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Category: Shows

… Sgt. Peppers Loud Punk Rock Band returns with a twang!
Colt, who runs Colturschock, dared to take on re-issuing old Hamburg Punk mu-sick – be it rather well known bands like Razzia or complete unknown legends like Art Of Tin Toys (active around 1988-1992, with a sole 7″ in 1990). To sum it all up he threw a little label fest, providing Art Of Tin Toys with a return after 25 Years.

First on Plastic Propaganda, now also a Colturschock band, who filled in for Stahlschwester. They are young, they are bright and they have indeed something to say. Their sound ain’t hardcore punk, but they provided the perfect contrast to both Art Of Tin Toys and Razzia.
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Plastic Propaganda (Knust, Hamburg, 20.01.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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They have come a long way and if they are lucky then can even grow further – they managed to find their own niche: Grounded in 77 Punk, added with a scent of Wave and Post Punk and very clear vocals. Not bad, actually good – though still not my thing. But check out for yerself!

And that gave way to Art Of Tin Toys. By now the Knust actually was decent full, i guess it was namely Razzia that pulled around 400 odd folks – but whilst Public Propaganda provided their set into a lot of space Art Of Tin Toys had the front of the stage packed. And a surprise introduction:

Already now it was clear that is was supposed to be a grand show, with a focus on show, and that was what they entered into with their one and only hit single:

Whilst the start was a wee bit like finding feet it went only ever uphill from there. I do love bands that endeavour to create a show with stage outfits and/or stage personas and Art Of Tin Toys did that in perfect setting.
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Art Of Tin Toys (Knust, Hamburg, 20.01.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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They got plenty of cheers and loads of applause. Next to the songs of Hake themselves i take it is the setting of the different vocals to go with it: Whilst Heiko bellows it out and Mis Minerva provides a real singing voice (already a contrast in itself) it is Hake and his almost talking vocals that provides the last element in a huge spread – and that makes it so entertaining!

Now let’s hope that Art Of Tin Toys (and actually Spitfire Stevens) get their drummer back with a healthy wrist and that it does not take another 25 years for such a grand show!

Headliner clearly where Razzia and looking at the audience (and having listened into some conversations on the subway to the Knust) it was their 1980s following coming out to see them again. I never was able to warm up with them, though i have to give them that they had a distinct career (if such a thing exists) and largely did it DIY (and putting our records on their own label). But their mu-sick never did stick with me.

Razzia (Knust, Hamburg, 20.01.2017 Photo by Luke, (c) gehkacken.de)

They have gone through many changes and when their initial setup from 1979 folded around the beginning of the 90’s it was a “B-Team” using the Name Razzia until 2004. From 2008 onward most of the old Razzia where back at the helm but by now this has changed again. Frank – just like many of the UK bands, ain’t it?

They sound like Razzia, they had enough speed but it still was not to my liking. Some people enjoyed it big time (and where dreaming back 25 years), some made naughty comments like “… they look and sound like Kettcar“. I’d say both is unjust – they try to enjoy and i take they try to make their sound available to people.

Was the night worth it? Yes it was. Namely because of pairing bands from opposite spectrum, age and sound. That setting is the best setting there is, if that is paired with meeting and chatting with friends then it is great. Still loving live mu-sick!
2017/01/22
… A Giant Dog from Austin, Texas, on a quiet Wednesday evening!
Every once in a while i listen to friends “in the know” and go out and see bands that fall outside my standard view – A Giant Dog from Austin. TX, does so. They came through Hamburg on an awful December evening, a Wednesday on top of everything. So no surprise the show was moved from the large stage downstairs to the more cozy Goldener Salon.

I thing about 25 people made it and they got to see a strange one: Sound deeply grounded in Power-Pop, the female singer a real stage persona with a lovely voice and a strange outfit that looked like from either a Las Vegas showgirl or from a gymnastics athlete.
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A Giant Dog (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.12.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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They delivered about 55 Minutes with two encores and they delivered it well – not set off by the rather limited audience. It took them some time to get into it i felt during the first songs but then they worked like a unit. A unit though with an eye-catcher at the front (or down in the pit).

