It took the Descendents and the Mighty Mighty BossTones 21 fucking years to come back to Hamburg … and it took the mighty D.I. 25 years to be back at Hamburg shores, a place that in the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s was full of D.I. devotees.
So when the news came around that they hit Europe the Hafenklang was sold out quickly: It was a Friday evening in Summer, they paired with Poison Idea on their farewell stint and had with Yard Bomb the hardest and corest local support that you could wish for. People came from far and also near – the Hamburg lot was in full contingent and even Bremen showed up in force.
The unpleasant support the support slot was for Causes from Hanover, they had to lure 200+ people drinking and chatting outside the Hafenklang into the main room and in front of the stage.
They did not succeed. I gave it a try, as i am always keen to see new bands. But they just did not touch my soul with their rather dark punk. They also looked a wee bit static on the stage, so i had to let go for another beer and another chat. But by all means, make up your own mind and check them out.
With a swift changeover it was time for Yard Bomb, currently for me the hottest hard core unit on the local circuit. And they kicked of like this:
Their drummer was absent with leave, so their old drummer filled in after leaving 5 years ago to give them the opportunity to excel on the same stage as D.I. and Poison Idea.
They had a rooster of 14 songs prepared and from the kick off it felt that they wanted to shove it up the audience ears with no fills and no frills: Net they clocked in at 21:05 for the 14 songs, that is a near perfect 80 seconds per song on average (and allowed for 10 seconds between songs).
Their visual on stage is still a nice spread: Rolf yells, moans and groans and has every muscle full of relentless energy, Benny smiles and hammers the bass and Sven has his guitar strapped high and generates both knife sharp chords and a chaotic swirl. And all of that backed by solid drumming (though sometimes you could make out that they most likely did not have too many hours in rehearsal together).
I loved the energy, i loved the mu-sick-al Blitzkrieg and the take no prisoners attitude. At times i even had the feeling they would overtake themselves but i saw a couple of smiles on the stage so they looked all happy with the effort.
They have a veritable hit (one of my top 10 songs by a Hamburg band) and that one sounded in a speed up trash’n’burn version like this:
Sing-a-long to this beauty:
Milhouse will be a better man
Next 40 years from now
Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck around
Everything is turning up
On Milhouse right now
Will be a better man
The next 40 years
Will be a better man
Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck
Don't curse
Milhouse!
If you ask me for my humble opinion (and that comes with 40 years of listening to that genre called widely Punk or Hardcore Punk or even Hardcore) that is perfect song that you would think came out of California or Washington DC say 1983 – but not out of Hamburg, in the year 2014 resp. 2019. Kudos Yard Bomb – you got me!
That Poison Idea finally say farewell in contrast was less than a surprise. Too many in’s and out’s, too many health and other problems. And sure losses like the passing of Pig Champion But Jerry kept things together like on this final tour, where a last minute change had to be done to guitars.
Poison Idea (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 19.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
What the audience got was nevertheless a great showcase of the wide variety of the Poison Idea output (that actually stretches from 1983 to 2016 and still puts #recordcollectorsarepretentiousarseholes to a stunning test in getting a complete collection).
And how did it sound? It sounded quite well:
The strength of the set to me was that for more than half of the songs the audience carried the band forward with all the singing, dancing and energy – one final time both Poison Idea and Hamburg where indeed united in their loved for hard & cheap.
Poison Idea (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 19.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
Jerry smiled a couple of times and thanked people for coming out. I’d like to reply that this was the minimum to do, they have been around for me almost all the time (and stock 18 record in my collection) and some of their output is definitely stuff that i will carry into the elderly home (once the rest of the collection is auctioned off to pay the fees).
Thanks Jerry for all the years of effort!
By now it was quite late (10 minutes to midnight) and there was still the headliner to come back on us after 25 years.
And this is how D.I. came back:
They came back as a 4 piece (though i heard rumors they would come with two guitars, did not get to check out more detail) and with a lineup that has been together now since 2003 (so for a while, though it is Casey who has been around ever since and that is since 1981).
