The Monkeys phrased it as “Killer rivets night” which was a wee bit off but it was a setting for some serious streetwise punk rock (and a resort for some who did not do the pilgrimage to Blackpool).
DMF, self proclaimed Hamburg Hate Punk, sneaked into the rooster and made the start into a rather long evening.
Disillusioned Motherfuckers (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 05.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
As ever, they played to a rather small group in front of the stage and rarely some movement within the crowd. It wasn’t polished stuff for sure but it also did not strike any chord with me … go and check out for yerself. Appreciation from the audience was small, but i fear that is the hardship of supporting the support.
Next on Topnovil from far away down under and with a kick-start they had all the elements that DMF missed: Tunes, stage presence, showmanship (in a positive sense) and mu-sick-al abilities – this is how they took the stage:
The damn internet (the one that never forgets) had them down (in a local music website in Australia) as:
Born in 1997 out of the Wollongong punk scene, Topnovil is an authentic fourth generation Aussie punk rock’n’roll band. Heavily influenced by “77” Punk and third generation punk rock bands, you can hear where the lads developed their distinctive Punk Rock sound.
Frank – that reads like an insult to me!
Topnovil (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 05.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
Topnovil got the crowd moving as in singing and dancing and should actually be on a bigger stage as they need room on stage to move around and do little funny stunts with their amplifier cases as platforms. Clever trick indeed!
A great and tight set and with loads off applause (though with some surprising technical issues of a non-working guitar). I guess they need to leave down under to really have success as touring that continent must be a struggle.
With some delay Total Chaos where ready to take the stage next and boy did they surprise me:
From the first chords and into the first song it was like a bulldozer coming upon The Monkeys and pushing the audience forward, forward and then some more. Fun fact: The bass player borrowed the “amplifier case platform” trick from Topnovil and got himself a prime spot thus (against the rest of the band he needed an uplift as they all towered him).
Total Chaos (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 05.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
I have seen Total Chaos before and did not particular dig them and thus have to admit that i was more then surprised to be engulfed by that wall of sound they delivered from the stage. Tight, fast paced and with a load of energy and commitment.
I think i need to put their early Epitaph records back on the player and re-accustom myself with their newer stuff. And a stark reminder to judge bands by the live performance and not too much by their recorded and released output. On this tour they seem to be just perfect, so go and make sure you get to see them!
And that gave way for the “headliner” of the night, a quarter past midnight The Casualties took the stage and speeded things up further:
And indeed the crowd took things a bit further too and quite a large dancing pit evolved. The Casualties took no hostages and killed song after songs with high speed street punk. Some even tried to stage dive from the tiny elevation of the stage and should have known better but it was at least a try.
The Casualties (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 05.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
Way after 1:00 The Casualties left the stage and invited the audience over to the bar – both the band and the audience soaking in sweat and thirsty for beer.
A stunning show with a surprise winner in Total Chaos. And the Killer Rivets? Little where seen and nobody got hurt.
But still there was a negative déjà-vu: There seems to be a new and annoying dancing style that involves a giant mutant baby punk to ignore the music and just have his eye on pushing people around and slamming his shoulder into those who actually want to dance.
At the Dickies show this resulted in justified pit violence, at the Monkeys i could hear people after the show whispering “… i should have given that bloke a beating, he was just annoying”. If you ask me i will reply “and so shall it happen!”. Same for those who come in the pit with their backpack – don’t you wonder that you are being kicked around! There is fucking wardrobe to place it you cunt!
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