20 Years Of LONG DISTANCE CALLING
The Anniversary Show at Lichtburg Essen

20 years of LONG DISTANCE CALLING… You might be surprised to say, “Who would have thought…”
But, well, no, that's nonsense.
Why? Because, on one hand, there are plenty of very successful instrumental post-rock bands out there, and on another, I’ve been following LONG DISTANCE CALLING since their early days - it's a band from my hometown, whose members had already been playing in other well-known bands, so, that goes without saying - and these guys’ potential was evident from the very beginning.
Of course, that does not diminish their fantastic success or the amazing history the band can look back on.

With their first demo, Dmnstrtn, LONG DISTANCE CALLING already caused a stir. It was highly praised and high-rated in many publications. With only their debut album Satellite Bay under their belt, LONG DISTANCE CALLING were playing at Roadburn Festival in 2008 - which was a kind of an accolade ;)
Seven more albums followed, some actually featured vocals, all of which were highly praised by fans and the press and graced with various chart placements and award nominations.
Also live, LONG DISTANCE CALLING are always a guarantee of a great concert night. I’ve never seen a show (and there have been many) where the Münster-based band didn’t give it their all on stage and were frenetically celebrated for it. The venues got bigger, and support tours quickly turned into headlining tours. Some of you might still remember LONG DISTANCE CALLING’s first headlining run with Sólstafir, Audrey Horn, and Sahg as the opening acts. What a blast that was!

The consistency and dedication in LONG DISTANCE CALLING’s musical work, along with their constant evolution, are truly remarkable. And it’s not over yet… Take, for example, their ninth album, The Phantom Void, announced for April 10 (tomorrow). Tonight’s show isn’t just an anniversary concert - it’s also a release party. And I can imagine even more extraordinary venues for their next special shows or anniversaries ;)

Speaking of live venues… LONG DISTANCE CALLING already played an outstanding and sold-out show at the :: Lichtburg :: in Essen back in 2024, which was released on vinyl and Blu-ray a year later (Live At Lichtburg as a 2LP + Blu-ray or CD + Blu-ray, available since December 5, 2025). As one of Germany’s most renowned and largest cinemas, it’s truly a wonderful and venerable venue for something special. I’ve experienced quite a few legendary concerts here. Unfortunately, not LONG DISTANCE CALLING in 2024 - I’m making up for that now ;)

:: pics :: LONG DISTANCE CALLING ::

For this very special evening, :: LONG DISTANCE CALLING :: had announced two sets. One was to be put together based on a fan vote, while the other was supposed to be a surprise. Well, with their new album hitting the shelves tomorrow, you don’t have to be a psychic to guess what that set would sound like. So, the real surprise is probably the results of the fan vote ;)

On this wonderfully sunny spring evening, some 1,200 fans flocked to downtown Essen. The crowd was almost a classic cliché: mostly white, salt-and-pepper male prog fans in matching shirts, a few women, and only a handful of young people. I would have liked to see more “young blood” ;)
Of course, countless The Phantom Void CDs and LPs (and shirts) changed hands first. Afterward, the fans sank into the red plush seats of the Lichtburg with beer and popcorn, while the fog machine on stage was already running at full blast, turning the cinema into a smoky den. The photographers’ looks already spoke volumes… ;)

LONG DISTANCE CALLING started right on time without any frills, with a crystal-clear sound and a masked figure on the big screen. Anyone who had seen their latest videos knew what was coming next: the brand-new album The Phantom Void, played in its entirety.
Musically, the evening began rather quietly and dreamily. The light show was minimalist and lacked a front light, so the band remained largely shrouded in fog and darkness. Perfect for the mood and atmosphere, sinking deep into the armchairs, closing your eyes, and letting the music work its magic.
A hint of western vibes wafted through The Spiral, while the rhythms grew rougher during A Secret Place. Spoken word interludes added highlights, and overall, the new album has a slightly spacey touch. I think LONG DISTANCE CALLING highlighted the drumming on this new album a bit more. Janosch Rathmer came up with more "solos", playing distinct and driving rhythms and thus propelling the rest of the band forward at pace, yet the dynamics developed rather slowly. It was indeed a wonderful ride through The Phantom Void and a special feeling to hear it in its entirety performed live for the very first time, because I intentionally did not listen to the promo version before. Yes, I like the new album!

First part done. After a 45-minute album release show, there was a fifteen-minute break to stretch one's legs.

Afterwards, the fan-requested set really livened things up on stage. As expected, the focus was on the older songs. Especially toward the end, starting with Black Paper Planes, people couldn’t stay in their seats anymore. This reminded me of an interview I once did with Flo and David in the early days of LDC, where they said that LONG DISTANCE CALLING emerged from jam sessions in which anything was allowed - except metal. But the last songs in this second set, in particular, are actually quite heavy and pretty much metal ;)
In the second set, too, there was only a brief statement by guitarist Flo, who took the opportunity to thank the (long-time) fans, without whom this success story would not have been possible. After standing ovations, an encore song, and an emotional thank-you from the band, a wonderful live evening came to an end.

Many fans were absolutely thrilled and streamed out of the Lichtburg with smiles on their faces and engaged in lively discussions. For me, though, there were a few downsides.
I think that the musicians’ energy gets lost on a big stage. Everyone plays on their own spot, always near the effect boards. Anyone who’s ever seen LONG DISTANCE CALLING in smaller clubs knows what I mean. A seated venue also dampens some of the vibes and drive you’d normally expect from an LDC concert.
And I must admit that I had expected a bit more from an anniversary show like this. I know the band is known for, and loves doing their shows without frills and letting the music speak for itself. For a “regular” concert, this show was fantastic. But for a 20th anniversary, I would have liked a little more flair. An elaborate light show, guest musicians or guest singers, a special song interpretation perhaps. I haven’t seen Live At Lichtburg yet (to my shame) and therefore don’t know to what extent today’s show would have “replicated” such mentioned elements. Ultimately, of course, this is nitpicking at a very high level and doesn’t really detract from the concert experience itself. But I wanted to mention it.

Band: David Jordan (git), Florian Füntmann (git), Jan Hoffmann (bass), Janosch Rathmer (drums)

Set 1 - The Phantom Void: Mare, The Spiral, A Secret Place, Nocturnal, The Phantom Void, Shattered, Sinister Companion, The Very Last Day

Set 2 - fan-voted set: Into The Black Wide Open, Immunity, Old Love, Ductus, Black Paper Planes, Skydivers, Out There, Eraser // Metulsky Curse Revisited

Many thanks to :: ConcertTeamNRW :: for press accreditation :)

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography