Football Euro Championship opening game with Germany, 50.000 on the Heiligengeistfeld plus many in pubs all across the Reeperbahn – all of no interest for the few that made their way to the Komet. Still, the almost empty streets gave the stroll over to the Komet an unreal feeling for a Friday evening.
I was keen to enter the cellar (that i more dislike for shows than like) not only because my last Spitfire Stevens show was a long time ago but even more because the hottest shit from Dutchistan was to grace Hamburg.
These two created enough pull for me, pity though that the turnout was far from packed, specifically the energetic show of The Covids should have had a packed house (or rightaway a packed bigger house and stage).
A somewhat negative surprise awaited us, at least that was the initial feel, in the simple message that a US 3-piece had bragged it’s way onto the stage as support for the support. And no, it wasn’t Green Day.
When we finally got down from the bar into the cellar that unspecified band had already started, 2 guys on strings, a girl on drums. And loaded with negative energy it sounded initially like an open rehearsal. Though quickly i had the feeling that my brain was about to betray me.
Nauseaters (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
After the set, lasting about 30 minutes, the negative feeling though had turned. Because they had a cool (and tricky) name as in Nauseaters and they had a wee bit a Power Pop undercurrent of the better side.
Undercurrent as much as the guitar tended towards the heavier side (Flying V model, most likely can not be played non-heavy) but still you could make out the sugar coating somewhat.
After their set we got to understand what got them onto the stage – they had a free slot within a a DIY trip across central Europe and had taken residence in Hamburg.
It was not fully up my alley but it had enough pop nuggets scattered across to keep me entertained. If you come across them – go and check them out.
Next Hamburgs own and only Spitpunk band and Spitfire Stevens set out to give the lot (including family and friends) the following classics and newbies:
As ever the band was well dressed, uniformly (always a bonus), and well behaved. But from the start there were sound problems, Luke was barley audible. And frank, the guitars were way too loud, giving even some of the more mellow songs a very rough edge.
Spitfire Stevens (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Yannick, of Haermorrhoids fame, who does sound at the Komet tried to persuade both guitars to reduce volume but somewhat that felt between the cracks or on already deaf ears – it only ever improved slightly.
Luckily a large portion of the audience knew the songs and thus was able to lip-snyc with Luke, who neither could hear himself nor see the audience (as he was standing exactly where an LED sport was soaking colorful light onto the stage).
Spitfire Stevens (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Strange set somewhat, it was far from the balanced sound they normally are able to get across. A mate noted that it felt to him like a totally roughed up set and thus a unique positive experience. I definitely missed the softer, more mellow sound structures and i was not alone with the feel that it was not their most stellar delivery.
That said, i bet you they come back from this unharmed and their next show … will be their best. Have faith, fans!
The Covids next and this is how they took residence on the tiny stage of the Komet:
Bang! And proof that the sound can be good, if everything is set in concert.
What do we get here? A hard hitting girl on drums that holds them together and adds vocals, a sturdy bass that secretly sings along to every song, a guitar that finds the right balance between too hard and too soft plus a singer that roams the audience and is a real front man.
Cudos, Covids – you got a very fitting and very modern mixture here!
The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
What surprised my even more was that the three in the back managed to keep their position on the tiny stage and specifically them strings not falling into the trap of moving (and either falling off and/or hitting their head).
The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
The music they play is full of drive, energetic and borrows a lot: Their self proclaimed references include ’77 punk, punk, garage punk, glam, proto-punk, punk rock and rhythm & blues and that is not far off from reality.
The tiny stage though felt like an artificial limitation, they should be allowed to roam around, thus i hope their next visit to Hamburg gives them a larger audience and a bigger stage.
When it came to encore, i was lucky, as they started with my loveliest Covids song: Light A Match (Farmboy) from their really cool LP. Go and check it out loud:
That is indeed a real cool banger that has it all, near to perfection. Whouah!
Luckily for the lot they did not stop there and added a couple of more songs, almost enthusiastically received and people danced along with the singer.
The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Perfect show by The Covids and i guess indeed they are currently the hottest shit from Dutchistan. Can i have a whish? Make it like Nauseaters, brag you way into a support the support slot at the Knust on 26.07.2024, supporting The Briefs and The Spits.
Alsjeblieft! Bedankt!
As ever when a band convinces me live i score vinyl, here we go with the LP and the “Banned from the USA” single. Go and click on the pic, it gets you to Wap Shoo Wap Records were you can order it rightaway!
Because of the 3 bands the evening turned out longer than expected but surrounded by like minded connoisseurs i could finish it off with a cold beer.
Nice one.