Their strength sure is their early output until 1988 – for us over here the stuff was just like honey: Sweet. Sticky. And of quality. Little did we know over here about the many line up changes, there must have been like 20 different line-ups with Casey being the only constant.
But what it always had was a quality O.C. Hardcore sound. That cool blend of various bits of Rock, Punk, Surf and all of that neatly given some speed (in both senses).
Those with an eye for the more historic side of Punk Rock sure know that Casey was the original drummer for the Adolescents and as such he took great pleasure in the design of both the Yard Bomb debut 12″ and the matching T-Shirt. He even took it on stage and used it to deliver praise for the late Steve Soto (and that was echoed from the audience with some For Steve! returns).
And his old Adolescents classic (actually, again for those versatile in Punk Rock History, a Detours song by Messrs Royer and Agnew) was his own ode to his old mate Steve – here is Amoeba, 2019 Version by D.I.:
To no surprise the audience went ape shit. Loads of dancing, loads of singing and across the board very bright smiles not only in front of the stage but also to the back of a fully packed Hafenklang.
The most smiles actually came from the stage: Joey Tatar on drums not only does every trick in the drummer book with his sticks (and then some more not in any book), he also pulls faces left, right and center. Once you fixed your eyes on him you could not let go – it was utmost fun!
D.I. – The Drummer (utmost fun and pulling faces galor (c) gehkacken.de 2019)
They came back more than once and they gave the audience everything and a wee bit more. As one of me mates noted it is not custom for US bands to come back for an encore – but coming back three times and late into the night, that is just class.
With all that fun, all that joy there where also toned down moments, moments where Casey (a heroin victim himself) praised those who made a step away from drugs (and never returned to them) and he was also careful enough to explain that “Richard hung himself” is actually not a fun song but a hard truth. As such he urged people to take care of those around him. Well done Casey, well done.
Casey’s own issues with drugs have been in the news, up to and including not so fun family moments that made the press. His advise offered in an interview was simple: “My advice… hard drugs will ruin you and your music, unless you live in Amsterdam. Then you will write good music, but die young.”
They played until 01:00 and they left behind a still full, fully sweaty and extraordinary happy Hafenklang. On top they also had class manners, thanking each audience member that came forward for a chat.
I resorted back to the bar for beer, to the merch for two Yard Bomb 12″ (that i have to picture below in color … because of the cover, sure thing) and a Poison Idea T-Shirt for me love. And more beer. And more chats.
I can only urge you to get this beauty upon real release (that’ll be 27.09.2019) or attend the record release party at the Hafenklang on 02.10. (with the mighty Razors and Suck). Make sure you buy like me an extra one to make it a gift. Try to convince someone outside of Hamburg of Yard Bomb! Mine will go south and i am looking forward for the feedback…
… and with a broad smile i finally took off home, yet again through empty streets on my short stroll uphill and home.
Whilst i was on the way to bed, the docks yonder still kept working on the cruise ship – i wonder when that finally will be done with the makeover.
Thanks for Hafenklang for setting this up and thanks to lot and the bands for making it a very worthwhile entertainment. Farewell to Poison Idea, hello to Yard Bomb and dear D.I. – be back soon!
“All my friends went to Punk Rock Raduno and all i ever got was … Kepi Ghoulie and The Copyrights.” On a boat. In Hamburg. But better than nothing. Actually quite good.
One of the Hamburg Punk Rock Raduno travelers was already back and joined me, the rest took easy flights home and were to be back in Hamburg later. And one of those who stayed on actually put an extra effort in to get me something more than nuthin’ back from Bergamo.
… my PRR Golden Tickets thanks to Nicole, though without luck!
