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Category: Shows

  • … 2024 in numbers!

    … 2024 in numbers!

    On the mu-sick-al side i saw less shows than i wanted, heavily impacted by some needed time out to care about loved ones. It is still a struggle, but now an organized one. That hopefully allows me to manage time much better.

    I saw about the same amount of shows and bands like 2023, but some of me mates did dive in much deeper – cudos to them.

    # of shows# of bandsaverange bands per show
    Hafenklang17372
    Knust362
    MS Hedi232
    Pretty Vacant HQ232
    Komet263
    Musikhaus Kramer111
    Molotow122
    Blue Bird111
    Markthalle122
    Stellwerk155
    Landgang Brauerei144
    32702

    Indeed it should have been more, i missed MOi!n It’s Hamburg this year and many more little gems. Damn.

    Best Show of the Year?

    That one is surprisingly easy: It was thrown by the fine folks that keep fueling the Punk Rock Hamburg community as the Punk Rock Hamburg Sommermärchen 2024 – and within that everything simply was perfect … location, weather, bands, sound, light, beer and audience.

    And i won’t put a runner up against this one, this was by far the best package.

    Best set of the year? Candidates were plenty: Poolhead (at said show), Küken (supporting the Marked Men at the Hafenklang), Bad Job Boys (2nd set on the MS Hedi), Enemic Interior (at the Hafenklang), The Covids (at the Komet), Descendents (at the Markthalle), AVEM (supporting The Queers at the Hafenklang), both The Haermorrhoids and The Unknowns (at the Komet) and Bleakness (supporting M.I.A. at the Hafenklang).

    For me it was Bleakness, followed by Küken and Poolhead. Honorable mention: The 2nd set of the Bad Job Boys on the MS Hedi.

    Biggest surprise? AVEM, followed by Enemic Interior.

    I don’t know what fate has in tow for me, but i do hope that i get to see a bit more in 2025. Will i be able to get to Rotterdamned for the Stardumb Fest to see The Windowsill? Damn, damn damn – in Hamburg on the same weekend it is Haermorrhoids & The Rezillios.

    Tough choices, ahead of time!

    On the reading side i managed to watch less TV, less onto my mobile screen plus i had some lengthy business trips next to 4 holidays up north – all allowing for more books, more pages!

    # of books# of pages#of days
    Crime6221.846308
    Music388610
    History41.39725
    Fiction41.47223
    7321.343

    That is 16 books more than in 2023 and +20% in terms of read pages. Reading speed was on average 93 pages every single day in 2024.

    Highscore!

    The 73 books did actually spread across 30 publishers, topping the list sure is the Polar Verlag (with 13 books and simply the best crime series currently) followed by Suhrkamp (9 thanks to Thomas Wörtche who picks the right stuff), Kampa (6) and Pendragon (4).

    What did drive the most noir feel?

    Later, first two books that are non-crime but must reads:

    The heartbreaking story of The Gits and the murder of Mia Zapata – a band that could have been soooo big (and continues to be a big love of mine).

    The equally heartbreaking story how idiots broke Britain. Best read also because i used to work in London for some time and many good folks from yonder are close to my heart.

    And indeed they have been taken for a ride. Damn.

    But those won’t feed my bloodlust, hence here the best reads to do so:

    Best read in 2024 was Samuel W. Gaily “Die Schuld (Polar Verlag)”. A perfect school book for 15 to 16 year old that sure never ever will be read in school. As they do not want kids to learn not to be guilty.

    Runner up in order were: Alexander Pfeiffer – Terrorballade (Edition Outbird), John Galligan – Bad Axe County (Polar Verlag), Ron Corbett – Cape Diamond (Polar Verlag), Kiko Amat – Revanche (btb) and David Joy – Wenn Diese Berge Brennen (Polar Verlag).

    Did i mention that the Polar Verlag runs a hell of a good publishing? No? It does, it does!

    And what about vinyl? I started to sell off some stuff as i jumped over the magic 5.000 mark, so my current Discogs count is down to 4.925 including only 45 new additions in 2024.

    Best stuff added?

    Here we go, the top 6 in no particular order:

    1. From Hamburg with love:

    Küken – III – a real masterpiece and capturing their live sound as perfect as … anything you can imagine. What other Hamburg band ever got such a class reviews outside of their home turf?

    From MRR488
    From BeatInMyBones

    2. From Japan with a twang…

    The Routes – Reverberation Addict – I do have a side love into cover records if the band is able to take it mu-sick-aly slightly off the original (or even to a complete opposite or odd side). And if that is paired with a deep bow when it comes to artwork adaption, boy then i am sold. This is Buzzcocks as Surf. It won’t get any cooler!

