On the day prior to the show i had to run an errand to get some medicine for our cat Toni and stumbled through early extends of the damn Reeperbahn Festival: Also bars in side streets had been booked by – i guess – Event Managers for entertainment of Mu-sick Biz Cool People. In short, i had to side step my way on the pavement through a bunch of indie whores.
Boy was i glad that my outlook was not queuing to see a band marketenders hype as the next big thing but a real club with real people. A place not participating in it. A place where i would get to see something unknown (welcome Bronco Libre from Leipzig) and something unusual (welcome Oi Boys from Metz).
Bronco Libre kicked off, a 3 piece from Leipzig with i guess a French singing in … quelle surprise, French. I have not come across them prior, namely because i tend to ignore Bands originating from Germany (and ever more eastern Germany).
I know it is a shortcoming but somehow it is hard to overcome. I know also that i am wrong, simply because i loose out on good music.
Like this one, here is Déchirures (Tears) from Bronco Libre:
And the lyrics are worth to look at too:
Sous les ordres de son pays C'est lui-même qu'il assassine Sous le joug de son bourreau C'est lui-même qu'il massacre
Under the orders of his country It is himself he murders Under the yoke of his executioner It is himself that he massacres
Unfortunately the vocals where not well audible, though as non-French speaking person that would not have made a large difference. I can only urge you to take in their 2018 LP to figure everything out – it is worth it!
For me the mix of the hard hitting drummer, the very cool bass carrying loads of melodies and the high pitched voice (and somewhat high pitched hectic guitar for a lack of better description) worked very well and to my surprise i indeed liked it.
Bronco Libre (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
As they did not have the LP with them i resorted to download it and as much as their short set it is a more than worthy effort. They got plenty of applause, though down from the stage their where largely quiet (shy?).
Good stuff, i guess i will need to train my blind spot!
Next Oi Boys and with them it would be going into a very different territory. Those in the know eagerly inspected the setlist, so here it is:
They tag themselves as #oi #punk #synthpunk #coldwave #wave but that does not do them justice. It may for the vinyl but live they are much more wild, much more raunchy and much more outgoing than introvert.
How did it sound live? It sounded like this:
And the most convincing item: The smile of the drummer (aka human beat machine) at the beginning of the song. That smile carried through the whole set, as much as all made the impression to be utmost happy to be there, on stage.
Communication with the audience was hampered by a lack of fluent English on their side but that was easily overcome (and some in Hamburg do speak French, indeed).
Oi Boys (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
They got drive, they got some interesting soundscapes and they definitely got the audience (a shameful 66 people only) dancing, mainly the strong female contingent upfront.
Somehow it reminded me of seeing Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft 1981 at the Markthalle for the first time and ahead of them breaking big as DAF.
I did read a review somewhere and it had a fitting phrase:
They manage to find a perfect balance between nostalgia and anger, and their up-beat and melodic songs can definitely become anthems on our way to an uncertain future.
Another quote i captured makes neat sentiment too:
Everything’s here to make us feel the unique over-wintering chills of disapointement.
Oi Boys (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
Gosh, their set went like a fly and those attending where utmost happy, i would even say they all had a bright smile on their face. As much did the band, they loved the appreciation and many time provided a real and humble Merci.
I think they also sold plenty of Merch (the LP, a cool Poster and some cool T-Shirts), exactly as it should be after a great set.
Among the audience though was one person carrying the broadest smile: He had been battling health in hospital for many weeks and is on a long (and exhausting) road to hopefully full recovery.
For him the evening was the first time out of hospital or home for like 3 months and for him it was nothing less than being a child in a wheelie enjoying it to the max.
Big hugs big man, these evenings continue to be your evenings!
Great show with a wide mu-sick-al spectrum, all DIY and a nice middle finger to what is happening up the road at the Reeperbahn Festival. I know that some who attended will also pick selected showcases there to see bands but i for myself just don’t need that.
I’d rather see happy kids throwing fists in a wheelie. Makes me happy. As a fuck.
And as a double bonus next morning my early rise gave me a beautiful sun rise.
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