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Tag: Monkeys Music Club

… they did not play Nellie, The Elephant (nor London Calling): Cockney Rejects Sauna Club, Volume II!
Last year it was a sweaty June Saturday to celebrate the Cockney Rejects in that small club in the danish part of Hamburg, Volume II had an even sweatier setup in one of the hottest summers over here ever. The Monkeys used the occasion to throw a little yard party and arranged for drinks, food and footie outside of the club. For some footie was already the past (“let’s concentrate on the league“), for others their team rose to occasion and defeated … a 5th league team.

Nevermind, everybody was happy and everybody had good vibes for the Rejects – loads of talking prior to the show and yet again one of these days where it felt that you know most of the people in the audience (and some for 35+ years).

To much surprise the Monkeys did ask in public for a support band just a few days prior to the show, i can only guess if that was because another idea had fallen through or because some local backline was needed. Nevermind, it was for Case 39 from Lübeck to open.
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Case 39 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They do Punk with an emphasis on Rock, they do linger in Motörhead territory as much as they do pull some AC/DC in. For me it was sometimes too much of that but a fitting mix for supporting Cockney Rejects. And their guitar player, who also did the main vocals, actually had a perfect voice. They got a good share of applause and where watched by a large contingent of the audience.

That they are an amateur band came through after the set, whilst the roadies from Cockney Rejects wanted to setup the gear they took time to pack up, no hassle, no need for speed. They even opened a little shop on stage, trying to sell merch. At the end one of the roadies just had enough and packed up for them and shoved the gear into their hands (and them off the stage). Funny moment of professionals meeting amateurs, just like the footie prior to the show

And without too much fuzz the brothers Geggus and Vince Riordan took the stage, together with a young lad on drums. If there is anything as a single word that sums it up it is unpretentious: They know were they come from, they know how many hours of labour one has to put it to earn the money for a ticket and a pint – and they appreciate it.

The show itself was unpretentious too – sold out, packed, party mode to the max. And people enjoying to the max too, without even the tiniest scent of a brawl (though an exhibit was in attendance whom i would have liked to setup the wrong person and get some – but that is a different story from a different show)
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Cockney Rejects (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They sounded ok, though one semi-professional musician from the audience did complain “vocals like Undertones mixed with a Professionals guitar sound” – i rather take that as a compliment that Jeff never ruined his voice and Micky actually is in full control of his guitar.

And what did they play? They played a nice cross of old (Vol. I and Vol. II) sounds paired with some Power & Glory:

Cockney Rejects – Setlist (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 18.08.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

For myself it was just pleasure, for many around me it was the same amount of fun. And the lucky number this time was 6 instead of 5 but i was able to cope with that…

It was singing, sweating, dancing and – once the Rejects where done (and actually cutting the gig short by two songs) it was drinking. I guess up on the stage it was even hotter performing under the stage lights – so replenishing with isotonic drinks was a sheer requirement for health and safety!

I had a couple of pints and some extra booze (too much) and some nice talks. Just a perfect Saturday (and having the football loss on Friday already behind me) and yet again the best reason why you should endeavor to enjoy your mu-sick live and loud, in front of a stage.

Thanks to all for making this possible and enjoyable. You know who you are!
2018/08/20
… Bonecrusher: What you pay for is what you get!
This July is a very busy July for shows in Hamburg, almost every day there is a show worth considering and for me it is about every other day that i plan to attend … much higher frequency than normally for me. On a warm and sunny Friday it was time for Bonecrusher at the Monkeys and for some hope that more people would attend than last time round, where it was a very lonely Sunday.

Support was for The Analogs from Poland and i had no clue about them: Neither that they existed nor how they sound. But that is the good thing if you go out into a club – you get to see something new every once in a while. Just be open for that!
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The Analogs (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 20.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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They are around for some time, since 1995 according to a rather funny Wikipedia entry, and they are a recognized Street Punk Legend in Poland. They mu-sick-al style ventures a lot into what i would call rock but never on the boring side. The one item that did stand out was that they like their songs long and complex, i guess none was shorter than 4 minutes.

