That was somewhat an ill-fated Thursday evening: Initially set as “The Pissed Ones & The Outcasts” it was drawing high desires (because of The Outcasts) but then the guys from sunny Belfast had to pull their short run across Germany due to health issues.
The Spartanics, whom i found the biggest surprise live last year stepped in and upcoming local heroes Senkrechtstarter where added. Only to find The Spartanics to pull out shortest notice due to sickness too. They send their local friends The Cockheads instead.
Net result: A rather empty upstairs in the Hafenklang, i guess not even 45 folks showed up. Damn!
For myself the first band was a must, i missed all other occasions to see Senkrechtstarter all of last year.
This is how they kicked off:
And yes, they had to face indeed a largely empty room, people still arrived whilst they played.
They ticked a couple of boxes with me, fist and foremost: Dressed for the occasion. Stage uniform. Senkrechtstarter workshirts in black.
Any band that meets this entertainment necessity does have huge credits with me when it comes to live shows.
Senkrechtstarter (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 22.01.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
They play uptempo (though not fast paced), they play Punk Rock (though with a scent of Power Pop) and they sing in German.
And the lyrics, boy, they are their biggest asset. Jason (of Platzangst, Rubbermaids, Weltniveau and many more bands fame) writes the songs. Creates the lyrics. And sings.
And it has something indeed, i do hope that they get to play more occasions, bigger crowds. They deserve it.
Here is how they finished the set:
They have a demo out, check it out on Bandcamp:
And, being a smart band, they handed stickers, badges and the demo on a CD to the audience, pay what you want. Or, if you want, take also the moneys that other threw in.
Grant idea!
Next the fill-in for The Spartanics – the Cockheads. I am not sure if they should have been a 3-some (i guess so) and if they lost their bass due to the short notice option to play in Hamburg.
The setup, with the guitar amp’d through both sides of the stage, seemed deliberate. They played rather short songs, with the vocals sounding a bit thin.
How did it sound? Here is a slightly longer one:
Whilst it was not bad i always had that itch that the bass was missing. It would have given the songs more depth, more umpf.
Somewhat i had the feeling that actually they where playing a modern way of providing Gassenhauer (but not the Carl Orff one) to the audience, not sure what made my mu-sick-al receptors connect that way.
The Cockheads (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 22.01.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
They got friendly applause and whilst a mate resorted to smoking outside i found it – in the end – entertaining. And short. As in bonus.
They got quickly followed by The Pissed Ones, hailing upstream from Dresden on the mighty river Elbe, and they took the stage like this:
Bäng – that was a heavy hitting contrast. That one was “Come and get it” from their 2022 LP.
Much more pushing forward, much more Punk Rock on steroids (like, say, New York 1970something and/or Briefs/Stitches territory).
In contrast to the other two bands they sing in English and i guess that is anyway without alternative given the sound.
The Pissed Ones (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 22.01.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
Strumming chords, knacking bass and the utmost hard hitting drums. And all topped with some behind the wall of sound overtones by the other guitar, but indeed these small overtones, solos and whathaveyou thrown in made the whole shebang almost perfect.
Yes, they definitely lean also to the hard rocking side of Punk fucking Rock:
Wild! And utmost entertaining!
The songs tend to be above 3 minutes, the guitar play is front and center and the rhythm should get into peoples feat (though the lack of audience did not really make that happen).
The Pissed Ones (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 22.01.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
The real eye catcher for me was the drummer: Not only did he hit very very hard (and pushed the lot forward), he also made funny faces, exaggerated the stick handling and looked around like a madman.
And for the final song, he claimed the closing credits:
Wow, i was a tad bit surprised.
Great set and for sure a band to explore. And somewhat i was not surprise to find among their records this one:
These recordings where done for a radio feature about Patty Smith and they fit the thing just puuurfect.
From where i sit The Pissed Ones can come back any day, best downstairs and with a full house. They do deserve that indeed.
As ever when i am a happy bunny i take something home, this time i sure could not pass the Senkrechtstarter offer.
Great Thursday though only 3 mates around me. Pitty. But i was lucky all the way, public transport gave me a slick ride home into the suburbs with no waiting time in the ice cold night on changeovers.
And indeed the all local (German) bands setting worked well!
