Berlin

Roi J. Tamkin

“Girls, sex gets better after 30.” Pearls of wisdom thrown out by Terri Nunn to the mob as they crushed and squished themselves before the 99X stage. Sunday evening at Music Midtown, and a reformed Berlin was ready to play before an audience that was still in diapers when 1983’s Pleasure Victim was released.

The new band consisted of guitarist Dallan Baumgarten, keyboardist Scott Warren, drummer Rodger Carter, back-up singer Charlotte Gibson, and of course, sexy, beautiful Terri Nunn. Opening with “Masquerade” from the first EP, Terri proved that approaching 40 would not inhibit her sexuality. She also showed just how powerful and captivating she could still be.

“berlin”

The “new” Berlin was not formed to rehash the old hits. Terri had written some new songs, and they have a new CD out titled Fall Into Heaven . Before one new song, “I Can Love,” Terri explained that she finally got her priorities straight in life. That friends, family, and love were more important than money. She followed with “No More Words,” a perennial favorite of most Berlin fans. Another new song was about her divorce. Terri broke into a ferocious persona, screaming into the video camera that followed her frantic pacing on stage. This personal song had Terri jumping on the PA system, the drums, and almost out of her skin. The crowd bodysurfed through most of the set, which featured songs focusing on the sensual side of relationships. She slithered and strutted though “The Metro,” and closed with “Sex (I’m A…),” where she lathered her body onto the guitarist.

When the band’s thirty minutes were up, I had to leave the area and find me a cold shower. ◼