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Category: Shows

… kick-off at 20:15 should be the norm: Hamburgs finest with an early show and a failed Saturday wish!
It does not need to be bands from far to make them kids happy, sometimes it can also be some of our towns finest to get people out and into it. What was supposed to be Jam Today and Razors had to be changed to Spitfire Stevens and Razors, as Lui of Jam Today fame had to work abroad and could not make it.

And those Spitfires not only had to appear they also had to appear pretty early, 20:15 was supposed to kick-off time on stage. I thought of this as a perfect Friday as it meant to be able to finish early, get home early, get up early on Saturday and be done with weekend shopping with some good time to prepare for the home game of the magical FC (with an equally early 13:00 kick off, implying to be in the pub opposite the ground at 12:00).

But it was not only early for the Spitfires, it was also somehow early for a good sound. The drums felt a wee bit too loud (actually throughout the show) and for the first couple of songs everything sounded disjointed.
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Spitfire Stevens (Molotow, Hamburg, 15.09.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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But the more they played, the better they sounded and the better they got together. First it was only the faster songs that sounded great – later it was also the slower parts that created not only sound but also magic. And whilst they got into the groove they also got great appreciation from the audience, though from the stage they where rather silent and nimble.

But a great set nevertheless and i am sure it is not far that we will see underwear being thrown onto the stage and signs “i want a child from you” are held up. Stars to come, trust my words.

And against that almost headlining the Razors had to claim the stage (and battle the sonic drums) and win back the audience. And winning back they did, digging deep into their almost 40 years of existence and into songs that made not only them famous but the times when they where young.

That love was, is and always will be mutual for the Hamburg lot and that love for punk rock has driven them throughout the years, any troubles and as driven them to subtle but steady change their sound into what is now a mighty force with an up2date sound and not attempting to bridge something from Hamburg 1979 into today.
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Razors (Molotow, Hamburg, 15.09.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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Even one of my loveliest singles ever they transformed into something meaningful and sounding quite recent. For me it remains one of the greatest sing-a-long hits from Hamburg ever.

So what is it that makes the Razors still hitting it with so much force? My wild guess is that for all of them it ain’t a job and it ain’t a career but for all of them it is the love for the music. That simple.
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Razors (Molotow, Hamburg, 15.09.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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And that love for the mu-sick makes allows them not to bother about cover songs but just take them and Razor-fy them big time. So in best tradition they take on not only “Because you’re young” from Cock Sparrer but also “YNWA” and blend it into a killer closing of the set (despite some minor out of tune guitar).

Whilst Klaus wished everybody a great dancing night and 3 points tomorrow it was the start of all my weekend plans to go astray:

I managed to get home early, i managed to get weekend shopping done early and then stupid me managed to get an LBP (or Lumbago) whilst trying to lift a crate of beer from the trunk of the car. So instead seeing the mighty FC at home i was tied to the sofa and painkillers (and my old mate Christian could take along someone on my season ticket).

And those in the stadium? They had to resort to liquid painkillers, as the our team managed to be down 0:4 at half time and there was not much change in the 2nd half. As someone put it “0:4 equals Beer” (it rhymes perfectly if you mix German with English).

So, in hindsight, the only good thing this weekend was … them Spitfires and them Razors and the fact that me love if a perfect doctor and nurse. Lovely!
2017/09/17
… a year late and them Street Dogs finally found their home in Hamburg!
A year ago the Street Dogs had to cancel their European Tour rather short notice, much to the dismay of many folks in Hamburg. So when the 2017 Tour came about there was some scepticism if they really would find their way … and guess what, they did in stunning fashion!

Arrested Denial (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 06.09.2017 (c) gehkacken.de 2017)

Arrested Denial from Hamburg kicked off the proceedings and for the first three and about songs I thought “oh boy, that’ll be boring“. It took them a good while (at least for my ears) to come together and to ignite something in me old farts brain.

If i had to sum it up in very easy and black and white way i’d say “mu-sick-ally gifted” and “to good for slow songs” – once they picked up speed i tended to like them much more. What sure thing is a bonus is the voice (nicely harsh) and that they sing in German.

Arrested Denial (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 06.09.2017 (c) gehkacken.de 2017)

They got a fair share of support from the audience and by now the Monkeys was well filled. If they go down the route of less complex song writing and structures and keep it at pace i shall check them out much more (and eventually would end up buying a record).

Next on the Street Dogs, who have played Hamburg before but most times in a somehow odd setting: Down at the old Molotov in front of 8 people or out in a small youth centre north of Hamburg in front of some more. They never really got the turnout and the headlining they should deserve.
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Street Dogs (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 06.09.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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At for once, this felt different. The Monkeys well filled (though not packed) for a Wednesday evening with some rain and people being in the right mood and eagerly awaiting the Street Dogs. From the first chords you had a tight band and a singer that was on top of everything. Oh boy, what did i miss them!

