German National Unity Day 1

It is not that in Munich we lack a grand boulevard. There is even a triumphal arch as imposing as that in Paris. But under that monument on the Quatorze Juillet the troops gather for a military parade down the Champs-Elysées.

Here in Munich the arch is almost ignored as visitors gather before the stage where for the two days of the German National Unity Day celebrations the sounds will be of rock 'n' roll, not military marching bands.

I listened to a set by the Munich band, The Riffs, who gave a very convincing performance of classic mainstream hits. 

I was a bit surprised that I had never heard of them before.

Obviously the band photo is not mine. Nor are the shots with a tiny 'AZ' in the top left corner, they are re-blogged from the website of the Abendzeitung newspaper.