantee you a autographed CD by former Orchid Leaf Ina Friebe. However, Hartmut Kreckel and Alexandra Otto will gladly sign on request! The CD has a nice booklet with the following liner notes from Orchid Leaves:
Captain Beyond?
Well, it was in 1979 (I was 15) at a record fair in Mannheim (Germany) and Imanaged to buy that first Captain Beyond album... at first I didn´t like it!Eventually I did and a year later, during a three day holiday in New YorkCity, I managed to find the 2nd Captain Beyond album "SufficientlyBreathless". My instant favourite was "Starglow Energy" and remained sincethen. Fast forward, 20 years later in 1999, I perform quite regularly withthe "unplugged folk rock fusion from Berlin" duo ORCHID LEAVES, and one ofthe very chosen few cover songs, that we do in our set, is "StarglowEnergy". So here we are: "...don´t you turn your back on me, take a little taste of orchid leaves..." Taste.
Hartmut Kreckel
LINE UP:
Alexandra Otto: Vocals.
Ina Friebe: Percussion and Guitar.
Hartmut Kreckel: Guitars and Bass.
The "...taste of orchid leaves..." quote is the only lyrical change, that was made by Orchid Leaves: on the original version of "Starglow Energy", as on Captain Beyond´s "Sufficiently Breathless" album, Rod Evans sings during the fade out and barely audible "don´t you turn your back on me, don´t you close that door..."
The Orchid Leaves site in the CD booklet.
The CD cover.
(23.11.99)
Big Shock to Orchid Leaves, part three!!!
Phaedra Alexis Trass commented Ina Friebe´s comments:"...although Ina Friebe, the former Orchid Leaf, stated that there would never be a replacement for her, I must say that I disagree. (Surprise!) Actaually, I´m quite proud of the "New" Orchid Leaves and I believe that Hartmut and I make a great combination artistically, and in respect to our goal-orientation. Furthermore, I´m looking forward to many performances as an Orchid Leaf, especially because I think that Hartmut and I can convey a refreshing version of our music with a new spirit and zeal that has never before existed. Perhaps my exitement stems from my feelings about my first performance and recordings as Orchid Leaves - Hartmut and I bring out the best in one another musically, and this is certainly evident from the results of the crowd reaction and the new demo...".
(22.11.99)
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs @ SAE!
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs ("Prisoner Of Time" and "For My Own") at SAE Studios (24-track) in Berlin on 19.11.99, 10-16h and mixed them on 22.11.99, 10-13h. Hartmut Kreckel: "It turned out great, it took ten years for "Prisoner Of Time" to be recorded, but it was worth the wait... "For My Own" I wrote the music and Phaedra the lyrics... great lyrics that she wrote about her former boyfriend, but reading in between the lines, I could have written that about one of my former girlfriends..."
(18.11.99)
Orchid Leaves have done photo shootings for promo
Orchid Leaves have done photo shootings for promo on 17.11.99 in the afternoon indoors. Thanks to Diana Weigt for this respectable job.
Orchid Leaves (Mark 2) : autographed promo picture from 1st photosession 17.11.99.
(09.11.99)
Orchid Leaves have remixed the song "Free At Last" @ SAE!
Orchid Leaves have remixed the song "Free At Last" @ SAE Studios (8-track) in Berlin on 08.11.99, 12-14h and it sounds really good for release. Recording and mixing was handled by Max Haas.
Max Haas taking control.
(02.11.99)
Orchid Leaves (Mark 2) Live debut!
Orchid Leaves played yesterday a 30 min. showcase set. It consisted of: Intro - How does the cold wind cry? - Now I´m Here - Mistreated - Free At Last - Starglow Energy - Running In Circles - Faded Glory. Phaedra Trass: "It was really great and we went down very well, the people really enjoyed the Orchid Leaves songs! I loved it..." Hartmut Kreckel: "It´s quite different as with the original Orchid Leaves (Mark 1)... it´s hard to play with one guitar, it really makes me work hard, but it´s definetely worth it. And we´re much better, so watch out..."There´s two covers in the set: Deep Purple´s "Mistreated" was done at Phaedra´s suggestion, as she did it in another project and Captain Beyond´s "Starglow Energy" has always been in the set, and the Orchid Leaves version is on the Captain Beyond Tribute Album.
