Wood & Plastic is a series of music instruments and production gear market. Musicians (pros or not) and all music lovers are welcome to sell and purchase musical items on the spot. –Wood & Plastic #2: February 7th, 11am - 6pm at Marie AntoinetteTo register for a stand: woodandplastic@twaague.com

Dear readers of The Chop, I’ve never written an editorial before, so I’m going to start by describing the strange beard of this guy sitting next to me. It’s basically the classic Mungo Jerry-style huge side burns, however, they are connected by a thin strap of beard which goes under his chin. Literally, under it. As in, you can’t see it except when the guy looks upwards. Without this narrow, usually unseen stripe, this style of beardige would be re-ferred to as “chops”. But with it? The point I’m trying to make is that this paper is called “The Chop”, and we’re still not 100 percent sure what it is either. Yes it’s a badass free music magazine/concert calendar, but its form and content are still very much in flux. Which is why we need your help. Do you like to write, make art, drink beer, take photos, go to concerts, or do graphic design? Contribute to The Chop! This paper is made by members of the community in order to give Berlin’s rich, but often overshadowed, live music scene a focal point. It’s like The Chop is the little chin beard line that connects the two sideburns. The sideburns in this metaphor being live music and the people who enjoy it. So send us an email if you want to help.

Enjoy The Chop,– Ryan Rosell

Hello Sylvain, tell us a bit about yourself and the Wood & Plastic event.

“I am a sound engineer, label owner and musician based in Berlin. I am currently working with producer Chris-tian Mevs (Tocotronic) to build & launch a new studio together, around the month of May. We want to gather both his Salon Berlin projects, and my Twaague projects - Twaague being my label. Years ago, I had the idea of a flea market dedicated to sound and production gear. To me, it’s great to also help building communities around the lo-cal music scene. For this first event there were 6 stands, including one specialized in synthesizers with Derek Holzer, and one in guitar pedals, with Theodoros.

I would like to keep a nice & friendly atmosphere for the next events. I have 9 registered stands for the second event so What about you, Theodoros, can you tell us a bit about your work ?

“Sure, I am an electronic engineer and I have live din Berlin since 2009. When I started to design pedals, the market was pretty limited. By then, Mogwai asked me to produce handmade ped-als for them. In the past 7 years, I have made 4 different models, under the name Kleissonic. Some of them are used by Sonic Youth and Brian Jones-town Massacre as well. If you want to check them out you can come over to the next Wood & Plastic event !”

The Chop Team –Adrian RötzscherAmande DagodBarry CliffeJulie GaspardJustin PersonLuise VörkelMarie BeckmannMartin DziallasRyan RosellTherese KoppeYannis Trouinard–The Chop Issue #1February 2016Auflage : 500 Stück–www.thechop.deFB : @thechopmaghello@thechop.de

January 17th, Wood & Plastic #1 - Music gear market at Marie-AntoinetteInterview with Sylvain Livache, who introduces us to Theodoros Kissiaris by Yannis Trouinard.

Liebe Leser*innen von The Chop,

Ich habe noch nie ein Editorial geschrieben, deshalb beginne ich erst einmal damit den komischen Bart von diesem Typen der neben mir sitzt zu beschreiben. Eigentlich der klassische Mungo Jerry-Stil, riesige Kottletten die durch eine dünne Linie von Barthaaren unter seinem Kinn zusammen laufen. Wortwörtlich unter seinem Kinn. Man kann sie nicht sehen, außer wenn er nach Oben schaut. Ohne diesen schmalen, normalerweise nicht sichtbaren Streifen würde dieser Stil von Bart als “chops” bezeichnet werden. Aber was ist das?

Den Punkt den ich hier versuche zu machen ist, das diese Zeitschrift “The Chop” heißt und wir auch noch nicht 100 Prozent sicher sind was das be-deutet. Es ist ein ziemlich cooles Musik Magazin mit einem Konzert Kalender für umsonst, aber die Form und Inhalte sind immer noch im Entstehen. Dafür brauchen wir eure Hilfe. Schreibst du gerne, machst Kunst, trinkst gerne Bier, machst Fotos, gehst zu Konzerten, oder kennst dich mit Grafik Deisgn aus? Dann trage zu The Chop bei! Dieses Magazin wird von Leuten aus der Community gestaltet um Berlin’s reicher, aber oft überschatteten, Live Musikszene einen Fokuspunkt zu geben. The Chop ist die kleine dünne Barthaar-Linie die die Kottletten verbindet. Die Kottletten ste-hen als Metapher für die Live-Musik und die Leute die Spaß an ihr haben. Also, schreibt uns eine E-Mail, wenn ihr das Magazin mitgestalten wollt.

Viel Spaß mit The Chop. – Ryan Rosell

far”

Interview by Luise Voerkel

“Exposure in the city is really good. And there’s tons of venues to play at.”Do you have a new release coming up?

A: We have been recording for the last weeks. We played a show organised and recorded by Die Letzte Metro and did some demos with them. And we recorded at Hansa Studios because we’d won a sponsorship. We’re definitely going for an album but we don’t know what we’ll end up with yet.

What do you like about having a band in Berlin?

L: It’s very easy to get shows here and to get payed to play. I can only compare it to the States or to what I hear about London. It all seems to be a bit more easy-going here. And there’s so much opportunities and so many different bands, you just start thinking bigger when you live here.J: Also, there’s the government funding in Germany, there’s a lot of support programmes here. And Berlin’s a film city. We’re on a feature film soundtrack, we’re playing a Berlinale party next month, and we’re in this indie film of Andreya’s friend.next month, and we’re

Your name suggests you’ve got a thing for pigeons, is that true?

L: On the contrary! We were looking for a short name and came up with Gurr. It eludes to the Riot Grrrl movement and it also fits because I’m very scared of pigeons. I sometimes even cross the street if there’s too many of them.

You’ve all played in other bands what’s different with Gurr?

A: With Gurr we all take it more seriously, we invest a lot, usually we rehearse two times a week.L: For me Gurr is the first band that really has an original sound.

Where you going after a specific sound from the beginning?

A: No, it was kind of a no-brainer.L: When we started we listened a lot to Jeff The Brotherhood, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees. We’re still into this kind of music but we listen to a lot of differ-ent stuff.A: And we appreciate all of Jil’s funky bass lines. We manage to blend everything together.

So how did it all start?

L: Gurr is our first Berlin project. Andreya and I met at uni in 2012 and decided to form a band. We met Jil at Thee Oh Sees shows. After we gave her a flyer, she asked us if we needed a bass player. She had to learn all our songs super-fast because we had our first show lined up at SO36! Obviously she did a great job.

in this indie film of Andreya’s friend. Exposure in the city is really good. And there’s tons of venues to play at.A: We’re on the soundtrack for „Desire Will Set You Free“ a movie by Yony Leyser, about queer culture in Berlin. And we did a performance and got a little cameo in „Vitches“ by Maria Neheimer. The movie was shot at a women-only set in Bavaria.

Drei Girls, ohrenbetäubender Ga-rage – das sind Gurr. Der Name ist einerseits gelebte Aversionsthera-pie, andererseits subtile Anspielung auf die Riot Grrrl-Sache. Die Energie und die Kratzigkeit, die man mit letz-terer verbindet, können Andreya, Jil und Laura auf jeden Fall vorweisen. Der Atem wird Gurr nie knapp, selbst bei hoher Geschwindigkeit singen sie an Schlagzeug und Gitarre müh-elos im Duett. Und auch auf Platte bringt die Band ihre Punk-Attitüde und den rumpeligen Sound der 60er lässig, ohne Anzeichen von Nostal-gie, zusammen. Zum Beispiel auf der „Furry Dream“ EP. Oder auf dem Soundtrack zum Film „Desire Will Set You Free“. Wenn Gurr nicht gerade mit befreundeten Bands einen Drink in der 8mm Bar nehmen, oder sich anderen Projekten wie Orchestra Hit und No Fun widmen, basteln sie an ihrem De-büt: in Proberaum-Kellern und in den Hansa-Studios. Jetzt fehlt nur noch ein Video – dafür sind Gurr gerade auf der Suche nach der passenden Unter-stützung. Wer sich dazu berufen fühlt, bitte melden!

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> Local concert promoter Schnick Schnack Schnuck brings you Shopping (UK,Fat Cat Records) who are a storm of post-punk influences whose latest album has some soon to be classics on it, one of the best records to be heard round The Chop way recently. Local gals Levitations provide support and you can look forward to their debut album later this year which is to be released on Berliner label Adagio 830. A superb local venue also. If you don’t know it, get into it.

Shopping + Levitations*Feb 2nd – Tiefgrund

> Fête d’Adieu, another local promoter, brings you more German post-punk and indie newcomers this time in the shape of Brookland from Dortmund and local kid Tincan Folklore, the solo project from Alex Roth of Yoga. Also happens to take place in, hands down the best venue in town.

