There is nothing more damnable than using the speed, anonymity and force of the internet (damn internet, never forgets) to blackmail. What was supposed to be a great pairing (Puffer supporting Negative Approach) turned into just Negative Approach and a hastily thrown in support.
I guess not just because of below comment on the Puffer Instagram account Puffer pulled out of playing but this i bet you is just the glimpse of an iceberg (that could kill a club, a promoter or an distributor – financially).
I always wonder why people demand to take sides, in e.g. the conflict Hamas-Israel-Palestina (and happy to throw in other groups and countries) i bet you there is no road to be taken without massive potholes. But whatever on that front, trying to kill a trusted venue from abroad without insights … is outright wrong.
Nothing, absolutely nothing that i will accept. And sure thing it leaves the Q why they believed the internet (damn internet, never forgets) and did not try to speak with the club.
Florry are from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the US of A and they play … Cosmic American Music (a synthesis of country, blues, rock and soul). And to them fell the short notice option for playing live.
Florry (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
Here they came in the form of two, equipped with guitar, harmonica and steel guitar.
On record they sound like this:
For me this was not a fit, both in sound and setting. Still, they rightfully got applause from the few who choose to stay inside.
Negative Approach sure would be the maximum possible other side of the mu-sick-al spectrum and this is how they kicked off:
Ever since they came together in 2006 they kept true of what was deemed their unique style back from inception to early glory on Touch & Go (1981 – 1983):
Negative Approach's brand of hardcore was savage and nihilistic, exuding frustration, pessimism and rage.
Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
And this is what the lot got, a savage blast of screeching vocals, fuzzed distorted bass, high speed guitar and heavy hitting drumming (to some extend too hard, at times it overshadowed the rest too much).
On top all four of them come with their individual stage persona, up to and including the guitar constantly turning it’s back to the audience. (Con-)Fronting the audience anyway is the job of John, he still does that very well.
Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
Sure a set from Negative Approach got to have their signature song. And here it is:
Ever since it came to the record bin of the Konnekschen Record Store in Hamburg, in the form of the Tied Down LP on Touch & Go, it was for me one the all time favorite US H/C songs. Next to the SST stuff that Uli Rehberg imported he also got his hands on Touch & Go, i think i got both (effectively T&G #3 and T&G#2) Tied Down and Conquest For Death (Necros) on the very same Saturday from Uli.
And it has forever been a sing-along for me:
You try to make things work and gain something It's all no use, it's all worth nothing Complete satisfaction, too impossible to believe Nothing's ever fucking gonna work for me Tomorrow seems so hopeless Can't keep it off my mind Another day of nothing I'm running out of time I've got nothing I can look forward to I'm always left with nothing I'm always told things I don't want to hear My destiny's become quite clear Life's never fucking given nothing to me It's just stood by and watched me bleed Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing
The original version is a wee bit more bare, as you can see above it now comes much more as a wall of sound.
Frank, i am still sold on this song.
They played for about 45 minutes and i have to credit them that it was not just delivering old hits in the sound it had back then, they very consciously chose to bulldoze all of the songs, including some covers and a longer noise period.
Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
Kudos to them, this was a very consistent delivery and deeply rooted into what is a Detroit wall of sound. If you want more of that turn also to Easy Action, a much more Detroit Rock (and fucking Roll) adventure of John and Ron (Bass).
Great evening, somewhat hampered by the drop out of the support and the sad news of blackmail on the Hafenklang. From where i sit the Hafenklang is least dodgy / fencewalkers but a safe place for plenty of different mu-sick. And grown up and free minds respecting other positions (bur rightfully demanding vice-versa).
I am damn sure the Hafenklang continue to enjoy the support of the locals and travelling bands, despite blackmail. In that context friends – your turn to support them!