What was at stake was something super cool, something handcrafted (and something i would have me love to accept in front of our door):
Milo Doormat (limited edition #1/1)
Ticket #55 did win this beauty, with #58 on me this was near but unlucky. And damn to learn later that the beauty was won by Marien Jonkers of the beloved Windowsills from Rotterdamn. I think i now must consider to burn all of their records in my collection. Whilst i was without luck, that one Punk Rock Raduno traveler that came home early had a lucky ticket and won … a guitar. Lucky you Uli!
The well filled but not packed MS Hedi was to set sail early, for two round trips through the harbor. First on Kepi with an acoustic followed by The Copyrights with their own set. After a quick changeover dockside for replenishment of booze it would be then a 2nd trip, this time with Kepi Ghoulie + The Copyrights = Groovie Ghoulies.
Kepi first and the ever charming guy. Armed with his acoustic guitar and his harmonica as a secondary weapon he provided us with some gentle songs from his vast output. I am not a particular fan of “acoustic” as i prefer amplified strings. It may have worked better with some warm weather and sunshine but that Monday evening Hamburg was rather cloudy and cold.
Next The Copyrights, from Carbondale, Illinois in the US of A. From the school of Mass Giorgini as i like to refer this high energy pop-punk to. The internet (damn internet, never forgets) provides a much worse linkage: “Both the sloppy, slacker pop-punk of, say, early Green Day with the slightly more polished sheen of Teenage Bottlerocket or recent Bouncing Souls“.
I think i will never get used to people needing a navigation chart to make out music. It is to experienced live and it either speaks to you or not. It can be digested on vinyl (or other formats) and either speaks to you or not. If a band speaks both live and on record to you they most likely touch your heart, your soul and your brain. And you will enjoy.
The Copyrights (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 15.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
And that’s what i did for the Copyrights own set – perfect pop (remember, it comes from popular) songs in best 1:23 tradition with loads of chorus, breaks and … little chance to make out lyrics given the tiny PA for vocals on the boat. But they have everything for getting a great live experience across. And they had a visible female support in the audience, actually not a surprise!
Bonus: Both guitars did not move the necks, hence non-one of the audience (standing in close combat distance) was hurt.
After a quick docking and a few more crates of beer being dragged on board the MS Hedi took off again into the sunset … almost. Kepi & The Copyrights took the floor and they kicked in like this:
It was to be a great mixture of Groovie Ghoulies songs either prepared or requested by the audience. Given the Copyrights energy and speed they where mostly uptempo and indeed they where fun.
Kepi Ghoulie and The Copyrights (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 15.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
For both it was the first time (as Kepi did not play bass for Chixdiggit when they graced the MS Hedi two years ago) playing on a small vessel and they had surprisingly steady feet (and stomachs) – nobody got seasick. They where lucky maybe, as there was little traffic in the harbor (ie. less waves from passing ships) and little wind.
An enjoyable evening with great music for me, my ear was also pleased by some sirens singing songs of “come to Punk Rock Raduno“. I think if i ever do a multi-day festival than it sure won’t be Rebellion and it can’t be Punk Rock Bowling. I guess then it must be Punk Rock Raduno. Let’s see what the 2020 schedule offers…
If you‘ve read my earlier contribution to this blog reporting on the trip to Boston for the MMB Hometown Throwdown #20 you will immediately understand that it was an absolute no brainer to decide on following them as much as possible on their current UK/Germany tour. After all the first chance to see them again on the other side of the pond since 2011, and back then you only got to see them at 2 club shows in Vienna and Stuttgart. So I booked a flight to Manchester on Thursday, June 27, for their first show and a flight back from London on Sunday, June 30.
The Mighty Mighty BossTones (Watts Warehouse, Manchester (c) Johnny Rioux)
Arriving in Manchester early I did the usual tour visiting some record stores in the Northern Quarter not far from Piccadilly Main Central station and my hotel. After enjoying a very nice meal (recommended: Pasta Factory!) I was on my way to the British Football Museum nearby which I paid a quick visit. Again a high recommendation to anyone with the slightest interest in football, a lot of history on display.
After a short rest I made my way to the Ritz, where MMB where going to play their first UK show since early 2003. Entering through the doors I immediately met Grat, my good friend from Holland and MMB’s #1 fan, travelling to Boston for the Throwdown each and every year! Almost missed the Barstool Preachers, 1st support band fronted by T.J. McFaull, son of Collin McFaull, who’s on vocal duty for the legendary Cock Sparrer. A smart and entertaining young guy, fronting a poppy SkaPunk Band, very nice lads overall and very regular guests in Hamburg’s clubs.
Next up was Sonic Boom Six from Manchester and they play quite a variety of styles, mixing SkaPunk with Electronic Music. To be frank I didn’t really like the female singer’s voice and found their musical style rather uninspired. Their 2nd support slot made it difficult for the upcoming shows as I rather turned up late, straight to see the Bosstones perform, whereas I would not have mind to see the Barstool Preachers more often…
Then it was time for one of the best, if not THE BEST Live Band of this maltreated planet, to hit the stage. The 9 band members storming on stage as usual following the soulful introduction theme and lead vocalist Dicky Barrett introducing the band: „We are the Mighty Mighty Bosstones from Boston, Massachusetts“. Kicking the set off with the classic „Dr. D“ made everyone going nuts from the very start. They follow up playing a „very, very strong set“ as one of my best mate‘s and fellow Throwdown traveller Wriedt put it and Dicky is apologizing that the Bosstones had not played Manchester for such a long time, taking all the blame entirely on himself.
Further highlights of the set include old classics such as „Hope I Never Lose My Wallet“ or „Someday I Suppose“ as well as 3 hits of their latest album „While We’re At It“, the setlist spanning all of their 30 odd year career. As I already wrote in my Throwdown report their cover version of „I Can See Clearly Now“ is meant as a clear political message, and as I still can’t see a better way to put it:
I can
see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
bright (bright) sunshiny day
„Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies“, that’s what we’re all hoping for once the so called „POTUS“ Trump and his fellow mischief-makers and hatemongers Bolton, Bannon aso. have hopefully disappeared without a trace. I honestly can‘t think of another band right now that has expressed their discontent and anger about the current state of political affairs in a more clever way than the Bosstones did with their latest album „While We’re At It“. Reception in Manchester was great, crowd absolutely enthusiastic, just the way it should be and what the Bosstones deserve.
Next morning I took the train to Birmingham, UK’s 2nd biggest city and a place I’ve never been to before. Finding my hotel was really easy, not far from Central station and even closer to tonight’s venue, the O2 Institute. Birmingham’s city is all new, a big, neverending shopping area with plenty of restaurants inbetween. Not really my cup of tea, I prefer cities with old buildings, nice architecture, more identity and charm to them. I still managed to visit one of the best record stores that you can find in Europe or North America. Rich, owner of Ignite Records, is a wonderful person (rather unusual for a record store owner), who manages to offer a great selection of Punk & Indie albums in his tiny little store, many of them already hard to find and up for very reasonable prices.
Arriving late at the O2 Institute I still failed to miss Sonic Boom Six as the show started later than announced. Not an issue, because that gave me the chance to have a proper talk on all things personal and MMB with Grat outside in the foyer. The O2 Institute is a rather small old theatre with a nicely decorated balcony. Again the place is well packed and I decide to join Grat in the front row for a change.
He already believes that it could be a very rowdy crowd tonight, and he was right: From the start people went apeshit in the section closer to the stage and I had to concentrate on keeping people flying about away from me. Most probably it was that, or the imperfect sound (very unusual for the Bosstones as they generally manage to have a great sound), or MMB not wearing a uniform stage outfit tonight (again:very unusual), that made the show a little less enjoyable for me.
Picture by: Juliet Hounam
As it would continue over the course of this tour there are a few slight changes to the setlist. The fabulous „Toxic Toast“ and the ultra classic „Devil’s Night Out“ are new treats for this show which does close with the perfect „A Pretty Sad Excuse“ as the final song.
