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  • … Spitfire Stevens & Nasser Hund: All local, all in!

    … Spitfire Stevens & Nasser Hund: All local, all in!

    This was to happen ages ago at the Molotow but was pulled during the end of Covid due to lack of advanced tickets sold if i am not mistaken. So both bands took it down the Große Freiheit to the Indra where they double headlined a “local for the locals” show.

    First on Spitfire Stevens with their unique Spit Punk. I somehow sensed they where somewhat nervous and frank the first couple of songs where not fully on the mark. Here is one example, Here And Back Again from their 2017 10″ (still the coolest format around):

    The more they played, the more self assured they got – also because they got their share of support from the audience (that was anyway 100% local friends). Still, at some times i had the feeling that especially the drummer drifted away (either into his own world or into sleep).

    Spitfire Stevens (Indra, Hamburg, 31.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    Towards the 2nd half of the set they where in full swing, only the sound and light was not fully optimal (light actually was not ok at all but as far as i understood nobody was really looking after it anyway).

    They also inserted something untypical that was meant as a nod to Sonny Vincent – much appreciated actually:

    Whilst Spitfire Stevens are sure not the most customer (consumer?) engaging entity and their sound is also not too much ear pleasing for the average Tom, Dick or Harry i stay by the fact that they have something. On this occasion though it did not shine through all the time, but i was more than happy to see Luke and his comrades again on stage.

    With a quick changeover Nasser Hund took the stage and Arne strummed them with his signature bass sound into Alle Erbsen Sind Gezählt:

    Is your view blurry? Get new glasses… Not. My bad, i somehow de-focused that song.

    From the start their songs where more upbeat and had more speed than Spitfire Stevens. And where Spitfire Stevens cover a wide spectrum, Nasser Hund nail it down as perfect Power Pop with a deep grounding in Punk Rock.

    Plus: Almost all of their songs feature great storytelling and all of their lyrics are worth to listen into.

    Nasser Hund (Indra, Hamburg, 31.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    In addition all three are near perfect musicians on their instruments, allowing them to also throw in random differences (licks, breaks, chords – you name it) that give the songs so much more life on stage.

    Here a perfect live version of Sie Lächeln Nur Auf Fotos:

    Throughout the set they even enlisted the big voice of Barbro (Demolition Girls) to give two songs some extra Chorus-umpf, not sure if it was rehearsed or an on the spot idea. But it gave the whole presentation some additional and welcome strength – maybe an idea that can be extend further?

    They got loads of applause and had many smiling faces in front of the stage, though further back the Indra felt a wee bit empty.

    But good to see that local bands still get locals out and that it does not always have to be a support slot. Around midnight it was over and thus time for gentle stroll home, as #nineinarow was waiting around noon on Saturday.

    Great entertainment surrounded by friends. Perfect setting and another show where i stayed away from booze – works!

  • … they deserved it: Sold out for Grade 2!

    … they deserved it: Sold out for Grade 2!

    This was on many fronts a surprise gig. Sold out – a positive surprise to me. Grade 2 at the Hafenklang – an upfront surprise to me. Paired with Death By Stereo – wtf? Also a surprise to me was that some trusted mates where absent, some with the rather weird inclination towards Grade 2 that they have been watered down by Tim Armstrong. Really?

    Indeed Grade 2 not gracing the Monkeys and/or the Indra was a surprise, but Sam was happily attending at the Hafenklang. That they were paired with Death By Stereo was quite a surprise to me, though wide choices in pairing normally give positive surprises.

    Death By Stereo is the other band of Efrem Schulz, who also sings for Voodoo Glow Skulls and Manic Hispanic. And frank, it is on an opposite spectrum and unfortunately i feel far from home in that territory.

    Death By Stereo (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    They are outspoken and put no stop on hating the bad sides of their home country. Some of their songs have elements i can relate to but many flirt with a mix of a bit of hardcore and loads of metal, including splitting vocals into high tuned (almost female) singing and muffled deep growling.

    What they do they do well and they do add some fun moments (including the strings resorting to the bar for a drink whilst continuing to play thanks to wireless connectivity). They where also thankful to the audience from whom their got a fair share of reaction (and some where only there to see them, they left once Death By Stereo left the stage). Not my thingy though – but make your own choice.

    Next and with minimal setup tricks Grade 2, who still look young (if i recall correctly they where like 16 when they played Hamburg for the first time). But whilst they do look young they have matured so much as individual musicians and as a band.

    They are now under the production wings of Tim Armstrong (and accompany Rancid on their 2023 Europe tour) for the most recent effort and that is far from being watered down – it is actually a nice mix of short banger and sing-a-long songs.

    For me they worked from the start, humble but well versed on filling a stage and engaging an audience. And they know how to write songs that are never dull, never boring and have an edge without needing to have that standing out.

    Grade 2 (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    As with many others the Covid hiatus gave them ample time – they used it wisely to perfect songs and then get ’em recorded and produced by Tim Armstrong in LA. It is a worthy effort that does not deserve to be called “toned-down” at all. Far from mate!

    What was also fun to see was that Jacob (Bass) and Sid (Guitar) constantly swapped position on stage and when Jacob was standing on Sid’s side he was operating the foot pedal for effects for Sid just like he was operating his own – that shows how tight they are as a band and much they are a well oiled machine.

