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Category: Shows

… of Gerd and a Perfect Cousin to dance with (and booze off a wee bit)!
Gerd, Hamburgs very own stadium rockers, are never afraid to throw a party. Anybody suggesting a reason? Mhhhh, maybe 33 1/3 (not yet 53rd and One 3rd) is a good one?

Deal!

And as a party needs companionship, they took the Perfect Cousin along, just like in 2016. And some 250 other members of the Punk Rock Hamburg Family, most from near – some from far.

The Perfect Cousins obviously traveled from far (Derry in Norther Ireland would be my wild guess) and came with the following gifts:

Perfect Cousins – Setlist (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

It is custom knowledge in Hamburg that a party failing to get momentum only ever needs an Undertones song (below the magic 02:00 mark) to get the lot onto the dance floor and dancing.

And as it was to be Family Entertainment they choose their entry wisely:

Perfect Cousins, actually not seen for a while. Hence i was a wee bit surprised that they did shrink to a 4-piece but it did not hinder them at all (in contrast, they had a near perfect sound).
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Perfect Cousins (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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Sure that near perfect sound had it’s icing with Arne and his voice – if there ever was someone with the same type of nasal vocals as Fergal it is definitely him, Period. And on top Arne was jumping around the stage full of energy – the same energy that the others took into their gear.

Together with Jan on Guitar, Kai on Drums and Lui on Bass he continued almost down the Wrong Way:

Beating the original by 13 seconds, puuurrrrfect!

But also above the magic 02:00 mark they are able to score, because they didn’t let go:

Poor Little Jimmy (Jimmy), one of the saddest hit songs i actually know. And a real banger that stands the test of time, easily. And as ever, was one of the biggest sing-a-long within the set – maybe next to Teenage Kicks.
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Perfect Cousins (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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But as a Perfect Cousin they also had an Angry surprise gift in tow all the way from Samoa:

What a perfect finish, they even did threw Lights Out next towards the audience (though Arne needed a little cheat sheet for the lyrics). I guess that one was a message from Lui that he needs yet another job in an Angry Samoans cover band.

But as said, there ain’t no better way to infuse a dance party than throwing in an Undertones hit. Thus, the party was already going when it was time for Gerd.

Gerd – Setlist (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

Their œuvre speaks for itself – like in those words on the right. Clues needed? Come on, you are part of the Punk Rock Hamburg family, you do not need no fucking clues!
```
Hold tight - Now we're on our own
Cue lights - Now it's ready to roll
Tonight  How I've waited for i've competed for years

It's fun - Oh I just can't wait
Hold on - Do I look up to date?
You're on - I'll do anything if it's the right thing to see

There's one - Born every day
Same song - Then they fade away
Ding-dong - What's the future in the pop music industry

All right - So you made the grade
Hold tight - To the buck you made
Just wait - You've been rated for constipated peak viewing time
```
And putting enthusiasm over stage entry grandness Gerd went about to Kick Out The Jams:

But hey, there is a new face! Led Zeppelin could not lure him, but Gerd (with all of the money from their stadium tours) got him signed. Welcome Henry (who still has a little side hustle with Boy Division, Hamburgs best dressed cover band)!
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Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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The last time they graced the Knust for one of their club shows was 2021, it was sheer luck that their busy schedule allowed them back so early – the lot did only expect them in 2031 for “40 years of GERD”.

The lot largely anyway was happy, i ran into a number of good people that had a bright smile on their face following the grown-up-controlled-play-like-a-champion away win of the FCSP at Nürnberg in the afternoon.

Gerd took on to continue that party on the lawn:

Boy, they had this one in 1967 for 10 weeks in the German single charts (and it was single in our household that i could hum along to as a little boy). Good to see that Gerd have left that la battaglia del denaro long behind.
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Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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But still, they can beat anybody when it comes to mu-sick. Twice this songs has been robbed from them and re-used with different words. And still they can hammer home their ode to G.E.R.D. in the exact 1:17 that it took that other band from NYC (that never paid their dues to Gerd):

The only item that was surprisingly not at par with their performance was the sound. It sounded less good than the Perfect Cousins and less good than last time at the Knust (where by and large most bands sound excellent, thanks to the good PA and experts at the sliders).
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Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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But Gerd being Gerd just went over that with not even a blink in the eye. They rather took on to keep the dancing audience … awake and dancing. And they made them choose.

And the lot choose to be Foxes, on the run:

Far more people than the obvious offenders actually had their dancing shoes on, here is a snippet from the audience proving it:

Pick your king, as Poison Idea suggested. The lot picked Gerd, for sure.

As every family thingy it started early (doors 19:00) so that the elderly could have the most of it. Most of the elderly (and frank – the only sad of that show actually – it was almost exclusive elderly in attendance) where thankful, easily and early loaded (one so much that he was shown the way off the dance floor in a perfect choreographed ballet) and had as much fun as the bands.