    From Louderthanwar

    3. Two loves combined …

    The Jasons – Get Sued – I guess they achieved getting sued, as the cover was removed from Bandcamp. How cool is that?

    The record itself is even cooler, Ramones tunes paired with Misfits lyrics and vocal style. Did i just mention i have a secret love for just off covers? Here you are! And best, this one was a gift from a mate who cares!

    “While this may seem sacreligious to many, I found it to be a wonderful homage to both legendary bands. The love with which they have combined the music from the bruddas from Queens and Lodi’s prodigal sons really shines through every one of these tracks.” (Jim Dodge)

    4. Combined perfection…

    The Haermorrhoids vs. Proton Packs – Split EP – Two bands with a deep love into Ramonescore and a perfect match made not only for the Punk Rock Raduno pilgrims. On top this hopefully is a another little step on the “make it big” staircase that The Haermorrhoids sure thing will advance on.

    And also others picked this one as the split EP of the year!

    5. As if Poison Idea would have never left the room …

    Black Bacon – Every Action Has Reaction – Ever since PI called it a day (or had to call it a day, read more in Jerry A’s memoir) there was something amiss. But that pothole has now thoroughly been patched with a mixture of 50% Poison Idea and 50% Distaster Jacks, creating a Portland/Barcelona supergroup. Of sorts. No, frank – just killer sound/tunes.

    6. Best design, best concept, best production, best …

    Man or Astro-Man? – ROYGBIV (Recordings From The BBC) – The world is doomed on many front, one is postal rates for international shipments, specifically UK or US of A. Still, my urge for MoAM made me pre-order this beauty as The Deluxe Super Special Box Set (includes full color print shirt of the spectacular flexi disc art by Chris Bilheimer, exclusive metal pin, 8 singles, a flexi disc, certificate of authenticity®TM) directly from Chunklet Industries. And thus handing out $$$ for postage, customs and this beauty.

    Why? Because this is simply a true love: No only on my end but also on the publishers end. And such a beauty must be in me collection, no matter what.

    And 2024 would not be complete without a playlist, here are 189 songs that keep you sane, that keep you urging (for the vinyl) and that should have been big (but yet again never made it).

    Songs From The Holy War Archive Volume 24
  • … worthy goodbye for the Sky Bar with Clara Bow and Tan LeRacoon & Racoonery!

    … worthy goodbye for the Sky Bar with Clara Bow and Tan LeRacoon & Racoonery!

    The days seem busy in the run up to Christmas and Year End. On the show front there where choices like Peter And The Test Tube Babies at the Markthalle, 40 Years of Die Goldenen Zitronen at Kampnagel or … the final show at the Sky Bar above the Molotow. Low key, with Tanju and his Racoonery and in walking distance to home.

    And bonus: Early show, early doors – early bedtime.

    Easy choice for me and some friends, plus it would be the final show of the year for me as this year me and the love of me life will be away over the year end to our 2nd home up north.

    Support was from Clara Bow, self-proclaimed “Punk Barbies”.

    They are around since 2003, had a first album with loads of positive reviews in 2012 and fell victim to Covid somewhat. This show was their first after Covid times.

    Clara Bow (Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, 19.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    I had not seen them prior but others recognized them as “ah, these girls“. That was not true anymore, they have added the bass player from the Racoonery on 2nd guitar.

    By and large they make Power Pop with a Girl-Pop scent, less Punk and i guess more Indy. But always with a smile, always with a harmony and multi-vocal singing.

    Clara Bow (Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, 19.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    As it was their first show after an extensive hiatus not all worked well, not all songs were delivered hand-in-glove (namely the drums varied in speed a couple of times, not synced with the rest).

    But enough nuggets to dig deeper and as much as the pairing with Tanu went – that was a fit.

    Let’s see if they get the restart completed, also because that is the song i like best from their record. As ever, go an check it out for yerself.

    For Tanu it was a special evening too, though not a restart: It was 20 years of Tan U Sound and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Hasenschaukel. And a final show slot up in the Sky Bar.

    Tanu and his Racoonery started off in the same fashion that i experienced at the Pretty Vacant HQ 3 months ago. What was right away apparent to me was that Rudis guitar had a near perfect sound: Well tempered and bright as a bell.

    Tan LeRacoon & Racoonery (Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, 19.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    The Sky Bar was almost full, as much as Carla Blow they got a warm reception up to and including some dancing upfront.

    The further they went into the set the more they added: First a trumpet, then a keyboard and finally a 2nd guitar player.

    And that song, with 7 people on the tiny stage of the Sky Bar, then produced my personal highlight of the evening: No clue what the name of the song was but it was a near perfect mexican desert surf/western song of slower sorts – stretched out to i guess 7 minutes.