Orchid Leaves (Mark 2) live debut : Berlin, Fl??????1.11.99.
(27.10.99)
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs @ SAE!
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs ("Faded Glory" and "Free At Last") at SAE Studios (8-track) in Berlin on 26.10.99, 18-22h and will mix them on 02.11.99, 10-12h.
Orchid Leaves @ SAE 8 track studio.
(12.10.99)
The News Is Out: Phaedra Alexis Trass is the new singer for Orchid Leaves!
Phaedra Alexis Trass is the new singer with Orchid Leaves. She is 22, a dancer and English teacher and originally from Memphis/Tenn. Phaedra has been in Berlin for just barely over a year, and has decided to remain in order to further pursue music. In addition, she has experimented with other branches of music (Jazz, Trip-hop, Rock) but is particularly happy with folk-rock Orchid Leaves style. They (Orchid Leaves Mark 2 that is)have started working a lot and learned the set, preparing for live and studio work.
Phaedra Alexis Trass : The new Orchid Leaf!
(29.09.99)
The temporary Orchid Leaf
The temporary Orchid Leaf: her name was Nina Bogattke (21) and she was born in Halle an der Saale. Hartmut Kreckel: "Nina had a great voice and we rehearsed some of the songs from the set plus "Master Of Illusion" and a new one, which was tentatively called "Take Me Away" and it sounded great... then I found a message on my answering machine and it went "I am so sorry... I have to go to Paris, where a great job is waiting..." and never heared of her again. She might be the George Lazenby of Orchid Leaves..."
Nina Bogattke : The temporary Orchid Leaf!
(14.09.99)
Big Shock to Orchid Leaves, part two!!!
Hartmut commented Ina´s departure:"...it was a big shock to me as well that Ina decided to leave, but life goes on and I´m sure people will accept a Orchid Leaves without Ina, that has gone through a metamorphosis. I would like to make clear, that I did not ask Ina to leave and asked her to re-do the vocals on the Captain Beyond tribute, as the record company wasn´t exactly happy. As Ina refused to do it and I had to come up with a product with a professional end, I asked my friend Alexandra, who gladly did it, and did great. Ina should not become silly and should rather become aware, that the act that really deserves the name "Orchid Leaves" is not a kindergarden, is not a therapy group but a serious artistic venture! I´m auditioning new singers at the moment and I´m sure that there will be a new Orchid Leaves in the close future that will be much better to be quite honest".
Hartmut Kreckel: "There´ll be a new Orchid Leaves in the close future!"
(13.09.99)
Big Shock to Orchid Leaves afficionados - Ina Friebe quits!!!
A big shock to Orchid Leaves afficionados happened during the last weeks, when Ina Friebe announced her retirement from live activity. Ina Friebe: "... I don´t want to perform anymore, as I don´t have a message anymore to our audience... I just feel like Steffi Graf... as I don´t wanna break contract, I will do my farewell performance with Hartmut in Orchid Leaves at New Years Eve and that´s it! I´m really embarassed that another singer has re-done my vocals on "Starglow Energy" and that someone else will be presented to the public, for I was, am and will always be the only genuine Orchid Leaf in the world! And now the world will be treated to a "Counterfeit Leaf", that doesn´t deserve the name!".
(21.08.99)
Orchid Leaves have re-recorded the vocals of the Captain Beyond song "Starglow Energy"!
Orchid Leaves have re-recorded the vocals of the Captain Beyond song "Starglow Energy" @ studio 116 on 18.08.99, 20-24h for the Captain Beyond tribute album and re-mixed it on 20.08.99, 13-16h. The lead vocals are handled by singer Alexandra Otto, who is the singer of Berlin´s female wild-style band Seduce, that played some shows with
Yellowhouse.
The exclusive Promo shot of Alexandra Otto!
(19.08.99)
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs @ SAE!
Orchid Leaves have recorded two more songs ("Just Another World" and "Now I´m Here") at SAE Studios in Berlin on 17.08.99, 16-22h and mixed it on 18.08.99, 10-13h.
(24.07.99)
Orchid Leaves in car crash!!!!!!