After the show Grat & me plus some fellow MMB travellers decide to visit a pub for a drink. What started very unspectacular with a handful of people in a small pub should turn into a really crazy and memorable night. I love it when you expect absolutely nothing and than you are suddenly in for a big surprise.
The following 2.5 hours we had a couple of pints with a nice Punk Rock couple from Chesterfield, Rebellion Festival Blackpool regulars who had also traveled to Birmingham for the Bosstones show, we followed the regular pub DJ from spinning some 2-Tone classics, to playing Clash, Upstarts, Sham 69, UK Subs and the Members, pleasing 2 old mods (almost 70?) all dressed up in suit and tie, doing their dance moves to „Poison Ivy“ from the Lambrettas and the Spencer Davis Group, having the pub singing along to Tenpole Tudor and Jilted John: „Gordon Is A Moron“!
Just before the last call a Liam Gallagher Lookalike got Stone Roses‘ „I Am The Ressurection“, what an anthem! It was also really nice to meet a couple of Aston Villa and Birmingham City fans, who were part of the Football Lads Against Fascism movement and loved the fact that I am from Hamburg and a long time St. Pauli supporter. Great to see just how much our club and what it stands for is respected in the world.
A night to remember, probably even unusual for British standards looking at the blank expression on the DJ’s wife face watching people singing along and dancing crazy. And a night that can only happen this way in an English Pub with the subcultural background that the UK has.
… and on to the capital, the City of London. After arriving midday I met with my english friends from Worthing near Brighton, Jay and Andrea. I had met Jay 2 years ago in Munich when I was “on tour” with Rocket from the Crypt. Great guy and RFTC supporter, who was keen to see MMB again, same as his lovely wife Andrea. It was extremely hot in London, approx. 35°C, feeling even hotter with the high humidity. We went to Camden, had a few drinks (too many!) and Pizza, meeting a couple more friends, and headed late to the Forum in Kentish Town, formerly known as The Town & Country Club.
I’ve seen a lot of shows here while I was living in London 30 years ago in the late 80’s and really love the place. Great turnout, almost sold out, and the most enthusiastic and friendly one yet. Everyone dancing, happy faces all around, people thoroughly enjoying themselves & being ever so grateful to be able to see the Mighty Mighty Bosstones again.
MMB all in uniform suits again today, black trousers & pink jackets, looking great, and they even changed the bass drum facing to reflect this. Once again they change the setlist a little and play “Wasted Summers” tonight, an absolute fave of mine. A song that they will always play is “Let’s Face It”, the band’s credo I believe. And although we put the lyrics up in this blog before, let’s do it again as it is so bloody important in these troubled times, and there is no better way to put it:
Why were we put here? What for? We’re unsure We sure weren’t put here to hate Be racist, be sexist Be bigots, be sure WE WON’T STAND FOR YOUR HATE
If you want to tattoo a meaningful phrase, why not let it be this one.
Back to the lighter side of life: if you have to pick 3 songs that made fans dance the most it’s got to be “Rascal King”, “Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker” & the inevitable smash hit “The Impression That I Get”: People literally storming the dance floor and dancing all over the club up to the very last row.
The band at it’s absolute best tonight, just like the crowd. Looking at Dicky while the band played an instrumental part it looks to me as if he is absolutely overwhelmed, really enjoying the great crowd reaction and response MMB are getting in London, letting it all sink in. The headline for my travel review comes from a text message of Jay’s friend, who stated that tonight’s show and the Bosstones were „cracking uplifting“.
Great comment and I guess there are no better words to describe tonight’s enjoyment and seeing the Bosstones perform live. After a nice afternoon at London’s Brick Lane – just love the multicultural setting – I arrived back at Hamburg late that Sunday night.