    They played an hour and a bit, had plenty of movement and sing-a-long from the audience, it was a fun show to watch. At the end came a cover (Where Eagles Dare from the Misfits, though i got to say that there are even better redemptions) and a quick encore.

    And that turned my positive surprise into a well deserved one. Grade 2 are worth many efforts to see them, they are humble and unpretentious lads that continue to be very approachable. After the show thay handed thanks to most of the people leaving the Hafenklang and passing by the Merch table.

    From where i sit i wish they have big success now, even and specifically in the US of A so that they can do a decent living off the mu-sick.

    Also great that the Hafenklang can start to count on sold out shows again, they also need this after thew 2 1/2 years of not being able to bring the dough home needed to run the club.

    More of this please!

    PS: My loveliest song of Grade 2 remains this one – i have every ounce of trust that they will stick to it!

    Mr. Industry, Mr. Industry - your killing music like a disease
  • … kids day: Staying young and BEing WELL.

    … kids day: Staying young and BEing WELL.

    Setup indeed was for a kids show, early start (doors at 18:30, first band on stage at 19:00) and early finish. And, much to my surprise, there were a couple of kids out on parents day in the audience. And, also much to my surprise, it was a sold out show – but that surprise may stem from the fact that the bands are from another niche that i don’t follow that closely in my own little niche.

    Kick off was with Hard Strike and i new fuck nothing about the band. But hey, experiencing the unknown is part and parcel of enjoying mu-sick so i am always open to it.

    For me they looked like something randomly assembled (remember, i love consistent stage attire) and sounded to a certain extend like something thrown together from all ingredients that make up Hardcore, Metalcore and related niches.

    Hard Strike (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    At moments it sounded surprisingly bad (and i guess a not optimal sound mix was part of that experience), at other moments just dull. Best moments where went they actually did let go the driving element and one guitar tried some flirting overcast – those where moments where multiple things actually fitted together.

    Here is a snippet, a short blast that sounded actually on the better side for me:

    Checking upon them after the show i realized that they actually never wanted to be a live band in the first place but are a circle of friends spread around Germany and the US that was initially focused on recording only.

    So my feel was not too far off and listening to their recorded output that comes accross a wee bit more pleasing. And, also worth to account, it was their 3rd live show only.

    Next Giver from Cologne and they pleased me already with consistent stage attire, so they had a bonus early on. They also used intro muzak for getting ready on stage, another little nugget of consistency.

    Their sound was much more consistent too and i would guess could be filled under “Modern Hardcore” (if only ever such a mu-sick-al cupboard existed). They have two nice guitars with balancing sound, an energetic bass and an active singer – plus a pretty good drummer that turned out to be the real asset, keeping things together and pushing forward.

    Giver (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    Here is a short blast, rather untypical as their songs tend to be longer and much more complex:

    For me they definitely had something, besides relentless energy also some few choice words, though their English lyrics are rather something to check out than to be able to understand from the performance.

    They played a very short set and as much as Hard Strike got not too much audience feedback. Actually it very much felt that the audience was in it rather for Be Well than to enjoy and provide feedback to the support stints.

    Not even 20:30 on the clock and it was time for Be Well to blast off, right from the first song with a lot of action from the audience and singing-a-long. The only thing i know about them was that the singer used to be in Battery (a 90’s DC hardcore outfit), is a well known producer and that one of me mates likes them very much.

    That mate also loves the other football team in Hamburg, so his love choices are at least debatable. But he loves them so much that he took his son with him, so that tells you how much he believes in them (and that he wants to influence his son, who sported a Samiam hoodie) quite early before he hits 16.

    Be Well (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.03.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    For me they were a blank sheet of paper, as they went on that sheet did fill actually with some good melodies, some harsh breaks and a singer keeping it all together with a unique stage presence.

    The mu-sick sure is not 100% up my alley but what they do and how they do that is far off from being annoying. For me it looked and sounded like this:

    They got loads of action, they got 10 year old girls crowd surfing and they looked after the smaller kids in the audience too. And the singer emits a lot of personal touch and seeks contact with the audience a lot.

    That said, on a much more personal level he did a sort of confession as the lead up to one of their signature songs (that many in the audience where able to sing-a-long):

    He is depressive, struggles with depression for a long time and has a hard time to live the life he wants to live (and that includes a small girl and a wife, giving him all the love he could ask for but him having problems to mirror that).

    That very personal song has a great sing-a-long:

    Depression is haunting and I’m not ok
Everything is going to be alright
Is just a thing people that don’t know say

I’m lost and worried and I feel afraid
Of all of the things that are inside my head
That I have been far too ashamed to say
But I want to get better, I want to change

    Thanks Brian, that was brave and outspoken – well done.

    From there on on-stage and off-stage where fully united and the Hafenklang literally exploded when they performed their encore with a class repetition of “Young ’till i die” from 7 Seconds. Apeshit galore!

    Way to fast it was over and for a Saturday i was home very early. As it was a kids show, i stayed off booze and that was a good feel too. Be Well worked quite well for me, though they won’t be my first love. I guess not even my 2nd. But as ever, if you do not dare to seek mu-sick that you have not seen before than you will loose out.

    Give them a try, it may be worth it!