www.gehkacken.de

Blog

  • Bücher, schnell gelesen: 1.780

    Bücher, schnell gelesen: 1.780

    J. Todd Scott – Diese Seite Der Nacht (Polar Verlag, 2025)

    Gelesen: 20. – 26.07..2025 (netto 485 Seiten)

    Aus dem Amerikanischen von Harriet Fricke.

    Alter Schwede, die Bücher von J. Todd Scott über das Big Bend sind einfach mega. Auch dieses. Und dann schreibt er im Nachwort das sein nächstes Buch in seiner Heimat Kentucky spielt, weil seine gebeutelten Figuren Chris, America und Danny Ruhe brauchen.

    Ein echt fürsorglicher Autor!

    In seiner Heimat sind bereits 3 weitere Bücher erschienen – die ich gerne auch bei Polar lesen würde – ohne das er zum Big Bend zurückgekehrt ist.

    Damn.

    Diese Seite Der Nacht ist dann also dann der erstmal vorläufige Abschluss der Big Bend Trilogy und es ist ein fulminanter Zwischenabschluss.

    Der Einstieg nimmt ein reales Ereignis auf: Das Ayotzinapa Massaker. Für J. Todd Scott ist das aber nur ein kleiner Sandkorn, der großes ins Rollen bringt. Und wie schon bei den anderen beiden Büchern nutzt er die Landschaft an der Grenze als Charakter, neben seinen Hauptfiguren.

    Und er zeigt, weniger plakativ sondern im vorbeigehen, was der Drogenschmuggel in die US of A eigentlich so anstellt:

    (c) 2025 Polar Verlag

    In Diese Seite Der Nacht rückt dann auch die heimliche Hauptfigur der Trilogy in den Mittelpunkt: America Raynosa, Deputy von Sheriff Chris Cherry und verwandt mit dem Kartellboss Fox Uno.

    Und der ist unter Druck, denn das Massaker wird seinem Kartell angelastet. Und Fox ahnt, das dieses Massaker einzig und alleine dazu dient ihn auszuschalten.

    Und darum begibt er sich auf die Flucht nach Norden, denn er ahnt das er nur da Überleben kann. Dort hat Sheriff Cherry alle Hände voll zu tun, 5 Leichen hat der Rio Grande in seinem Bezirk angespült. Mulies für die Kartelle?

    Und nach Fox Uno suchen nicht nur konkurrierende Kartelle sondern auch ein frustrierter DEA Agent (inzwischen fast sowas wie ein Mentor für Cherry) und korrupte Cops aus dem Nachbarbezirk (die sowohl Schmuggler abziehen als auch für die Kartelle arbeiten).

    Langsam, so wie sich der Rio Grande durch das Big Bend schlängelt, entwickelt sich die Story auf ein blutiges Finale zu … und das knallt dann so richtig.

    Und bringt unerwartete Helden hoch, die trotzdem Sterben.

    Am Ende rettet sich der Kartellboss in die Hände der DEA und redet lieber als zu sterben. Und Sheriff Cherry wird wiedergewählt. Aber zu welchem Preis…

    Aber damit ist das Buch nicht zu Ende, denn J. Todd Scott gönnt den Überlebenden des Massakers einen Weg in die US of A..

    Denn über die ganze Trilogie ist es die Landschaft des Big Bend und sind es die Menschen, die ihn interessieren. Und nicht der Pass. Nicht das Geburtsland.

    Und die Menschen haben Beziehungen: Chris Cheery und seine Frau Mel. American und Danny. DEA Agent Garrison und Cheery. America und Fox Uno. Fox Uno und … seine nicht so ganz Tochter Zita.

    Und natürlich die eigentlichen Helden des Buches: Chayo und Neva.

    Landschaft, Beziehungen und Gewalt: Nicht weniger als ganz großes Kino, in einem Nebensatz eines Interviews redet J. Todd Scott tatsächlich von einer Film-Adaption der Big Bend Trilogie.

    Want! Big Time!

    Kauft euch alle 3 Bücher und lest sie in einem durch! Los!

    J. Todd Scott – Die Big Bend Trilogie (Polar Verlag)

    Soundtrack dazu: Nip Drivers – Fox On The Run, was sonst?

    PS: Und J. Todd Scott so?

  • … late but reasonably happy: Clox, Erection and 999.

    … late but reasonably happy: Clox, Erection and 999.

    Frank, i wanted to be at the Monkeys on Friday. To see D.I. who twice convinced me big time at the Hafenklang recently. But family care duties came first, so i opted for the next available show: 999 with support from Clox (a very very long running band from Dortmund) and Erection.

    I somewhat missed the message from the Monkeys that the show was moved forward, so that later in the evening the Tainted Love party series could happen. Instead of doors at 20:00 it was doors at 18:00 and Clox starting shortly after 19:00.

    I was not alone with that miss, a mate who was earlier than me said that many did miss Clox.

    Clox (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025 (c) Clox)

    In hindsight i am frustrated now, as they ring a bell from back then and still create a very British style of Punk:

    They existed 1977 to 1986, with their prime being around 1983/1984 when they toured with Die Toten Hosen extensively. The came back together in 2008 and ever since are at it.

    My mate, who was almost on time, praised their set.

    Pity poor me, i missed it!

