With a max capacity of 280 guests Club Sedel in Lucerne, Switzerland is a very small venue for mostly punk and metal shows. It is also a place where currently over a hundred local bands share 52 rehearsal rooms in what used to be a prison. In 1981 the two cell blocks to either side of the main entrance, which were used as a state archive for 10 years after having shut down the jail in 1971, were rebuilt and turned into band rooms of the size of one, two or three cells. What used to be the cafeteria is now the clubroom. What better place is there for Masked Intruder to play a show?
Playing to an audience of roughly 30 people can be tough. Even more so if you're the opening band of a group like M.I. But the local openers from Bern, Switzerland, who, according to the singer, "haven't practiced with the new drummer for more than two hours yet" did a fairly good job in animating the guests and played some nice tunes as a warm—up.
When the Intruders finally got on stage, after having been stuck in traffic for over four hours and being almost two hours late for their gig, and kicked off with "Stick 'Em Up" they instantly had everybody's full attention. They played straight through the first five songs, with "How Do I Get to You", "25 to Life" and "Unrequited Love" among them, with no time to gasp for air and with Officer Bradford watching them very closely.
Intruder Blue then introduced Officer Bradford who stuck out the finger at the audience right away what confused the well—behaved Swiss and so Blue had to actually Explain that they were supposed to do the same, "that's how we say hello to cops in the US". The few words to introduce the band seemed to ease things up and the fans that came to see them were much more relaxed once the band started playing "I Fought the Law" with Officer Bradford "beating" them up! The audience got used to his jumping on top of them during the next two songs and when "Weirdo" started the ice finally cracked all the way through.
Halfway through their set Intruder Yellow (aka Orange) sang the Outfield cover "Your Love" which faded right into "Why Don't You Love Me in Real Life". To get lonely Intruder Green some company two girls were brought on stage to dance with him during "Hey Girl". Right after the song Intruder Red exclaimed in delight that this was "the first time ever somebody actually danced behind me!" and, being in love—song—mode, Blue picked another girl to sing "Heart Shaped Guitar" with him. Even though she was not able to remember all the lyrics due to the nervousness, the small audience helped her loudly with every word.
"This song is for all the beautiful ladies out here tonight", so Blue's introduction to "The Most Beautiful Girl" and Officer Bradford's chance to hug all the girls in the tiny room and carry them around. They played three more songs and finished the set with "Wish You Were Mine" and an audience that did not want to let them go yet!
The encore kicked back in with "Breakin'" and went straight for "When I Get Out". After having advised everybody on changing into the crime business and singing their opening band's praises Intruder Blue prompted the audience to dance together in pairs for their final song "I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye to You Tonight" before leaving the stage for the night.
All in all, the show was a big success even though Masked Intruder are not exactly well—known in Switzerland as the small audience revealed. The music was loud, the fans in a good mood and the band played a great set with their best songs off of both their albums. It was a powerful, energetic gig that left audience and band panting but happy at the end of the night. Let's hope to get M.I. back in jail again one day!