Live Review: KRAFTWERK: MULTIMEDIA TOUR 2025 – 50 YEARS OF AUTOBAHN

4/1/2025

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Auditorium Theatre - Chicago
Saturday - March 29, 2025

KRAFTWERK.
The never ending and enduring appeal of all things Kraftwerk, led by their sole surviving member Ralf Hütter who is the only vocalist, along with vocoder and synthesizers, accompanied by Hennig Schmitz- All sorts of sound effects along with live keyboards, Falk Grieffenhagen- Electronic percussion, and George Bongartz- Live video technician and other assorted details.
So we have the four, making Kraftwerk gel as a collective, led by Ralf of course.

And Kraftwerk perseveres, singularly intact, embracing all things in electronic experimentation, taking things to a whole new level with exquisite visuals in accompaniment, let alone alone by the simplicity of elegance as a standard for instrumentation and overall layout.
In other words- Kraftwerk is just so damned sophisticated.

And to bring this tour to Chicago, and play in such a place as the Auditorium Theatre only adds to its wonders, reflecting on not only the visuals, but the audio as well.

Because of this, the Kraftwerk experience is elevated to a degree of full immersion, no need for the "3D Experience" of yore, let alone upping the ante in choice of venues- the last two appearances for Kraftwerk being the Riviera Theatre followed by the Aragon in Uptown.
Those shows- equally fun and exciting and full of grace-
But last Saturday at the Auditorium- made even more so in memorable status.

Cut to the chase-
Midway through their set, song number eight- "Autobahn".
For us photographers, we were allowed to shoot four songs- 6- "The Man- Machine", 7- "Electric Cafe", 8 (Of course)- "Autobahn, and 9- "Computer Love".
"Autobahn" endures.
"Autobahn" sustains.

The importance of this, the title of this current tour- and thinking on 50 years- "Autobahn" still holds truth to its sincere charm, making electronics and all things synths elegant, to swing with a beat, with mellow vocal accompaniment.
How cool is that?

22 minutes of driving bliss, introduced visually for the evening with the "Autobahn" logo, in bright baby blue, followed by all things the Volkswagen Bug, circa most likely when "Autobahn was released back in 1975.
And visually, leading with graphics showcasing the actual Autobahn and it's beautiful countryside, the actual expressway all clean and tidy, and you, in the audience, partaking in this mellow and yet so cool ride,

Critics back in the day, quite a few of them didn't get it- (slow learners in my opinion)- not embracing what electronica can add to the rock n' roll mix, let alone the complaints about "No drums? No Bass? No lead vocalist or lead guitarist?"
As if.
Complaining even more so about how they can't stand the monotonous pulse of synthesizers and the beats thereof.
And look at them now, gushing forth with the occasional re- releases, and the appeal of electronica circulating back to the mid seventies and early eighties, and the importance thereof.
The Kraftwerk fans in attendance on Saturday night- a lot of them were diehards.
Got to the Auditorium Theatre early when the doors opened just to check out the scene, clothing and costume attire, and overall mood.

Let alone the lines for Kraftwerk merch- that line was long man, inside the main atrium, like wrapping around all of the cement and plaster walls.
What's not to like and love about Ralf and all things Kraftwerk?
By the looks of things, gentle souls, all four of them.

Standard issue craftsmen, most likely all four with grandkids and happy families back home, yet enduring musicians all, assisting in the elegance of the Kraftwerk collective, encompassing everything possible that makes an art collective work, both in overall display and instrument ethic, followed by elegance in visuals- visuals so sharp that their appeal can be witnessed in breathtaking detail whether the first twenty rows, or by the back of the house some 40 to 50 yards back.

It's because of all of this that Kraftwerk endures to the present day, age be damned in regards to musicianship, this attention to exquisite detail.
Let that be not lost on you, those on the periphery, who have a modicum of "contempt prior to investigation".

If this ever comes up at a water cooler type talk at a work break or whatever, my response will be direct- "Have you ever been- whether listening or seeing live?"
If not- well let's try to change that.
A band like Kraftwerk, in all its sonic and beautiful complexity, will change your life.
Good music, extraordinary music that is timeless will do that to you.
And, if not able to convince- ok- I have my own secret world of wonderment followed by thousands and thousands of like minded folk.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Kraftwerk, Computer Love, Multimedia Tour, 50 Years of Autobahn, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television, Chicago Live Music, Auditorium Theatre Chicago

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Live Review: KRAFTWERK: MULTIMEDIA TOUR 2025 – 50 YEARS OF AUTOBAHN

Kraftwerk, Computer Love, Multimedia Tour, 50 Years of Autobahn, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid, Jerry Bryant, JBTV Music Television, Chicago Live Music, Auditorium Theatre Chicago

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