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Category: Shows

… out and about: Razors for free (but mind the long train journey)!
I missed the Razors show on the MS Claudia during the week due to the need to finish up with work (as two weeks off and some holidays were ahead of me and me love). I was though happy to the max that there was another occasion to see them: out and about in Wedel and for free. Paired with the fact that my old mate Rudi (now residing in sunny Perth) was still around and in attendance it was a show not to miss.

Getting there was easy (just hop on the S-Bahn at my local station in Altona-Altstadt) but long winded … all the way out to the posh West End, all the way beyond the city limits and actually into Schleswig-Holstein. Luckily the Musikvilla was just opposite the dead end train station, so no further hassle.

I came late and once completed a round of “hi there” went upstairs to the small room where the bands played … and missed a great set of Es War Mord. Damn!
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Es War Mord (Musikvilla Wedel, Hamburg, 25.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Es War Mord really got a unique sound and i definitely regret that i did not show up on time. They sport some familiar faces from Berlin and their sound is best described as a dark and mellow E-Moll punk thunderstorm with some good variations on speed and singing style.

I was convinced after the 3 songs i did catch, i will now check out their longplayer “Unter Kannibalen“, please do the same!

Next Hamburgs finest, the Razors. Still with Christiane filling in for Old Erwin, who continues to battle ill health and got a lot of remote love from all around: Everybody was wishing him well!

In front of the stage were about 70 people and as someone mentioned in a side comment “… most of the Krawall 2000 contingent” (true, it was a well aged audience that just loves the songs and loves the band). And whilst it was largely a Razors following it was not short of support and dancing.
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Razors (Musikvilla Wedel, Hamburg, 25.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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As ever the Razors paired new songs with their all time classics like this old Stones song (and their own ode towards the fans):

The sound was ok, the lights where not so ok and throughout the set i never got rid of the feeling of speeding, all songs seemed to be with a couple of rounds per minute added – i guess all with that sign above the bar in mind that the last train back into the city was to go at 01:03, something that nobody wanted to miss (as it would have resulted in either paying some hefty taxi far or having to choose the long winded Night Bus – easily more than an hour until you you would smell the city (and we are all city boys’n’girls))
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Razors (Musikvilla Wedel, Hamburg, 25.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Their songs go far back in time and this one is almost like a signature song – back then i thought of it as a cheap and badly constructed attempt for a sing-a-long but in hindsight (and hindsight comes always easy) that rather cheap style nowadays makes it worthwhile. It ain’t polished, it ain’t for the Radio and it ain’t for Spotify i guess – but it is for us:

Whatever – today and here, 2018, the Razors look back on 40 years of Punk fucking Rock and onto a lot of highs and a fair share of lows. But them and the Hamburg lot are by now glued together and just friends enjoying the music (and a beer or two). As ever, here is my loveliest song:

That bass line, that drum roll – that chorus! That is just the best sing-a-long and fists in the air song and it is one of the classic Hamburg punk 7″. Sure thing there are other hit records like The Buttocks EP’s (fun fact: Buttocks singer Mike was in the audience) but Tommies Gang is the one i would like bands to cover (now that is a great idea for a Razors Tribute Album: Bands providing their own retention of Tommies Gang!).

Fun fact two: The setlist was hand crafted errrr just a copy of the the last show at the Menschenzoo in Hamburg in July.

Razors – Setlist (Musikvilla Wedel, Hamburg, 25.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

As noted the there was a bit of speeding, so in time for one last beer and the last train the Razors where done and a lot of the Hamburg lot resorted back to something last done 35 years ago: Travelling home on the last train together with parts of the band. Everybody was in a good mood and most where sufficiently loaded (as beer was cheap in Wedel).

… train ride home with parts of the band ( (c) gehkacken.de 2018)

Great night, loads of fun and the best: I got to see something new and that something new proved to be good. Though i stand by my standards: It is about seeing bands live and on stage, experience them and judge them only on that. And then get their records to support them!
2018/08/27
… they did not play Nellie, The Elephant (nor London Calling): Cockney Rejects Sauna Club, Volume II!
Last year it was a sweaty June Saturday to celebrate the Cockney Rejects in that small club in the danish part of Hamburg, Volume II had an even sweatier setup in one of the hottest summers over here ever. The Monkeys used the occasion to throw a little yard party and arranged for drinks, food and footie outside of the club. For some footie was already the past (“let’s concentrate on the league“), for others their team rose to occasion and defeated … a 5th league team.

Nevermind, everybody was happy and everybody had good vibes for the Rejects – loads of talking prior to the show and yet again one of these days where it felt that you know most of the people in the audience (and some for 35+ years).

To much surprise the Monkeys did ask in public for a support band just a few days prior to the show, i can only guess if that was because another idea had fallen through or because some local backline was needed. Nevermind, it was for Case 39 from Lübeck to open.
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Case 39 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They do Punk with an emphasis on Rock, they do linger in Motörhead territory as much as they do pull some AC/DC in. For me it was sometimes too much of that but a fitting mix for supporting Cockney Rejects. And their guitar player, who also did the main vocals, actually had a perfect voice. They got a good share of applause and where watched by a large contingent of the audience.