The icing on the evening then was more booze at the bar to the blaring sounds of DJ Hollyholetsgo, where the stadium hardened stars and fans mingled and danced even harder.

2/3rd Happy fans and 1/3rd photo bombing new Gerd member (c) gehkacken.de 2024

I was home not too late (and not too loaded) around 02:00, so that i was able to make the most out of the joy of both the FCSP win and the fantastic Gerd party on sunny Sunday.

Only one wish went unanswered: More people and specifically younger people putting on their dancing shoes and descending onto the Knust – both bands and club would deserve it. And once there, knock it back and ‘ave another one.

So everyone – next time bring a younger friend along! And ask for him/her to also bring someone younger along.

I will try hard! Or even harder. But please not hardly.

PS: My perfect moment of the evening below – click for high-res!
2024/03/18
… memory lane ctd: Brausepöter 2024 vs. 1980.
Plenty of me mates took a jog down memory lane on Wednesday at the Monkeys, cheering towards Cheetah Chrome & his Dead Boys. Whilst i definitely uphold the Dead Boys original vinyl output (two great LP’s, a couple of singles) it was the live videos i saw of this 2024 version that did turn me down. Big time actually. So i did let go, though later friends where full of praise of “great 1970s NY rock” … ok, choices – as ever.

Another choice for a jog down memory lane was Brausepöter at the Hafenklang. And in contrast to them Dead Boys their original recorded output (one 7″ on Zick Zack in 1980) is simply shite.

Also by the account of the band, as Zick Zack head honcho Alfred Hilsberg dragged them out of the Scala aka “New Scala Wave” in Herford straight into a studio in Hamburg manned with a bearded Jazz Hippie. And the output was poor, forgettable.

That Brausepöter still have a name in Hamburg (whilst having only ever played two shows here, 1980 and 2014) is down to this show:

Zick Zack Festival 1980 ( (c) oldpunks.de)

It was maybe the one show where the Hamburg Pogo Punk contingent and the Neue Musik lovers (soon to be Neue Deutsche Welle and hated) did split apart. Previous Festivals at the Markthalle (forever put to memory by Robert Nitz on Konnekschen) did keep a unity between the two – as late in 1980 the split seemed unavoidable.

Brausepöter guitar player Martin memorized it like this:
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Q: Alfred Hilsberg also organized the legendary Zick-Zack festivals in Markthalle (Hamburg), where you also performed. When was that?

A: That was in late December 1980. We played together with Radierer, the partner combo of The Wirtschaftswunder, they both come from Limburg. And Abwärts plus Einstürzende Neubauten.

Q: The mood is said to have been explosive, as you can read in Jürgen Teipel's book “Verschwende Deine Jugend”. What was going on with you?

A: So for us it was like this: Abwärts was the only band that was accepted by the audience. But they only came at the end. Although, that's not entirely true: Einstützende Neubauten continued to play afterwards. It was their first appearance outside of Berlin. The whole Markthalle was almost empty by then. There were only 30 people left and I was standing in the middle. It was like a moon landing that you just happened to be there for. I had never seen anything like that: the way they banged around on their instruments, with that archaic industrial sound, unbelievable.

Q: And how was Brausepöter received?

A: As I said: Abwärts were accepted. Otherwise the festival was not well received by the audience. The Hamburg punks were also strongly influenced by the British scene; It was very rough there. I don't remember whether they booted Die Radierer off the stage. I believe yes. In any case, we remained adamant. I told them: “Do what you want, we’ll play through our set here”. And maybe they spit on us, you wouldn't believe that. I was wet! From top to bottom. And then there is also a photo of me getting a full beer can in front of my head. I bled like anything else. “Keiner Kann Uns Ab” in its purest form.
```
And indeed the moment where the Hansa Pils can (cheapest piss back then and often used as a messenger) did meet Martin was memorized on a picture:

Markthalle 27.12.1980: Hansa Pils meets Brausepöter

Their “signature” song “Keiner Kann Uns Ab” (roughly “No one digs/likes us“) from that night with some pointed pictures is out out there too:

Memory lane, ctd.

With all of that in mind i had made the conscious decision to see them rather than the Dead Boys: Whilst the Dead Boys could destroy a good memory, Brausepöter could not. Also because i wasn’t at that night, though the three mates that would accompany me down to the Hafenklang were. And had no recollection of Brausepöter (other than the cool name).

They are back together (after their breakup 1982) since 2008 and found fame even in the US of A with some old stuff put out there in 2010 to much acclaim:
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A wild slice of punk scabbery with a vibe of what a male Kleenex fresh out of the Beat Club might resemble (Brian Turner, Music Director of WFMU-Radio, New York, commenting on the US "Bundeswehr" & "Keiner kann uns ab" 7" release)
```
They played the Astra Stube in 2014 (to no acclaim) and now tour again as Hamburgs Tapete Records decided to release the planned LP that Alfred Hilsberg never released.
<a href="https://brausepoeter.bandcamp.com/album/keiner-kann-uns-ab">Keiner kann uns ab by Brausepöter</a>
The show was moved from early Jan 24 due to a sickness within the band and on this Friday, down in the big room of the Hafenklang, only ever attracted roughly 50something people. Half of them old and funnily half of them rather of younger age.

