When The Dwarves where announced with two consecutive shows for the M/S Hedi people where quite exited and rushed tickets, including plenty of people that took tickets for both shows. As such both trips where quickly sold out.
Little did folks knew ahead of time how damn hot Hamburg would turn out that Saturday – i guess it was 39° Celsius and a bit.
I only took tickets for the 2nd set taking sail at 17:30, so me mate Frosch (who took both sets) reports about the first set:
Entering our beloved show boat MS Hedi at 3pm in the dazzling heat it took the mighty Dwarves a little while before entering the “stage”.
Looking at the set list it proved what was written in the music press beforehand, same as the new album “Jenkem” the legendary band was going back to the roots and playing more of the hard and heavy songs with less of the surf and bubblegum punk ones in the mix, like in recent years.
And Blag Dahlia, the greatest womanizer on the planet, gave it to us hot and hard, struggling just a little with the almost 40°C. Well he had just turned 60 a little over a month ago.
And I’m really looking forward to see his alter ego Ralph Champagne play an acoustic set in 3 weeks in a similar tiny setting at Bikefellas, Punk Rock Raduno #9 in Bergamo, the best little festival in the world!
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
He moved to the stern of the Hedi even more often than he did during the 2nd set, reaching out to people as even more crammed outside trying to catch a breath of fresh air on this trip.
The whole band was on fire, punk rock guitar hero Gianluca “Ginger Fanculo” Panero, who’s also playing with the Queers and Screeching Weasel (just saw him and Screeching Weasel play a fantastic show at London’s Electric Ballroom 1.5 month ago), plus Nick Oliveri of Queens Of The Stone Age fame on bass.
Usually he’s taking over the part of Dwarves founding member HeWhoCannotBeNamed getting butt naked, but I suppose that wasn’t on due to the political correct guidelines of the M/S Hedi… a great 1st show, only the sound was going to get a little better on the 2nd set. And we where in for some set list changes as a very kind Blag the Ripper confirmed during the break between shows.
When i arrived at the mooring it indeed was a scorching heat and those who stayed on from the first set looked somewhat already exhausted (but very happy).
First thing on board was continuing to sip water, thankfully the good people of the M/S Hedi also allowed water to be taken on board and gave away free water bottles.
And whilst the vessle set sail the Drummer of The Dwarves took his time to decorate his snare drum…
.. hot as in hell indeed it was!
Once the Dwarves hit the “stage” anyway all of that heat was forgotten: Those staying over from Set 1 where on fire from the go, those who only joined for Set 2 where convinced right from the first chord.
The Dwarves (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 27.06.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
To me the sound was surprisingly well, also – given rather calm waters – the band was in no need to find it’s (steady) feat. All being super professional, they got a solid fat sound out of basically the most minimum equipment.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, be it the faster & harder ones, be it the more sing-a-long ones. It was near perfect Schweinerock, with a super fun attitude and a decent amount of umpf.
The Dwarves (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 27.06.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
On top the ultimate entertainer and schmoozer: Blag Dhalia (aka Captain Blag Dahlia aka Blag Jesus aka lag Stallion aka Blag the Ripper aka Gentleman Blag aka Earl Lee Grace aka Julius SeizureK aka ip Kasper aka Junior High aka Dominator aka Astro Boy aka Ralph Champagne).
He was telling the lot all about The Dwarves, all about their legend, all about them Dwarves inventing Punk Rock, all about being in need for merch income to stay rich, all about best looking and – without the need for disclosure – all about the primary external copulatory organs of the band.
But he is an honest man and true to his words the setlist for Set2 was altered.
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
When they finished the M/S Hedi was still some way away from the mooring, so the lot forced something extra and the request was met.
So here is Better Be Women as the supreme final for Set 2:
This one is well aged (26 years old now) and still is a lovely powerful pop punk song with the right amount of Dwarves twist.
I guess it is time that i also checkout the new record, though i have to admit that i am not sure that the 12 records in my collection with get a 13th companion.
But live The Dwarves are still perfect entertainment (and have nowadays almost regular “long” sets).
Whilst part of the die-hards choose to spend more time in the city with a few cold beers i choose the airconditioned care of the mate who gave a ride to the show.
PS: Big FANX to Frosch for the report of Set 1 and the the video (i was too engulfed to record one)
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