Today at 16.22 Orchid Leaves were involved in a serious car crash; while driving to the gig in Teetz (100km outside Berlin northwest) Orchid Leaves car was hit by another car in the heart of Berlin Kreuzberg. Ina was taken to hospital and released shortly afterwards, having suffered a shock by the impact. Luckily there were no serious injuries, but the gig sadly had to be cancelled and will be resceduled shortly. Orchid Leaves are very sad about this.Hartmut commented: "... all this can happen within seconds, just because two car drivers did not have had their head screwed on, we literally got in between the wheels!"
after the crash...
(23.07.99)
Orchid Leaves recorded the Captain Beyond song!!!
Orchid Leaves recorded the Captain Beyond song "Starglow Energy" at Studio 116 in Berlin on 14.07.99, 19-22h and 16.07.99, 9-13h and mixed it on 20.07.99, 14-19h and 23.07.99, 13-16h.
Ina recording the vocals for "Starglow Energy"
(14.07.99)
Orchid Leaves have recorded two songs @ SAE!
Orchid Leaves have recorded two songs ("How Does The Cold Wind Cry?" and "Running In Circles") at SAE Studios in Berlin on 13.07.99, 10-16h and mixed it on 14.07.99, 13-16h.
Ina Friebe enjoying a good meal before entering the studio!
(06.06.99)
Orchid Leaves in pre-production.
Orchid Leaves are currently doing pre-production for the recording of the Captain Beyond song "Starglow Energy" for the "Tribute to Captain Beyond CD" to be released on the swedish label Record Heaven. For more info on the Captain Beyond tribute album click here:
Record Heaven
(01.05.99)
Orchid Leaves played at a church!
Orchid Leaves played at a church yesterday on a quite varied billing, that included a acapella choir, a turkish sas ensemble, a rock band and a jazz trio.Your favourite act went down very well and performed a 38 min. set: Mother Nature - How Does The Cold Wind Cry? - Fast Livin´ City - Fly High, Fly Away - Just Another World - Prisoner Of Time - Another End - N.N.H.V. - Rain Fall Down - Motherless Child. Ina announced this one: "...this is a unique experience, as we never played at a church before..."
(17.04.99)
Ina has recovered from her throat infection!
Ina has recovered from her throat infection. Orchid Leaves are preparing the recording of a new demo. So watch out!!!!!!! A "new" song has been written: it´s partially new, and partially antique: Ina came with half of a song idea, that fitted hand in glove to the unfinished song "Dying Young Again", that Hartmut wrote in 1983. It may be retitled "Now I´m Here", and it´s based on maj7 chords, in the vein of "Another End".
(29.03.99)
Orchid Leaves gig at Theater am Antonplatz cancelled again!
The Orchid Leaves gig at Theater am Antonplatz sadly had to be cancelled again, as Ina became ill from a throat infection. She is doing better now, but has to wait a few weeks to sing again. Let´s hope she will recover completely asap!!!!!!!
(14.03.99)
Orchid Leaves performed in Lankwitz...
Orchid Leaves performed in Lankwitz, Nachbarschaftsheim and had their best gig so far. The audience was wonderful, really into listening. The whole set, with the exception of "Free At Last" was performed and videotaped.
flyer for Lankwitz gig
(14.02.99)
Orchid Leaves gig at Theater am Antonplatz cancelled!
The Orchid Leaves gig at Theater am Antonplatz, originally sceduled for the 26.02.99 was resceduled to the 03.04.99, as that place was partly burnt down (!!!) and has to be rebuilt... The police is investigating the case.
(12.12.98)
Orchid Leaves are sorry to announce...
Orchid Leaves are sorry to announce that the gig at Raumschiff Zitrone in Berlin sceduled for 17.12.98 had to be cancelled. To say it bluntly, the promotor turned out to be a lemon, uncapable of handling almost anything!!!
(01.11.98)
Orchid Leaves promotion tape
Orchid Leaves have compiled a promotion tape, recorded in Hartmut´s living room on a 4-track tape machine. It contains a message from Orchid Leaves and edits of: "Winterrot", "How Does The Cold Wind Cry ?", "Fast Livin´ City" and "Another End".
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