They kicked off without support and i guess some newer songs: Well played and modern guitar music, with German lyrics. And the guitar was to be their main asset, a great sound that was above the average twang (of many of these modern German guitar bands).
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Brausepöter (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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It was paired with dual singing and varied in tempo, drive and – frank – quality. But over time (they played for almost 1h30m including a some extra songs) it all moved over to the pleasant side.

Here is “Keiner Kann Uns Ab” in the 2024 version:

Cool stuff, well received (up to and including some fans singing along to almost all songs). Between songs they chatted a bit and where surprised that a couple of folks (me mates plus one more) had been at the Markthalle back then. On top they also inquired if Alfred Hilsberg is still around (which he is, but not at good health according to one in the know).
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Brausepöter (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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Frank, i did not expect that i would actually appreciate their set, but it was really neat and at the end had plenty of applause from the small audience. On top they where humble, approachable and thankful for having an audience and having a chat.

And because the contrast is so nice – here is a picture how they looked all stylish (according to the understanding of style in Riedberg, Ostwestfalen, in 1979).

Brausepöter 1979

This is where they come from, their practice place (back then? obviously now) and one of their new songs:

Memory lane, on all counts.

I guess they did not fit back then and nowadays sure seem to give a damn fuck about fitting anyway – they do music for the the music itself (and continued in their own understanding of style). Not my favorite style but still good to enjoy live.

For me and me mates a perfect #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic and at my perfect place.
2024/03/03
… charting the unknown: Kilo+++ and Powerplant!
The beauty of living a short stroll away from your favorite club is that you can make quick decisions like “… i’m up for some live music, let’s stroll down“. And that’s what i did on this Tuesday, lured by the simple fact that one of the bands once graced the Get! Lost! Fest! and both of the bands scheduled would make use of … synthies.

Early start with doors 1900 and first band 2000 – neat for having a work schedule next day that would take me into the office rather than sleepwalking into home office.

First band KILO +++ from sunny Groningen, a male/female duo with very simplistic or better minimalistic electronic music with some guitar additions.

From the start i had a nagging feel of “early 1980s Markthalle” and early “Der Plan“. And indeed in good moments that sounded almost innocent, simple and fresh.
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Kilo+++ (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.02.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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In the long run though it was too simple for me and i also felt the audience, getting larger by the minute, had more sympathy then enthusiasm.

A fun little gimmick was that they recorded the show on stage on a tape recorder off the sound board and offered to sell the live tape for 10€. Real time release, cool.

If this sounds interesting to you then check them out at HANDS OFF or listen to their demo.

Next Powerplant and they kicked off like this:

Hui, that is much more Umpf than the support! And they got the audience (i guess around 100 folks upstairs, so well filled) moving almost instantaneously. Reading about them on the internet (damn internet, never forgets) i get their setting:
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Powerplant (UA/UK) occurs somewhere in the shadows of synth and post-punk that produces material both ‘sad & happy’, but always dark in both the music and looks. The kind of dark you get at about 9:30pm on a Summer day.

Once a solitary bedroom project of Ukrainian Theo Zhykharyev, that found its footing on the Internet and grew meat around the bone, becoming a full animated live band of London’s best, when joined by members of UK hardcore scene and experimental sound artists.
```
As said, i had no clue about them and expected little. But they threw a lively show, had speed and some nice soundscapes. Plus the audience moving. And as such i simply enjoyed a live show (of something that was per se not my thingy).
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Powerplant (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.02.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
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Nice one and also distinct stage personas: Jackson Irvine double pushing the bass drum forward, Frank Navetta double on strumming chords on the bass, a very agile guitar that also sung and centered … a Beach Boy playing the keyboard.

Neat entertainment, though i did not buy vinyl. Go check them out for yourself – they have a line in their promo material to that extent too:
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This could be just your kind of thing! And all, all this to walk with our heads high and hearts light. Or at least try. To better days!
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It felt a wee bit strange – none of my regular companions attended the show, so i could spend time augmenting the mostly younger (and sometime on the edge of hipsterism) audience. Boy, i felt definitely old if not the oldest in the room.

Actually i could only complain about those ignoring the “no smoking” signs (surprisingly some), be surprised about the one girl sipping away a bottle of 45% booze smuggled into the venue (alcoholic by 20, congrats) and simply enjoying live music for the sake encountering something new.

And i was home early. Cool.
2024/02/16