Brookland + Tincan Folklore*Feb 19th –Antje Öklesund

Staalplaat is a physical and online re-cord and book store which focuses on experimental, obscure and extreme music, underground tape culture, DIY art, and graphic design. It also hosts an in-house label, publisher and itin-erant gallery called Le Petit Mignon.

With The Chop having set itself towards re-establishing the physical as a vital source of information to the local music community, we see it only fit that we hon-our the record shops continuing to pro-vide physical music to the masses. This month we focus on Staalplaat which is based in the Schiller Kiez area of Neu-köln. It might be well-hidden, but we’re sure once you visit you’ll return time and time again to this most welcoming and unique of record shops. A trip to Staal-plaat might involve ringing the doorbell to gain entry, but inside you’re free to roam and peruse the stacked shelves. Local tape labels sit alongside estab-lished experimental music labels releas-ing only on vinyl. The central table is laid out with with zines and art books and the walls are adorned with impressive poster art which is regularly changed. Take a seat and read or make your way through the record shelves, it’s about as relaxed as a record shop can get.

Staalplaat is a store with a long history. Founded in Amsterdam in 1982, it grew into a label for sound artists, an organised

network with a record label, an e-zine, radio programme, shop, and a mail or-der and distribution company. The la-bel was founded by Geert-Jan Hobijn and became famous in the 1980s for its Mort Aux Vaches series, a collabo-ration between Staalplaat and Dutch National Radio, VPRO, in which the sta-tion provided the recording sessions and Staalplaat released them in limited edition runs. Some of the better known artists to have been released on this series are Jazzkammer, Yellow Swans, Ryoji Ikeda, Alva Noto, CoH, Oren Am-barchi, Merzbow, and Tim Hecker.

Having relocated from Amsterdam to Berlin in 2004, the store is the only phys-ical Staalplaat shop remaining. Here, Guillaume Siffert took over and incorpo-rated his own piece of DIY history into the ever-evolving story of Staapplaat: Le Petit Mignon. Before taking over at Staalplaat this was Siffert’s first store and also the name of his concert series for experimental music which he then fused with Staalplaat in 2007. Le Petit Mignon is also an independent record label, publishing company and itiner-ant gallery focused on DIY and under-ground visual art and innovative music. In the past few years, it has released a wide range of publications combin-ing unconventional music and illustra-tion, in close collaboration with musi-cians, visual artists and printing studios.

These very limited editions are mostly hand-printed and hand-assembled in the pure DIY spirit. After having regularly bright-ened the walls of Staalplaat store with atypical exhibitions, Le Petit Mignon has recently initiated a series of traveling group shows aimed at present-ing contributors to the interna-tional underground art scene.

It’s this DIY spirit that we at The Chop are also trying to maintain. Hopefully, if you get out there to support your local record shops and the artists’ works they house, then we can all reap the benefits to the cultural landscape of Berlin.

STAALPLAAT Kienitzer Str, 108, 12049, Berlin staalplaat.comfacebook : staalplaat.berlin

> King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard possess not only the raddest rock ‘n roll band name of all time, they also have the records to back it up. Hav-ing released six albums since autumn 2012 it is sometimes hard to keep up with this Melbourne outfit and their spectacularly mind-bending records, which have blended garage-surf, space-rock, psych-jazz and beach-pop. So get along for one of their leg-endary live performance at Bi Nuu cos once you see them, you’re a fan for life.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Feb 27th – Bi Nuu

> Paper and Iron Booking agency continue their excellent Kometen-melodien series at Berghain Kan-tine this February with two shows. The second of these is the Ber-lin debut of Gun Outfit from Los Angeles. Their 4th and latest LP, Dream All Over, is an exquisite record full of country-esque rock grooves reminiscent of earlier Kurt Vile, all textured and layered and spun into something approaching a road trip soundtrack. Support is from Whitney, whose similarly soulful, grooving indie-rock is also a breath of fresh air. Local indie kids Tendre Biche complete the line-up, their Go-Betweens tinged indie a real treat and wel-come addition to the local scene. Local label Späti Palace provide the sounds in between bands and afterwards til you all get thrown out.