It was the last show of their European Tour and you could feel that they where happy and wanted it to end on a real high (like Mike trying to use the rig for climbing exercises) – so the audience was very fortunate. And somehow i sensed that with the Monkeys they have hit “home abroad“. That was too echoed by fellow mates in the audience and actually by the band itself down from the stage by single-handedly declaring it “the best club in Deutschland“.
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Street Dogs (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 06.09.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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Nevermind a stage lie in the heat of a show but it is indeed so that the little corner that the guys who run the Monkeys have grabbed has become a blossoming beauty. And it hopefully is there to last (and they requires you, you and yes you to fucking go out there and see bands).

With little more than an hour played and an encore it was me mate Frosch who said ” … no more encores, they are from the US” (and thus giving away his 40 years of show experience) – and was proven dead wrong. Them Street Dogs had so much fun and felt so appreciated that they came back a 3rd time for even more.

And we not only got to the the full body suit of Lenny Lashley (who was admired for his vocals and guitar play by the plenty Darkbuster fans in the audience) but later also Johnny sans his cap (and showing a much better tattoo design on his head than Tim Armstrong – a much better beard he sports too btw).

Oh yes, that was Street Dogs and that was most likely one of the best Street Dogs shows ever in Hamburg (if only we would be able to get them all listed). I did like it, many of the other people in the audience did like it and i think the band liked it too. Now they need to make sure to come back on a regular basis and next time to a fully packed club.

Street Dogs (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 06.09.2017 (c) gehkacken.de 2017)

And indeed that was the well deserved applause at the end of the show.

And folks, be assured: No matter how great the records sound at home – the real deal is out there in a club like the Monkeys. And the best: As it was the end of the tour the Street Dogs tried to sell off all the merch they had with them. So i picked up 3 lovely shirts for me love for 10€ each only. A fantastic bargain!

And because it is great re-write fitting the time – here is their 2012 hit single based upon the old Menace standard:
2017/09/10
… when an empty club gets the best out of a band: Then it must have been hard working Bonecrusher!
That was destined to be a tough Monday: First FCSP DFB-Cup away game at the Monkeys Pub, then 3 bands on a Monday evening. The we go out in round one of the cup vs. a lower league team is also destiny and so it happened. A very frustrating game and not the best entry into the proceedings.

First on The Sideburns from Sankt Petersburg and the young lads had the tough support the support spot and faced … an empty club at 20:45 with 12 people in front of the stage and some where friends of the bands. Tough.

The Sideburns (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2017 (c) gehkacken.de 2017)

And much to my surprise they blasted straight forward Skinhead Rock’n’Roll without to much humpty-bumpy: Actually they delivered quite a fine set and had definitely some mu-sick-al abilities.

<a href="http://thesideburns.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2016">Demo 2016 by The Sideburns</a>

Really sad that it was Monday and it was early. And that it was August, the month of Blackpool, pre- and post-Blackpool and general overkill on live music. A couple of more folks came later but it did not change the impression of a rather empty show, much to my frustration.

Next on The Welch Boys from sunny Boston and me mate went as far as pointing out that they are at a space where the Dropkick Murphys left it after the first LP. I am not sure on that one but sure thing they come with melody, chorus, hocks and great sing-a-long.

The Welch Boys (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2017 (c) gehkacken,de)

But also for them it must have been sheer frustration to play a rather empty space in front of the stage though initially they seem to put everything into it. And they have a great rooster of songs and a band that has a hockey themed record cover can’t be bad at all. Here they are gently covering The Who:

I’d love to see them in a packed Monkey, people high on Guinness, Monkeys Red or Cider and everybody moving and singing along. I think they would deserve that setting and then they would not just shut down as i had the feeling towards the end of their set.

The Welch Boys (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2017 (c) gehkacken,de)

I do share their frustration but that is sometimes the hardship of touring. You hit a town on the wrong day and after the potential audience already had a weekend full of live music under their belt and just choose to let go this opportunity. It is actually the F.U.’s who can claim that one on me, as i did not have the energy to see them on Sunday and make it three days in a row to be out.

An then it was time for Bonecrusher, eagerly awaited by i guess 50 odd people. And they kicked off like this:

And being kick-ass working class they did not care about how many people where there but just took off to deliver what the fans asked for: Hit by hit by hit and then some more. They were tight, together and well rehearsed and just gave a full on!
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Bonecrusher (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
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By now i guess everybody has accustomed to Bonecrusher being fronted by a different face and i hear a couple of folks mention something along the lines of “he just fits perfect”. And guess what? Folks where right.

What was even more stunning was the fact that they just did not stop, did not let go and pushed forward. And they crowned their performance with a heavy heavy interlude of two-gun duel of the guitars, inclusive of some stunning guitar wanking solos.

Wow, that indeed was kick-ass! They played until midnight and then did send people home, quite a few took advantage of the well stocked merch table from actually all three bands – mine sure thing was a Bonecrusher shirt for me love.

And whilst cup and low turnout where frustrating we were greeted outside by a stunningly calm and warm summer night (Hamburg did not have a lot of these) and i could enjoy a gentle bike ride home.

I do hope next time round the bands a re more lucky on the date and the turnout – they and the club deserve it!
2017/08/18