It is quite some time that i have been to a rock show and it has been so much more time that i saw Abwärts live. I saw them a couple of times in the early 80s and i saw them once i believe in the early 90s. Early on they where one of the reasons why for me it was Neue Musik rather than Punk alone and one of the corner stones of a much wider mu-sick-al spectrum. But as much as they hated to be linked to NDW in any shape or from i did and lost closer sight of them, though they where hometown heroes.
They graced the Nochtspeicher, a neat location near home that sports a very stylish big room for entertainment. That said, the setup was ROCKSTARS, as the support had to setup in front of the main act. Given the enormous width of the stage (and the tiny depth) it meant for Shirley Holmes that their drummer was on the far right and the girls with the twang where more left. Odd.
Shirley Holmes (Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, 17.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
Shirley Holmes had to start very very early due to the early curfew at the Nochtspeicher, driven by it’s location within the backyard of a living quarter. It was also odd to see that after 25 minutes the stage hand of Abwärts signaled “stop” rather then letting them complete the set. What did i get? No clue, it was modern pop on the rock side with various elements mixed in.
OK to watch but almost nuthin’ that hit on with my mu-sick-al tastes. And all tries by the band to get engaged with the audience somehow ended odd, including a conversation about the main guitar make and model.
With a quick turnover (aka support needed to rush their stuff off the stage with no help) Abwärts took the stage at 20:15 sharp. By now the sold out place was actually packed and people where eager to see Abwärts (and on the far right some younger girls where eager to see Rod).
Abwärts (Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, 17.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
Abwärts have gone a long way, both in band composition (with Frank Z. being the only fixture) and in sound. By now they are seasoned hard hitting rock band that is centered around Frank and his dry vocals and his consciously negative, offensive and just plain great lyrics.
In my humble opinion he has penned down some of the greatest German lyrics that are being showcased on stage. Almost every song hits a theme, a nerve and a line that i not only can relate to but also buy. And how did it sound? It sounded like this – here is “Terror Beat” from the 2004 effort on WEIRD System:
The audience in front of the stage got going and many (older) people further down just smiled away. For me it was somehow odd: The music was too much rock for me, though at moments still perfect. On the other hand every song had the clear voice of Frank coming through, with his neat local dialect, providing his words of wisdom (and wisdom they are, trust me).
Sharp 21:45 all was done, including two encores (or was it three?). It left me somehow satisfied and not satisfied in one go but all on a basis of appreciation for Frank Z. running his show and being a message of pain within a large mainstream. Question is if he will be heard.
This is actually how i remember Abwärts (and Hamburg in the early 1980s):
And the fact that they moved on is actually fully ok – as standstill is always a step back.
Fun fact:
Over the years Frank Z. has been quite good in scamming money out of bigger record companies, just look at the 1994 record on EMI: How could he get away with placing this great affront vs. the Ex-GDR Zombies as starting track?
Zonenzombie, wie gehts dir jetzt? Hast keine Arbeit und kein Brot Wie wär's denn mit dem neuen VW-Modell, mit Luftsack und in feuerrot Wie wärs denn mit der Eurocard in schwarz, rot und in gold Ist doch klasse so beschissen zu werden, hey, wir sind ein Volk Hol dir dein Scheißhaus vom Designershop für deinen konservativen Kot Zombie, komm ich küsse dich, du armer Vollidiot Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren RTL empfängst du schon, du siehst was von der Welt Du träumst nur von dem ganzen Scheiß, du weißt, du hast kein Geld Und ihr wart alle bei der STASI, das wisst ihr ganz genau Ihr gehört nach Bautzen, hinter Mauern, in den Bau Da glotzt ihr dumm, ihr Zombies, ihr seid doch sonst so schlau Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Und den ganzen Krempel hier, bezahlen könnt ihr den doch nie Ihr seid am Ende angekommen, ihr fickt euch immer selbst ins Knie Ich treff dich im Sozialamt wieder morgens um halb Acht Trink doch erstmal 'n Bier du Arsch, damit die Sonne für dich lacht Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren Hey Zombie, du liegst ganz weit vorn Hey Scheißer, zum Verlieren geboren
Luv it!
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