Gun Outfit + Whitney + Tendre Biche*Feb 29th – Bergkain Kantine

by Barry Cliffe

An inside look into one of Berlin’s most unique record shops by Barry Cliffe

Poem by Ryan Rosell

You are the bassist in every band,In every genre, in every land.Your fingers are callousedFrom years of practice.Your mind is sharpLike a cactus.And so to give creditWhere credit is due,This poem was written Just for you.

The unsung hero, everyday.It is unknown just why you play.You do not play for glory or fameOr to hear people shout your name.You do not flail about the stageOr spew out bouts of love and rage.

You play because you are a bassist.As sure as Donald Trump’s a racist.

Some people may say you look bored or stiff,As you pluck at that same chord or riff. “Look at that nerd,” they might thinkAs they sip their fancy drink.But what those buttholes don’t understand.Is the power in your bassy hands.

The power to move.The power to sway.The power to lead youths astray.The power to keep a song afloatOr if you choose, to rock the boat.

You play those thick vibrating stringsAnd bath in the harmony that bass brings.So know that as you play your parts.Your playing the bass strings in our hearts.

MARK LECKEY Dream English Kid 1964 – 1999 ADat Galerie Buchholz, Fasanenstr. 30, 10719 Berlinopening 05 February 7-9pm, on view until 19 March

Turner prize winner Mark Leckey made his mark with the video piece “Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore” in 1999 chronicling the British clubscene from 1970s northern soul to 1990s acid house. Working in installation, perfor-mance and film, Leckey’s work does not fit boxes and eludes definition. –MADELEINE - Group exhibition with Tully Arnot, Geta Brătescu, Daniel Gus-tav Cramer, Franziska Furter, Antonia Low, Reto Pulfer, Chulayarnnon Siripholat Insitu, Kurfürstenstraße 21-22, 10785 Berlin, on view until 05 March

Insitu, a project space located in Schöneberg designs its program in annual cycles with a thematic focus. For the third cycle a number of group exhibitions were developed as if they were fictional characters. The artists are free to explore each exhibition’s character and create a private world for the viewer to explore. On the 22nd of January Insitu introduced Madeleine, whose memories are starting to falter and who feels most secure at home.–CAROL RAMA Ferite della memoria - selected works at Isabella Bortolozzi, Schöneberger Ufer 61, 10785 Berlinopening 26 January, on view until 05 March& Carol Rama’s studio home selected photographsat Eden Eden, Bülowstraße 74, 10783 Berlinopening 09 February, on view until 05 March

Real artist’s artist Carol Rama’s first show in 1945 was shut down by the police due to the sexual content of her work. Described by Frieze Magazine as “dark per-versions of Grimm’s fairy tales”, Rama explores themes of fetish-ism, feminism and the body in her often crude and confront-ing watercolours and paintings A look into her private world will be on view at Eden Eden. –

art recomendations by EVGB

EVBG is a venture by Marie Beckmann and Julie Gaspard

dedicated to working curious work. Small investigations into contemporary life,

dealing with the concepts of FOMO, FOGO, feminism,

representation and expectation. www.evbg.org

Missed connections !Did you lock eyes with someone from across the dance � oor, but never had the chance to say hello ? � e Missed Connec-tions section of � e Chop gives you a second chance at romance. All posts will be printed anonymously, and if the apple of your eye responds to us, we’ll put you two in touch. It’s kind of like analogue tinder. Here’s an example:

WsM: I was at the Slow Steve show at Anjte and you were playing the bass When you took off your bass to play keys, your shirt came up a bit and I saw your hairy, rock-hard abs. I’d love to go for a drink and fi nd out whats behind those dreamy eyes.

In this scenario, Slow Steve bassist, Charley, would email the chop at love@thechop.de and we would put these to young lovers in touch. Send your missed connections to love@thechop.de and don’t let a shot at love pass you by.

photo of the month by Therese Koppe at The Chop Funraiser Party, Slow Steve, 15.01.2016 – send your show photos to hello@thechop.de

Played in smokey bars and feared to corrupt young minds, pinball (aka fl ipper) has long stood alongside rock music as an emblem of counter culture. While rock and roll has continued to fl ourish and grow, playing the silver ball has largely become a bygoneamusement. We here at The Chop think this is a damn shame, so here’s a list of the 5 best places in town to fl ip some balls.