After a fabulous show in Hamburg, my Hometown Throwdown so to say (very accurately reviewed by Dos Alert in this blog), I did miss MMB’s Berlin show because of clash of dates. I was in Berlin that Wednesday night with my mate Wriedt but we “had” to see the Stray Cats return to the live circuit. Probably a mistake, as Bosstones shows in Berlin in the late 90’s/early 00’s always ranked among the very best for me, and although the Stray Cats received an enthusiastic welcome from the sold out Columbia Club crowd I found their performance rather routine and half-hearted.
But this is still not the end of this (long, sorry…) story as we had booked a trip to the Mission Ready festival in Würzburg the following Saturday. It was the first MMB show that we booked at the beginning of the year and at that point it looked as if the Bosstones where only to come over for a festival weekend beginning of June. Me & my mates try to avoid festivals really, exceptions are Rebellion Blackpool and the wonderful Punk Rock Raduno in Bergamo, but as Mission Ready is a one dayer we could all agree to go on that 4 hour train ride down South.
Leaving Hamburg early morning Saturday we arrived at Würzburg without much of a delay early afternoon, rather unusual for Deutsche Bahn train services. Travelling with a group of 9 people 5 of us decided to make their way to the festival straight away, 4 stayed behind to share a cab later that afternoon.
So Wriedt, Frank & Yvonne plus me decided to relax a little in Würzburg first and have some lunch plus a couple of drinks – obviously… Then we went on our way to the festival grounds, approx. 20 km away at an old airfield in Giebelstadt. When we arrived the Rumjacks from Australia were playing the Punk Rock Stage, and as often the case I prefer to see their Irish Punk Rock in a smaller club, fits much better from my point of view.
As I never cared for the Ryker’s we kept on drinking Keiler lager and made friends with some locals. Sitting on the long benches in the sun (it was really hot), talking to strangers that are sharing the same taste in music and enjoying the great selection of drinks and food on offer was a major part of the fun being here. Nice people all around, no aggression or violence (not even too many complete drunks), really clean sanitary facilities plus wonderful, independent catering made this festival one of the absolute better ones, or as Dicky put it later: “We play many many festivals, but the one’s in Europe are so much better than the ones in the US”.
We made a break talking/making friends and went to the Punk Rock stage to see No Fun At All from Sweden play. Also in the game for almost 30 years I must admit I never cared much for them, do not own any of their records and can’t recall having ever seen them play live. They do sound pretty similar to Pennywise for my ears, not bad at all, but not too special either, might as well stick with the original.
Without any break music continued on the 2nd stage, the Hardcore stage where Cro-Mags were up next. I do prefer John Joseph’s Cro-Mags, always liked his way of stage acting and singing, and after reading his Autobiography “The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon” I had even more respect for him. Most definitely a real, streetwise hardcore guy, and when he sings about “Street Justice”, “Hard Times” or “Survival Of The Streets” you can believe every word of it.
They put on a really good show, I liked it much better than seeing them some time ago in Berlin supporting the magnificent Modern Life Is War, and it was one of the last shows playing as Cro-Mags as they have to rename themselves into Cro-Mags JM from now (J=Joseph/M=Mackie, the 2 original members). Bass player and madman Harley Flanagan keeping the Cro-Mags name. I’ll stick with Cro-Mags JM, although you cannot see them that often, with their set only consisting of the legendary “Age of Quarrel” album in full plus a few others already for some years now.
Straight after Talco from Italy played the Punk Rock Stage and pulled a really good crowd. People love their left wing politics brass sound, we enjoyed their St. Pauli song of course (well, apart from father and son Schreiber that is, as they support HSV, „that other“ Hamburg football club): “pirati a St. Pauli, banditi a St. Pauli”…
Then it was back to drinking and talking, making friends with the Southeners as I do not care for Ignite anymore and was not impressed by Millencolin from Sweden either. Meanwhile we had a new arrival at our long bench, Volker, who had come to the festival with his family, and his story is one of the stories I absolutely love, and remarkable enough there are quite a few of these stories surrounding MMB, just shows passion of people for the band.
