Being over 60 sometimes creates new tasks, like thinking ahead towards retirement. Thinking ahead on downsizing, so that less baggage will be carried around. In that context i will need to think ahead how to downsize my record collection (5.022 according to Discogs).
And thus the love of my life recently asked “what will you keep as your loveliest band?“. And without a think i replied “ALL Descendents” (and was damn sure she did not get the trick that technically speaking it is two bands i forever will hold on to). I guess she knew the answer anyway, as i was already on a high in the run up to the Descendents show at the Markthalle.
The last time i saw them was 2022 in Hannover, the last time they graced the Markthalle was 2018. As in Hamburg the summer (school) holidays had just started the show was not sold out, though well filled. And it was a somewhat warm and tropical (aka wet) evening, something that the bands under the stage lights would feel even more.
Support came from Scheisse Minnelli outta sunny Aschebersch, a Bavarian city closer to the drugs of Frankfurt than the beers of Munich (and technically speaking in Franken rather than in Bayern). Confused? As much as i was, as i realized that i would see them for the first time.
What did i get? For the start i got a tongue-in-check redemption of the old HoA classic “Hallo Nachbar” themed after a rather infamous local red light district non-hero.
Say hello to “Hallo Werner“:
It is right down my mu-sick-al preference that covers should slightly alter the original, slightly shift the meaning and/or style. Well done!
Unfortunately they had to setup heir gear in front of the standard Descendents setup, but given the large stage of the Markthalle nowadays there was still enough room to roam and jump around – wich the singer did to the max.
Scheisse Minnelli (Markthalle, Hamburg, 23.07.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
They are around since 2003 and sport a singer self-exiled from California. And whilst he is indeed face and voice of the band on stage the other three provide excellent musical capabilities to the mix. Ahead of them playing a friend of mine noted to me how much he loved them, half-way into their set i leaned over to him to yell “now i understand why!“.
If they ever come across a working DMC DeLorean i am damn sure they will set the dial to something like “California, 1985” because that is where their sound deeply is rooted.
And trust me, they sound like really being from there. And definitely it sounds really great!
The audience, clearly primed on the Descendents, initially was reserved. But the more they got from Scheisse Minnelli, the more you could see appreciation and feedback.
I will sure check out their recorded output next and when possible, i will make an effort to the see them again. Nice surprise on my side, but that is what live mu-sick is for!
Thanks to the stage setup the changeover to the Descendents was quick and efficient, at 21:00 and a bit they took the stage and where greeted by loud cheers. As ever close to the stage we got a sneak into the setlist ahead, so knew what was coming.
It was not dramatically different but well balanced between fan favorites and band favorites. And the catchy ones and the more difficult ones. The mid-tempo ones and the bangers. Basically ALL there is in their wide oeuvre.
Descendents (Markthalle, Hamburg, 23.07.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Two things this time round stood out for me:
First – i have always been fond of the many smiles they provide on stage. This time round this felt like quadrupled: At any given second one of them (if not more) was smiling either into himself, at the others or at the audience. They radiated so much happiness off from the stage … heart warming!
2nd – where other bands need resting, tuning, drinking or chatting breaks, the Descendents needed none. The played like 70 minutes without a visible break between the songs, left the stage and came back to hammer home the rest.
Stunning.
Oh yes: Stephen, Milo, Bill, Karl – you are the ones!
I felt like being completely engulfed in joy, lost track of time somewhat and just felt … happy as a fuck. And looking around there me were plenty more smiling faces, people singing along with the the full power of their vocal cords.
It was a hot and sweaty undertaking (on and off stage) and whilst roaming off stage to the barrier Milo noted that it was considerable more cool down there. And once that hit home with him he stayed some extra time there and close up with the audience.
Descendents (Markthalle, Hamburg, 23.07.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Stephen, as ever the mu-sick-al expert, noted to young ones in the audience that it is so hot because of the old fashioned floodlight light rig up there (emitting light in the form of heat), that was there already in 1977 when AC/DC with Bon Scott played the Markthalle and exactly that stage.
For me it felt like the best ever show of the Descendents at the Markthalle – tight, together, smiling and covering all of their variances musically. And great audience reception.
This quote from a German newspaper nicely sums it up:
I was not the only happy fuck, friends around me were happy too. Frank even scored a setlist for his life box.
And no, i want to grow up eventually and yes, i want to be old – together with the love of me life. And maybe less records.
And yes, i still want to be someone (me!), hear and see the Descendents (or sure other #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic)! 70? Bring it on!
Will I still want to be someone And not just sit around? I don't want to be like other adults 'Cause they've already died Cool and condescending, fossilized (When i get old)
PS: A pity though that due to work away from Hamburg i have to let go the option to see them the week after at the Faust in Hannover. Damn work, time to retire, eh?
PPS: Big FANX to Frosch for the videos.
And whilst that is the “official” tour poster the cool artist Simon Marchner from Munich has created a much neater variant, score them at his shop!
I want to be stereo-typed, i want to be class-ified!
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