1. East Side Bowling Alley - Star Trek The Next Generation, The Flintstones, Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure, The Addams

Family, Dr. Who2. Bassy Club - Elvis, Funhouse

3. Lenau-Stuben - Attack From Mars 4. Bar Franken - Medieval Madness

5. Bohnengold - Creature From The Black Lagoon, Super Mario Brothers

* local bands,$ suggested by the featured band or artist of the month

Gurr* - Ode to OatmealTeen $ - Electric

Tronics $ - The Other ManT. Rex $ - Baby Strange

Islaja* - Siren CallGun Outfi t - Legends of My Own

Air Waves - Shine OnHelen Fry* - pcnc310-pcnc

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Hot WaxSfi r* - Bodies

Better Person* - Sentiment

Get a listen at: mixcloud.com/TheChopBerlin

S h o w_ r o _s c o p e

ARIES – Th e world is full of life, full of folks who don’t know you. Th at spark you have will get you the right connections.

TAURUS – Anytime you feel trapped, look over to the bartender. You’ll know how to sway through the crowd to an empty space.

GEMINI – Your pragmatism is ad-mirable, but take your time. It might be better to use a matchstick than an axe to break the ice.

CANCER – Battle cries and cham-pagne don’t sound like you at all? Be aware that your own tables might turn and surprise you.

LEO – Yes, unlike the early bird you will never ever suff er from FOMO, but please note: it’s too late to be late again.

VIRGO – Ambition is nice, but it won’t bring you far without a day or two spent unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed.

LIBRA – It can be healing to gossip till your lips are bleeding. A good chapstick and a sincere voice make the diff erence.

SCORPIO – Everyone says hi, but do they ever say good-bye? Be care-ful, your attention is not an infi nite good.

SAGITTARIUS – Will all the cacti fi nd a home? Don’t worry about it. In fact you’re entitled to some not-giving-a-damn time now.

CAPRICORN – Will you ever know when to go out and when to stay in? It doesn’t matter. Just pack an um-brella in case of rain.

AQUARIUS – Th ere’s a million dead-end streets in town and you’d never set foot in one of them. It pays off to trust your instincts.

PISCES – Dignity is valuable, but your life is valuable too. Let go of your composure for once and em-brace the consequences.

Th e cosmos might not always control your destiny, but when they do, Th e Chop has experts on hand to keep you in the celestial-know.

Text by Luise Voerkel Illustrations by Martin Dziallas

FriedrichshainAntje Öklesund – Rigaer Str. 71-73 (U5 Samariterstraße)Astra – Revaler Str. 99/RAW-Gelände (S+U Warschauer Straße)Badehaus Szimpla – Revaler Str. 99/RAW-Gelände (S+U Warschauer Str.)Berghain + Kantine am Berghain – Am Wriezener Bahnhof (S Ostbahnhof)Cassiopeia – Revaler Str. 99/RAW-Gelände (S+U Warschauer Straße)La Cave (Spud Bencer) – Gubener Straße 41 (S+U Warschauer Straße)Tiefgrund – Laskerstraße 5 (S Ostkreuz)Urban Spree – Revaler Str. 99/RAW-Gelände (S+U Warschauer Straße)Yaam – An der Schillingbrücke (S Ostbahnhof)NeuköllnDas Gift – Donaustraße 119 (U7 Rathaus Neukölln)Prenzlauer BergBassy Club – Schönhauser Allee 176A (U2 Senefelderplatz)Neubar – Greiswalder Straße 218

KreuzbergBi Nuu – im U Schlesisches Tor (U1 Schlesisches Tor)Gretchen – Obentrautstr. 19-21 (U6/7 Mehringdamm)HAU 2 – Hallesches Ufer 32 (U1/7 Möckernbrücke)Monarch – Skalitzer Str. 134 (U1/8 Kottbusser Tor)Musik & Frieden – Falckensteinstraße 48 (U1 Schlesisches Tor)Privatclub – Skalitzer Straße 85-86 (U1 Schlesisches Tor)Westgermany (U1/8 Kottbusser Tor)MitteAcud Macht Neu – Veteranenstr. 21 (U8 Rosenthaler Platz)Haus der Kultur der Welt – John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10 (U Bundestag)Marie Antoinette – Holzmarktstraße 15-18 (U8 Jannowitzbrücke)Roter Salon – Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz (U2 Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz)Schokoladen – Ackerstraße 169 (U8 Rosenthaler Platz)TempelhofColumbia Theater – Columbiadamm 9-11 (U6 Platz der Luftbrücke)

TOP OF THE CHOP 5 of the best pinball joints in Berlin

NEGLECTED ESSENTIALS Some of the best cuts from bands on this month’s calendar along with some suggested songs by Gurr.