Frank, i wanted to be at the Monkeys on Friday. To see D.I. who twice convinced me big time at the Hafenklang recently. But family care duties came first, so i opted for the next available show: 999 with support from Clox (a very very long running band from Dortmund) and Erection.
I somewhat missed the message from the Monkeys that the show was moved forward, so that later in the evening the Tainted Love party series could happen. Instead of doors at 20:00 it was doors at 18:00 and Clox starting shortly after 19:00.
I was not alone with that miss, a mate who was earlier than me said that many did miss Clox.
In hindsight i am frustrated now, as they ring a bell from back then and still create a very British style of Punk:
They existed 1977 to 1986, with their prime being around 1983/1984 when they toured with Die Toten Hosen extensively. The came back together in 2008 and ever since are at it.
My mate, who was almost on time, praised their set.
Pity poor me, i missed it!
I also missed the first half of Erection, in contrast a rather young band from sunny Regensburg. And that is quite a ride north for them in order to grace Hamburg.
They play self-proclaimed Pussy-Penis-Power-Punk and their main assets are the outgoing singer Julia and Schtiefn on guitar. Songs are in English and German, the mu-sick is wandering between many references.
Erection (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
For me the Englisch songs worked better, specifically when it wandered into Thunderland (no surprise the Guitar sported a LAMF shirt), modernized. Here is one of them:
Towards the end of the set though a nagging itch in the back of my single-minded mu-sick receptors broke through: It was too much of Rock, too much of Rock show elements.
Did i dislike them? No. Did i like them – still a no. I realized others around me where of similar feel, a larger part of the audience though did dig them.
Next 999 and more of a time warp. From their initial success (the first three albums and a slew of singles carry almost hit after hit) they disbanded twice in the 1980s, only to come back in the 90s and doing the rounds ever since.
999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
Nick was a bit underestimating the Hamburg lot, when he referenced them playing early on in Hamburg at the Markthalle Christian lectured him on support (Fehlfarben) and what color Nicks shirt had back then. A wee bit of a surprise smile came over Nick…
… if you dare listen to the live tape conserved over at Tape Attack:
Whilst they also put out new records (every 10 years or so), their 1978-1980 hits, slightly speeded up, still make the cut to get the people going and – line by line – sing-a-along.
999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025
As i dodge Blackpool every year it has been quite a while since i saw them, i think that was like mid-1990s in London. And the longer they played, the more i liked it. It ain’t something fancy new but it is a slew of hits, many sing-a-longs.
And there is nothing wrong in keeping these songs going.
Whilst i was still unhappy with myself having missed the early start i was reasonably happy as #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!