That they are an amateur band came through after the set, whilst the roadies from Cockney Rejects wanted to setup the gear they took time to pack up, no hassle, no need for speed. They even opened a little shop on stage, trying to sell merch. At the end one of the roadies just had enough and packed up for them and shoved the gear into their hands (and them off the stage). Funny moment of professionals meeting amateurs, just like the footie prior to the show

And without too much fuzz the brothers Geggus and Vince Riordan took the stage, together with a young lad on drums. If there is anything as a single word that sums it up it is unpretentious: They know were they come from, they know how many hours of labour one has to put it to earn the money for a ticket and a pint – and they appreciate it.

The show itself was unpretentious too – sold out, packed, party mode to the max. And people enjoying to the max too, without even the tiniest scent of a brawl (though an exhibit was in attendance whom i would have liked to setup the wrong person and get some – but that is a different story from a different show)
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Cockney Rejects (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They sounded ok, though one semi-professional musician from the audience did complain “vocals like Undertones mixed with a Professionals guitar sound” – i rather take that as a compliment that Jeff never ruined his voice and Micky actually is in full control of his guitar.

And what did they play? They played a nice cross of old (Vol. I and Vol. II) sounds paired with some Power & Glory:

Cockney Rejects – Setlist (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

For myself it was just pleasure, for many around me it was the same amount of fun. And the lucky number this time was 6 instead of 5 but i was able to cope with that…

It was singing, sweating, dancing and – once the Rejects where done (and actually cutting the gig short by two songs) it was drinking. I guess up on the stage it was even hotter performing under the stage lights – so replenishing with isotonic drinks was a sheer requirement for health and safety!

I had a couple of pints and some extra booze (too much) and some nice talks. Just a perfect Saturday (and having the football loss on Friday already behind me) and yet again the best reason why you should endeavor to enjoy your mu-sick live and loud, in front of a stage.

Thanks to all for making this possible and enjoyable. You know who you are!
2018/08/20
… long hair and sweaty bodies: Them Clowns from down under in a sauna session!
With more than a week rest another sweaty show down at the Hafenklang. Hamburg is still suffering from 30something degrees of heat, for those visitors from down under it must feel like home. For most of us north Europeans it is just painful and our clubs are not made for it. But that did not fend of people, the Hafenklang was well packed (though not sold out).

First on Bench Press, also from Melbourne, with a slightly different twang than the headliner. They are rated top talent down under and they are what some people dub as “critically acclaimed” despite being together only since March 2016.
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Bench Press (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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I guess they are on the happy side of Indie and Post-Punk, not so much as in happy mu-sick but as in to the more enjoyable side of that label. A good rhythm section with a nice vibrant bass is topped with an excellent guitar: A scent of surf, some clean bright chords, a wee bit of power and distortion when needed and all performed very well – impressive axe work!

If you like your songs complex, back and forth play between the guitars and if you like your singer somewhere between caged animal, spoken words and sheer anger then they are for you to check out. If you are like me an dirty old and stubborn sod than you take positive note of them but you need to admit that it ain’t your thing for a full set/show. As much as i like the one or the other eg. Gang of Four song it is hard for me to listen to a full LP.

What they do, they do well – so give them a choice if you dare.

Next on the Clowns, around a bit longer (8 years by now if i get the math right) and with much longer hair. And hair metal it was through out the set, sweaty long hair being thrown around on stage. Some like it, some not. I am slightly offended by that but if it is delivered unpretentious and as a matter of fact i can accept the challenge.

And this is how they kicked off:

Oh boy, that got everything in the mix – literally. And that is why i got a ticket for them in the first place: They throw hardcore, trash, metal, psychedelic guitars and some scent of pop into a happy sunny mix and push it down from the stage with relentless energy.

And they got some stage personas too: Commanding singer, smiling blond girl on bass providing backup vocal and two great guitars (that you hardly make out as hidden … under hair). And a sturdy drummer there in the back sporting a nice Wipers shirt.
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Clowns (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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When it come to fusion i would think they are the ultimate example. And they had one thing instantaneously: They got the damn audience flying around and moving like there ain’t no tomorrow (and there needs to be full workout at 45° heat). More than one male member of the audience did throw his wet shirt onto the stage and went on to bounce into other members of the audience shirtless (thank goodness these exhibits did not sport long wet hair or, worse, long wet chest hair).
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Clowns (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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I thoroughly enjoyed them, others in the audience enjoyed them even more up to and including some being able to literally sing every fucking song. Fans i’d say. Some actually sounded Australian, i guess the local expat community was around to support a band from home. A band they could have seen in their backyard back home, as the singer duly noted.

Here is everything together: An Aussie saying hello (and being thrown back into the pit) and a song with that special scent of psychedelic and pop as an undercurrent that makes them so … special? Unique? Nevermind – just great:

They played for an hour or so, came back for an encore and then had to head off towards Wacken: They are to play the Beer Garden Stage on 02.08. at 20:00. That’s hopefully mainlining and hopefully they get some of that beer to replenish the lost minerals and water on the damn hot stage of the Hafenklang. Go and see them, it is worthy! And for a start listen here:

<a href="http://clownsband.bandcamp.com/track/pickle">Pickle by Clowns</a>

Another sweaty night, another worthy cause. And with me a lot of sweaty and thirsty customers enjoyed the warm night before heading home with a big smile (and a wet shirt).

… a happy sweaty audience yearning for fresh air (outside the Hafenklang, 01.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
2018/08/02