I guess i still would not buy one of their records but you can see that they are both seasoned musician and able to pin down some smart pop tunes with an edge. The edge actually is the voice of Sabrina paired with the voice Andrew – they work well together. And Sabrina delivers it with a smile, a blink/wink and strange stage moves.

Else? I’d better quote the internet (damn internet, never forgets):

Copyright 2016 TheLondonEconomic.com

For a lousy, cold, wet and foggy Wednesday it was a perfect time out with live mu-sick! Well done TKO, surprise worked well!
2016/12/15
… HH-Soundtrack 2016 and the fate of the missing audience (and an too ambitious venue)!
The 2nd edition of the HH-Soundtrack event was in some ways a fun copy of the previous: Same bands, same problems. This time round it was supposed to be the record release party of the Channel Rats but their brand new DIY CD did not make it in time to Hamburg – a quite some people looked forward to it (like last year to the Platzangst LP, now almost an urban legend).

HH-SOUNDTRACK 2016

C³I kicked off early and towards an almost empty Knust. A mere 50 people i’d say, half of them band members of the other acts. Damn, not a good start. But good to see them back and with a great outlook for their own LP, slated for release on 28.01.2017 (with a show at the Störtebeker).
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C³I (Knust, Hamburg, 09.12.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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Dominated by the unique bass play from Arne they pushed ahead and both transformed songs from the 80s and new material into a great sound. From all the bands to play most likely the most gifted ones and sure thing with a unique proposition.

And whilst they had their 2014 single on display on the stage it was Heiko Hamster who made an effort to stroll with a box of singles through the audience and force them upon the small crowd for an even smaller amount. DIY taken to the max i’d say – and it is a worthy effort that should sit in yer collection mate!

Next the supposed headliner, who dodged this duty most likely for a reason. And they kicked off like this:

That’s the original version, they have also now added a more rock’n’roll themed version to their set – that 2016 version is less of a blast and more of a rhythm. In the running up to their recording sessions for the CD they have practised a lot and have tightened their set – some songs where near perfect.
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Channel Rats (Knust, Hamburg, 09.12.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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On the other hand it seemed that drummer Dennis was eager to speed things up so much that Andreas would not be able to follow with the vocals. With that style they destroyed a couple of songs and actually created a lot of question marks in the audience (not more than 100 by now).

Channel Rats Setlist (Knust, Hamburg, 09.12.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

And from the ashes of such mishaps (or on purpose jokes, who knows) they where able to come back with another new song in near perfect sound …

Done! Now we all look forward to the CD release, i am led to believe that they have spend a lot of time perfecting their songs and sound on it. Let’s see …

And that gave way to Sheep On A Tree, who now have played a couple of times over the year and done so with quite a variation of quality. They took the stage like this:

The sound to me was not the best and somehow there was a missing “umppff” in the stomach … don’t know if that was down to the sound operators of the Knust (normally very gifted) or the amp settings on the stage.
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Sheep On A Tree (Knust, Hamburg, 09.12.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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Sheep On A Tree made a crisp tour through their repertoire and did not bother too much with audience participation, i guess because it looked quite empty from up there. So just like during the Channel Rats set Hake decided to have a go at a song in the audience, thus luring the people closer.

By now the whole show did run late, people had already left and it was for the outsiders (on two counts: Daily Thompson where from far and their style was to be far out against the others too) to finish the Soundtrack 2016 off:

I had no clue what lay ahead for me with them but by the looks of the band members i guessed “Saint Vitus” and that seemed not too far off.
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Daily Thompson (Knust, Hamburg, 09.12.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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But they had a hard time – an almost empty space and an audience that only in parts where interested in their style. I too gave in at 01:00 and strolled home, it was a hard week with work travel and a show on Wednesday already, so i was not able to bite it down. Also them set as the end was somehow wrong – the line-up should have been Sheep’s staring, then Daily T, then C³I and then them Rats including handing out CD’s. But whom am i against the grim reality of HH-Soundtrack 2016?

Will there be a 2017 edition?

HH SOUNDTRACK 2016
2016/12/10