    I also missed the first half of Erection, in contrast a rather young band from sunny Regensburg. And that is quite a ride north for them in order to grace Hamburg.

    They play self-proclaimed Pussy-Penis-Power-Punk and their main assets are the outgoing singer Julia and Schtiefn on guitar. Songs are in English and German, the mu-sick is wandering between many references.

    Erection (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    For me the Englisch songs worked better, specifically when it wandered into Thunderland (no surprise the Guitar sported a LAMF shirt), modernized. Here is one of them:

    Towards the end of the set though a nagging itch in the back of my single-minded mu-sick receptors broke through: It was too much of Rock, too much of Rock show elements.

    Did i dislike them? No. Did i like them – still a no. I realized others around me where of similar feel, a larger part of the audience though did dig them.

    Next 999 and more of a time warp. From their initial success (the first three albums and a slew of singles carry almost hit after hit) they disbanded twice in the 1980s, only to come back in the 90s and doing the rounds ever since.

    999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Nick was a bit underestimating the Hamburg lot, when he referenced them playing early on in Hamburg at the Markthalle Christian lectured him on support (Fehlfarben) and what color Nicks shirt had back then. A wee bit of a surprise smile came over Nick…

    … if you dare listen to the live tape conserved over at Tape Attack:

    Click me!

    Whilst they also put out new records (every 10 years or so), their 1978-1980 hits, slightly speeded up, still make the cut to get the people going and – line by line – sing-a-along.

    999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    As i dodge Blackpool every year it has been quite a while since i saw them, i think that was like mid-1990s in London. And the longer they played, the more i liked it. It ain’t something fancy new but it is a slew of hits, many sing-a-longs.

    And there is nothing wrong in keeping these songs going.

    Whilst i was still unhappy with myself having missed the early start i was reasonably happy as #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!

  • … that DeLorean thingy: The return of Yard Bomb and Verbal Abuse!

    … that DeLorean thingy: The return of Yard Bomb and Verbal Abuse!

    Early show, hence perfect for finishing off a hot and sweaty Sunday and still not being too tired for the work shift on Monday.

    As with many others that first Verbal Abuse record still is a special one – it was a hard and ultra fast surprise back then. I never saw them live and once they changed course (and the complete line-up) into what in my ears was more Trash Metal i lost interest, whilst still treasuring “Just An American Band”.

    Gracing Hamburg 40+ years later i was somewhat interested how it sounded today. And that they got paired with Yard Bomb was a bonus, as their very American, very Californian 1980s sound is just near perfect and would even alone justify attendance.

    And here is how Yard Bomb kicked it off:

    Pity that only ever about 50 folks got off (with some regulars being away at Punk Rock Raduno #8 in Bergamo).

    Yard Bomb featured Rolf sans hair on vocals and their original drummer Rüdiger, himself being a devoted Verbal Abuse fan.

    Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    It has been a while that i saw them live and i am not sure if they are still really active. Frank, it does not matter as long as they are able to hand a beauty (and in my head their signature song) like this.

    Turning Up Milhouse, forever:

    For me this is in the Top 10 of all songs bands from Hamburg (and near) ever penned down. It comes as near as a homage to Minor Threat as i could think of.

    And if you do not have their perfect 12″ then most likely you will not have a chance to score, the last 4 copies got sold that evening. That’s it. Gone.

    Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They did surprise some in the audience up to and including Verbal Abuse singer Nicki Sicki. For me they where yet again convincing, it would be great if they do Shows more regular (despite all of their other mu-sick-al ventures).

    Here is how they finished off their set, clocking in at a whopping 19:30 for the 14 songs:

    They not only convinced me, also – like Casey Royer in 2019 – they convinced the headliner to wear a Yard Bomb T-Shirt. Well done boys, well done!

    Fun fact: Their setlist can be turned into fun sentences…

    Yard Bomb – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    .. like “(The) beach patrol (is) turning up Milhouse down in the sewer” or “(We) need more invisible naked man” and “Modern kids feeling high about a man“. Honestly, it made me giggle!

    And whilst giggling about that setlist we also sneak previewed into what Verbal Abuse set out to give the lot.

    Verbal Abuse – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    That is drawing both from their 1984 debut and from their later endeavors like the 2011 thingy with Scheisse Minelli. My guess is that on purpose they avoid the in-between, in my head the right choice.

    And this is how they kicked off:

    Mhhhh, two minutes of an Intro but luckily then kicking off into a one minute banger. I somewhat, at this point, was a bit reluctant still if this would turn into an enjoyable set.

    In hindsight that maybe was also because i was expecting the band to look different. In real they simply looked … real. Aged according to life.

    And eg. for Nicki life included being locked away for a considerable amount of time related to speed found on him.

    Verbal Abuse (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Most of the songs where in same vein, around or below the 2 minute mark and very real. Just like this one:

    To my liking the double-bass on the drums could be let gone but by and large they delivered an entertaining set with a good mu-sick-al spread.

    Verbal Abuse (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And sure thing they finished off with American Band:

    And the lot chimed in, even in small numbers. Their set was well received, the applause increased song by song actually. And though it turned out a niche show somewhat the turnout was largely experts.

    Good one for a Sunday, a friendly ride home thanks to a mate and a feeling of somewhat having seen two bands of value.

    Lovely!