Volker had convinced his family, wife and kids, to drive to the camping at Mission Ready as part of their holiday, and after cooking a nice meal for them he left them and made his way to the festival to see his favorite band of all time, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. What a lovely person, same as the young Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers) Lookalike from Stuttgart who had a tattoo of his little daughter on his chest and a 1 Liter cup of Cuba Libre hanging around his neck. We instantly decided to buy one of those at the festival Cocktail Bar prior to the Bosstones hitting the stage.
It had turned dark now and the Hardcore Stage headliner Agnostic Front had taken the stage. By now almost everyone at the festival was in attendance, I guess approx. 7.000 people. We heard Agnostic Front play a really great set, including all the old and new classics, from “Friend Or Foe” or “Crucified” to “Gotta Go”. As planned we had bought our Cuba Libre and took our positions in front of the Punk Rock Stage for the Bosstones show. Different than the usual MMB club show they had their banner already hanging on the stage and we took the opportunity to shoot some nice photos:
After Agnostic Front had played the last chord there was only a very short intro and the Bosstones directly took the Punk Rock Stage with “Old School Off The Bright”. We all agreed that the sound was brilliant, especially for an Open Air festival, great! So we were treated to the brilliant “Everybody’s Better” one more time, another setlist regular with it’s witty chorus: “To Be King You Don’t Need A Castle”. Pinpoints & Ginjoints‘ “Graffity Worth Reading”, “Sunday Afternoons On Wisdom Ave.” from The Magic of Youth album or “Green Bay Wisconsin” from their latest “While We’re At It” album.
Having met Dave Vermillion, bassist of Washington DC’s terrific Ska band Pietasters at Bosstones Hometown Throwdown 1.5 years ago, and staying in touch with that nice guy since, I still wonder what
She met the guy that plays the bass for the Pietasters She had little to no interest, but he chased her Scalawags Scally cap and Sherman suit Inequity and ill repute She drank a pint of Guinness Stout and got away
is all about… Have to find out sometime when the Pietasters are playing some shows in Europe again (hopefully), having a drink with Dave.
It was great to see MMB playing another wonderful set, Dicky introducing the band one more time and of course I could go on and on praising every one of the Glorious Nine, but this report has become very, very long already. Thanks Dicky, Joe, Ben, Chris, Tim, Lawrence, John, Joe and Leon Silva, “the newest, youngest and some say best looking Bosstone of all time” – you made a lot of people very, very happy!
Having followed this tour to some extent I can report that I’ve met a lot of people who told me that finally seeing the Bosstones live is a long dream come true for them. Young and old, different backgrounds, this band truly unifies, same as only Rancid, Specials, and a few others can from my point of view. Hope to see you play Europe again soon(er).
With the very last chords of “Pretty Sad Excuse”, which was mixed with „Unified“, and MMB leaving the stage, there was lightning in the sky and some heavy rain came down. Seemed like the gods are angry about MMB finishing this set and their European tour… Luckily only for a short moment so that we could make our way to the bus shuttle to take us back to Würzburg and our B&B.
After a rather short night we were lucky to get on an earlier train around noon. So it was back to Hamburg in the train restaurant for the 9 of us. Drinks again and lots of fun, including playing Kerresinho‘s Hardcore Bands quartet game (with contribution by Dos Alert).
It must have been the alcohol and too little sleep (again) that made me laugh hysterically when it was my turn and I had the Cro-Mags card up for play: I knew immediately that you can’t beat the Cro-Mags when it comes to the „Distance from CBGB’s“ question: 0km, that’s close and as Wriedt asked: „Did they live there?“. We must have been extremely loud and noisy and really wondered why the train crew really seemed to like us, even being sorry leaving the train because of a crew change.
One of those unsolved mysteries…
Finally I would like to promote touring and travelling for the bands and music you love once more. At least for me there is a hardly anything better than seeing live music in various places, being able to compare venues, sound, band form, cities and last but not least meeting fans and people – ideally and as happened quite a few times already making long or even life lasting friendships with people of other countries.
