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Category: Shows

… the return of the away crew: Hamburg does Dag Nasty (at Bremen, of all places)!
As i have not done this for a shitload of years i felt an uncontrollable urge to go back to away game circuit when it comes to shows. Actually being located in beautiful Hamburg makes you lazy as it gives you unlimited advantage of many clubs and many shows, as eventually most of the travelling bands hit our shores.

Not so Dag Nasty on this short burst into Europe and as such the Punk Rock Hamburg connoisseurs took on an away trip thanks to me mate TKO, who provided some group ticket matching service via email.

Hamburg Inter City Firm (Bremen, 03.11.2018)

2/3 of the Hamburg lot took the train from Hamburg and safely arrived ahead of time in Bremen. To my surprise noise levels during the ride where moderate and alcohol consumption secretive. What surprised me most was the sheer fact that our group tickets (giving every member a damn cheap 8€ ride back and forth) where actually never checked.

At Bremen central station we where not only greeted by masses of people attending the local fun fair (at different levels of enjoyment and drunkenness) but also the local football team made an effort of pissing off the black-white-n-blue part of our troops.

We did let go the fun fair and circumvented the area to get to the Schlachthof. It was supposed to be an early show, so a quick beer outside and then into the club.

It was fond memories for me, in the 80’s i saw a number of shows there, including the great Bremen vs. Hamburg fight show (aka Bad Brains 1983), the first Toy Dolls tour (bypassing Hamburg) and a large number of smaller shows at other places in Bremen eg. Buchstraße. The place now looks much more shiny, much more polished and technically up to date.

What has not changed is the rather large stage (in terms of width) that is fronted by a too small dancing area before the ascent of the terraces happens – something that was to hit one of the Hamburg lot later (but luckily he was back home ok after an ER medical intervention).

On time and way too early Fights & Fires from sunny Worcester (UK) took the stage and played towards no more than 100 people i guess. If you are a regular reader then look at the pics and guess my view…
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Fights & Fires (Schlachthof, Bremen, 03.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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… indeed to much facial hair and too much long hair. The mu-sick to me was exactly that type of music that can’t choose what it wants to be. The way it was done was very professional, good sound, good breaks, on time leads etc – all to the point that it felt more professional than say … human. Or natural.

Someone next to me tucked a lable “Nu-Metal” on them, no clue what cupboard that comes from but it somehow seems to sum it up. Not really a perfect match with Dag Nasty and nothing that meant a thing to me (but as ever, you need to see all bands because there may be surprises).

Go and check them out for you dare.

Next on Dag Nasty and by now we had maybe 250 people in attendance – hard for me to guess. About 50+ folks where from Hamburg but still in total a way too small number for such a great band. And a great band they are: Brian, Shawn, Colin and Roger are back at where Dag Nasty started in 1985 and are less the polished and pop infused one they graduated to later (which, as a matter of fact, i still dig too).
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Dag Nasty (Schlachthof, Bremen, 03.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They took the stage and from the first chord they took the audience with them. Loads of energy, loads of great songs and all of that done with precision (rather than pure professionalism). The lot loved it and and the Hamburg lot took on to crowd the dance floor (and specifically the two Teams N&N – both a female and male outfit – outsmarted the rest).

I stood directly at the stage and had more of Shawn and Brian, actually more of Brians guitar. Sound wise it overshadowed a bit the rest but that was because the PA was basically way left & right and behind me. Never mind, i knew all songs anyway and enjoyed singing them.

At the end all of the audience sang a “Happy Birthday” for Roger and we got a couple of encores.
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Dag Nasty (Schlachthof, Bremen, 03.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Great show, great band and as someone from Bremen pointed out after the show “…the show has been rescued by the Hamburg lot” (which is in nice contrast to the early 80s where the Hamburg lot away tended to ruin shows). A lot of happy faces though a very tough local club: People where forced out instead of being allowed a few more beers.

For us on the train it meant back to the station, grabbing some drinks and food and taking a very early 23:15 train home.

And with a descent rebel attitude we ignored the signs of order and at least had a couple of drinks on the train.

Back home in Hamburg some actually made it quickly down to the Moltow to catch the encore of Defekt Defekt, so those won the double crown that day.

For me it was a great away trip: Great people around me, enthusiastic support for the band and smooth travel back. Just a perfect way to enjoy perfect music.

I’d say: Let’s do it again soon!

nb: In 1985 Dag Nasty sounded like this …
2018/11/06
… the birdmen cometh: Radio Birdman descent into Hamburg!
Radio Birdman is one those hidden gems where you just wonder why the never broke big (either as in really big or at least on the outskirts of the punk circuit). Founded down under late in 1974 they nurtured a DIY ethos and a mu-sick-al style that had all the ingredients to spur punk (as much as the Saints).

