Whilst i did get to see the record earlier, the formal record release party for the Nasser Hund debut album sure thing was the day where i was going to buy it. No matter what! The date was long awaited and thus the elderly Punk Rock connoisseurs from Hamburg did pack the Hafenklang upstairs. Yet again one of the “i know everyone in the audience” evenings.
Fun moment on my short stroll down to the Hafenklang was bumping into the Adolescents, who used the band apartment to stay over before continuing on to their first EU date in Denmark. I tried to encourage them to show up later for Nasser Hund but i think they ran for food and did not make it (at least i did not note them later on).
To warm (and charm) people up Sixteen Again took the support slot. Sixteen Again? What is that? A kiddy band? Nope – Sixteen Again are a long contemplated idea by Helge (of Jam Today fame) to only play … Buzzcocks. And since the sad passing of Pete Shelley this is even more a very valid tribute.
So with the words of Pete here is the outline:
Feeling like I'm almost sixteen again Layin' 'round doing nothing like all my friends Play it cool don't get angry count up to ten Just like I was sixteen again Everybody gets the lowdown right from the start Everybody gets the showdown right from the heart But that's all that's on the menu and life's a la carte I don't know Things in life are not played for keeps If it makes you happy it'll make you weep And if you want some more practical advice If you can't think once then don't think twice 'Cause things won't seem so nice You'll wish you were sixteen again Oh no Feeling rather strange when you're sixteen again Things don't seem the same the past is so plain This future is our future this time's not a game This time you're sixteen again Always on your own when there's nobody else Asking myself would I be someone else But after all life's only death's recompense I don't know Things in life are not played for keeps If it makes you happy it'll make you weep And if you want some more practical advice If you can't think once then don't think twice 'Cause things won't seem so nice You'll wish you were sixteen again Oh no Look at me here I am for your eyes Mirrored proof of what you recognize I know I never will feel quite like you And I know you won't treat me right till I do But at least we'll know it's true That we're sixteen again Oh no Feeling rather strange when you're sixteen again Things don't seem the same the past is so plain This future is our future this time's not a game This time you're sixteen again Always on your own when there's nobody else Asking myself would I be someone else But after all life's only death's recompense I don't know Look at me here I am for your eyes Mirrored proof of love's suicide I know I never will feel quite like you And I know you won't treat me right till I do But at least we'll know it's true That we're sixteen again Oh no Sixteen again Sixteen again (Pete Shelley © Universal Music Publishing Group)
I guess that one was true for many in the audience, i would be bang right back in 1980 when Stiff Little Fingers played the Markthalle for my 16th birthday.
Sixteen Again (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.06.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
And that is Nic, Helge, Ingo and Koshi and they devote themselves to the times of perfect Power-Pop, when love songs did matter for young punk rockers. From the vast œuvre of the Buzzcocks they made a short but fine selection for their first live appearance.
You could sense some nervousness on stage and within the audience at the start but with the 3rd song already they had convinced the audience (and themselves). Promises is indeed not an easy song by Messrs Diggle & Shelley to master but here it comes in all beauty (and remember it dates back to 1978):
If you, like myself, have the urge to sing-a-long, here is your chance:
Ah, loving you is easy, you are on my side We play the game strictly to our rules We led the field, a love affair Which made all other lovers fools Oh How can you ever let me down? (how) How can you ever let me down? (how) How can you ever let me down? These promises are made for us (oh-oh) We promised that we'd always have time for each other Whenever I needed you'd be there We promised to be true, there'd be no other We promised that for ever we would care Oh How can you ever let me down? (how) How can you ever let me down? (how) How can you ever let me down? These promises are made for us (oh-oh) We had to change Oh, but you stayed the same You wouldn't change Oh, what a shame 'Cause loving you's not easy, you're not on my side We play a game with two sets of rules We lead the field in a love affair Ah, strictly meant for fools Oh Why did you ever let me down? (now) Why did you ever let me down? (now) Why did you ever let me down? Those promises were made for us (oh-oh) You never have any time for me Whenever I need you, you're not there You've never been true and it's plain to see The fact is you never really cared Oh Why did you ever let me down? (now) Why did you ever let me down? (now) Why did you ever let me down? Those promises we made for us (oh-oh) (Steve Diggle / Pete Shelley - © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.)
Deal! And with every song that followed the audience took more and more over the singing, up to the point where Helge noted that he got a line wrong (and the audience right). Perfect entertainment! Let’s hope that this set gives them the confidence to do more – i’d love to see more, i’d love to see them even more outgoing!
For Nasser Hund it left an enthusiastic audience, eager to get them and the songs from their record. And this is how they kicked off:
In my book this is down as a near perfect pop song: Drive, great lyrics with a near perfect rhyme (take “Sie haben ihren Eltern nie verziehen, sie lächeln nur auf Fotografien“) , some great surprising chords and … 2 minutes long. If that ain’t get them radio play, what else would?
And for sure they have more of that quality, like this one on friendship:
Great stuff, hard hitting and every chord, every beat and every hook by the bass in it’s place. You can see that Jan, Kay and Arne all made their peace with mu-sick: They just write and play because they love it. And that emits from both the stage and the record.
Nasser Hund (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.06.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
But it is not only short and crisp songs they do, they can also do more complex and longer stuff, just like this one: Nasser Hund play Nasser Hund for you:
They got like 20 songs done with great applause from the audience, who more and more got into the groove, singing and dancing. And generally being joyful (though one attendant choose to be an outsider).
And after the 20 songs came encores and a repeat. And as the audience was still not fully satisfied it Arne decided to throw in a song from one of this other ventures (and that gives a full circle back to Sixteen Again, the desire to find love and the start of the evening):
Power-Pop sing-a-long yet again. Class.
I can only urge you dear reader to now go out (or online) to get this record. A great DIY debut LP, perfectly styled and available now!
If your local record dealer does not have it – taunt him! If you reside off site then check Sounds Of Subterrania or Copasetic Mailorder to get it.
I guess the lot had more fun at the Hafenklang, i had to sneak out and meet some old work mates from London for some chatting and some serious alcohol at my favorite (local) bar. I was home at 03:00 and well loaded but with a broad smile on my face. And by now the record has spun twice on my player (and the 2nd copy i bought is in the mail as a gift to a person outside Hamburg).
Great night, great bands and great friends around me. Can it be any better? Nope, #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!
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