    Wow – i did not expect this, given the Racoonery is made out of musicans with a much harder background.

    If that one, in that form, is on record – bring it on, i’ll buy it straight away.

    Edit: Rudi tipped me off after the show, it is this song:

    The live version on this evening though outclassed the recorded version by far! Still, i guess i need to buy that record now. Promises, Promises.

    Tan LeRacoon & Racoonery (Molotow Sky Bar, Hamburg, 19.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    For the grand finale they added just another guest from a sunny land up north:

    An old Ebba Grön classic from 1979, a song that Tanu claimed to have DJ’ed at 03:00 in the morning during the wedding party of the guest who entered the stage. And a song every Swede can sing to, apparently.

    Here is the original:

    They played for much more than an hour and really managed to entertain the crowd.

    I left as happy lad as i got live music, got something new and got entertained. Now i only have to finish work on Friday, turn to my loved ones for Christmas and jump with me love into the car up north.

    Done & Happy, thanks to all bands seen this year.

    And Tanu? Also has a christmas wish:

  • … there is always a first: FCSP discouraged, EA80 encouraging!

    … there is always a first: FCSP discouraged, EA80 encouraging!

    Somewhat it felt like a good idea: A late Saturday home game first, gentle stroll over to the Knust and some live mu-sick. But came fate, it is always fate that comes across any grand idea!

    The magical FCSP faced Bremen at home and most likely due to a joint enemy (the long time first league partner of Werder from the other part of town) the two fan groups are more friend then foe.

    This was shown in large prior to the game and in blistering fashion right after the half-time break (though not realizing that the December weather would turn the firework into thick fog – we lost complete sight of the green).

    FCSP vs. SVW (Millerntor, Hamburg, 14.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    On the footie side it was really a bad game, FCSP very discouraged and more or less outdone by simple tactics and much more consistency (and striking ability). 3 shots on our goal, two goals. And never really fear on the Werder side that we would score.

    That paired with miserable weather led to much frustration, not the best ingredient for me and me mate (who sits next to me in the stadium) to enjoy EA80 (for both of us a first after all these years they existed).

    We were tempted to sell our tickets for this sold oput show whilst waiting outside the Knust but finally we decided to abandon the obvious and easy way out.

    Inside, much more dry, warm and cozy, it was True Moon from Malmö (in sunny Skåne, SE) who kicked off the show.

    Apparently they are from the ashes of Vånna Inget, who some dubbed as rightful continuation of the sound of Masshysteri (outta Umeå, capital of Västerbotten, SE).

    Already there Karolina Engdahl’s voice was like a signature thing (and i guess gained them a Granny nomination). In True Moon now she not only sings but also plays bass.

    True Moon (Knust, Hamburg, 14.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    For my ears it was very much Siouxsie and not bad but not really my cup of tea. The internet (damn internet, never forgets) has some distinct notions on the sound:

    True Moon is truly a satisfying blend of goth rock and Fleetwood Mac. This Swedish dark alt-rock/post-punk band sounds a little like Stevie Nicks fronting Joy Division.

    Not sure if this actually holds true, the voice though carried a lot of the sound.

    They got more than friendly applause and those in the know assured me that EA80 tend to dig out future stars for support (like having the Sleaford Mods for 35rd Anniversary show supporting them in the sold out Markthalle – must have been 2014).

    On record True Moon sound like this:

    Next and with no fuzz on setting up the stage EA80 out of Mönchengladbach.

    For all these years (and i am seeing bands from the genre live since 1979, which is exactly when they started) i happily ignored them. Largely because they are German, sing in German and … uh, äh … i simply ignored them.

    On a side note that holds true for EA80 only, i have the first Ranola LP in my collection, Martin plays Bass on this one (also outta Mönchengladbach).

    My bad, as i already discovered that they have actually some good mu-sick and more so, that most likely they have been true to themselves for much more time than any other band that is still around.

    EA80 (Knust, Hamburg, 14.12.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    Everything is DIY, all of their releases are low profile, they do not rehearse to perfection and they let out their energy as it suits them and where it suits them.

    Live they worked for me much better than on the few records it did listen into (though never bothered to buy one) and delivered a very real, very unpretentious “show” (there was no element of show anyway).

    They even had a couple of songs that i will need to dig into in more detail, sure the one with speed (short and hard) were the ones that appealed with my simple mu-sick-al mind more.

    They played quite long, until the fingers started to bleed on Martins battered guitar. He gave the guitar the plaster, not his finger. Style, very much street smart style.

    After the disappointment of the footie and surprising neat show to finish the day, i did not expect myself to stay to the end.

    But as ever, there is always a first and there is always a place with good music and good company.