Even being taken on by Sire and being put on a bill with the Ramones for a US tour in 1978 did not help – the band broke down prior to that in the UK after recording their 2nd album (that only ever came out in 1981 when the band did not exist anymore).

But besides of all those oddities it is the unpretentious beauty of the songs that gained them almost cult status with mu-sick-al connoisseurs all over the world. The Hamburg ones (predominantly of age and male) crowded the Molotow and the show was sold out. Anything less would have been an offense anyway.

First on Nixon Now, fronted by the landlord of the Molotow and having sure thing a home game (and a home win at own discretion i guess). They have been around now also for almost 20 years and their style never changed: You get a good dose of Detroit Street Rock – some say Stooges some say MC5.
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Nixon Now (Molotow, Hamburg, 22.10.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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For me they are more outside of my regular sounds – they where class when the two guitar managed to play something like a duel (or challenge / response) and the where near unbearable when the main guitar started wanking and fuzzing. Too much solo-metal for me.

With a swift and efficient changeover by the denim clad Birdman crew the now packed Molotow eagerly awaited them Birdman. First sign was shutdown of background music (a classic rock thingy to spur noise in the crowd) and a singular light style (all red).

And with loads of cheers the Birdman took the stage and stormed into the first songs. At the beginning not all perfect but with energy and an relentless front man (with moves from another time). Actually the way Rob Younger moves behind the mike has a lot of similarity to another old fellow – i was reminded of Leonard from The Dickies!

In the first half of the show everything was flooded in red and everything felt to me somehow … something … can’t name it really but something felt wrong. I don’t remember when the lightning changed to all blue but lets say it was halftime. And with that change Radio Birdman came tighter and even harder (at least to me).

Now we where in the territory that got people exited, a lot of movement came into the crow and even some sing-a-long. This worked neat but i think with the same little trick that many bands use nowadays: All songs got a little bit of kicking and speed.
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Radio Birdman (Molotow, Hamburg, 22.10.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Whilst the band pushed forward and added hit after hit there was another thing that did strike me: Little interaction with the audience, not even some hints at the songs. Few smiles. That said i have to admit it never felt offensive. And once they took off after the set they came back for encores and sure included their signature song:

And when finishing up they thanked the audience for comming out and put a stick of love for Hamburg into the ground too – playing a sold out show, getting some crowd movements and all of that finished at 22:30 seemed to have given them comfort.

They simply remain where they are: A hard hitting full on high energy rock and roll outfit from down under that made and continues to make things different – even at the risk of getting a different kind of success. Rob Younger in an interview summed it up like this:
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We might have a bit of a jaundiced viewpoint about the music industry, speaking for myself, but it was hard to keep people happy in those days. There's more love in the room now. (Rob Younger in an 2018 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald)
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At the end i was happy like many others around me. It was good entertainment though slightly outside my music comfort zone. But without constantly testing those boundaries i bet ya i would loose interest in the 2nd best thing in the world: Live music done on small stages.

Note: The best thing on earth damn well knows that she is the best damn thing on earth!

PS: And for those who love Radio Birdman this movie is a definite must … and don’t forget to score the exclusive directors box!
2018/10/23
… back with a twang: Moving Targets – too early for me, too good to everyone!
The Moving Targets coming back to Hamburg, sure thing i got my ticket early. Unfortunately my work schedule played some tricks on me and the only trick i could play back was to leave Rotterdamn on Wednesday at 17:00 sharp. But that only ever got me a flight back home dropping into HAM at 21:50 … even under best circumstances that would get me down to the Hafenklang at 22:30 only.

But thanks to me big love i got a lift from the airport, could switch clothes whilst in the car and thanks to the 354 horses under the hood of our Sir Q and me wifes stunt drive abilities i was able to check-in at 22:22 … but only ever to be greeted by the warm guitar sound of the Moving Targets, who already had taken the stage.
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Moving Targets (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 10.10.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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But good music requires extra efforts and sometimes hardship. I sneaked into the crowd but was greeted by friends already there with some raised eyebrows and notions of being late. Little did they know about the length of the travel!

The Moving Targets today are Ken Chamber (as ever) paired with two Canadians as far as i understood. Actually a pairing that worked well – all the charm of the mu-sick is still there. Their deep roots into Boston Hardcore sure are wiped off today but them being at par with the likes of Misson of Burma or Hüsker Dü is still the setting.

For me the sounded almost perfect, some hickups (this was the first day of their European Tour) and some slight deviations most likely will go by once they are fully together. What did strike was the smiles both on stage and off stage – i guess 120 devoted people savored them and most of the moved in tune with the music and smiled away.

My bad luck though still came – once i was fully into it the show was over, damn but sure thing my very little private problem. Whilst many left quickly i stayed around for a couple of drinks to wind down and actually had a little chat with Ken and the Drummer – super friendly people and spreading the good news that a new record and another tour is ahead next year.

Then i will make sure i am on time. Promise!
2018/10/13