I captured what felt the longest one, in order to put it here i had to tone down the quality to reduce hosting size. But hear yerself:

They were tight, together and well rehearsed and many people in the audience seemed to dig them (besides their polish fans i noted a couple of locals smiling away and getting some merch after the show).

Next on Bonecrusher, that hard working working class outfit that does not need a lot to be ready: They took the stage, they adjusted little bits and off they took. Off went also the shirt by one member of the audience, a moment some feared. This time round he annoyed again but got some push back from some of the audience. His own fun did not impact the fun of others that much, still at moments yet again it was at the brink of a non-verbal communication.
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Bonecrusher (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 20.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Bonecrusher provided a neat and complete set of old and new material and delivered their set as a well oiled engine. Both guitars celebrate a near perfect sound and bass/drums provide the solid pushing backdrop it needs. And Michael takes the front, engages the audience and delivers the message. And what they do not have is even a scent of a gap between “on stage” and “off stage”.

Just perfect if you ask me. The only item that did make me unhappy was not the shirtless contingent but the fact that despite more people attending compared to last time round it was still more “half empty” than “half full”. I keep my fingers crossed for the next time and hope that Mike and Co choose weeks off work that – at least in Hamburg – gives them a slot without any competition left or right of that date. They deserve it.

I took a final beer and plundered the merch stall, as Bonecrusher had the perfect item in stock: A Polo Shirt. The friendly lady handed me one labeled as “3XL” and i complaint that i would not need a tent. She said “honey, it comes out much smaller, that’ll do for you“. Little did i know until next day when i realized it compares to M and my six pack (and my wide shoulders) won’t fit ever.

Mike – that’s the only customer complaint!
2018/07/23
… L.A.’s finest in a never ending Rock’n’Roll show: Hamburg loves The Generators!
That was supposed to be a worthy entry into a long weekend (thanks to all the German public holidays in May) and it turned out to be so, though it took some stamina to get there. At least the outlook of The Generators taking residence is what is most likely the most fitting club for them in Hamburg was worth the effort to finish up work on time and get into a relaxed weekend mode.

The Monkeys surprised with the support slots: First off it was two bands and second they were of quite, lets say, complementary style. Kick of was with Death By Horse from sunny Sweden.

Death by Horse (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 19.05.2018 (c) gehkacken.de 2018)

I did not know what to expect so took my time to listen in. The setting seemed ok, an agile female singer with 3 boys. But from the first song i had an itch, that seemed not to go away. It took some time until i could make out what i did not like and that was the clicking sound of the bass. It did not fit and it sounded too much rock.

They had though one song and one moment that made the whole club listen: It was a really emotional one, presented by Jahna in a very emotional way. And it was about being abused as a little girl. I do not know if it was a personal account but that one did stick (and the audience was taken off foot and afterwards did not dare to applaud – so personal and moving that account was).

Next on RoadRage from fucking nowhere in Limburg. And their sound was initially refreshing – 5 lads with too much hair: Both facial and on their head. They label themselves as “Motor Punk” (you got to accept that you can learn a new thing every single day) and they pushed forward like a truck.

RoadRage (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 19.05.2018 (c) gehkacken.de 2018)

But soon, too soon actually, it got very boring both for my ears and my eyes. Whilst Death By Horse had something unique (that somehow did not sound good to me) RoadRage sounded so similar to so many bands (and had way too much rock posing). Sorry, not my thingy and like many others (who prefer their hair short) i resorted to the Pub for some more good old Guinness and watching Frankfurt taking Bayern Munich hostage for the German cup (and to see yet another reason to get rid of the video referee).

I was not the only one leaving them early: The drummer of the Generators stood in front of the stage during all of the Death By Horse set and took the same position when RoadRage came one – he also did not stay through the whole set (maybe just because he needed to prep). Nice gesture anyway to see the support bands from near (which i also always try to do, i think any band that endeavors to play a “support slot” should get some sympathy).

By then it felt a wee bit late but luckily The Generators are a professional touring band so with not too much fuzz they did set themselves up (though Mike had some initial problems with his effect board and the backline … only to realize late that it might be helpful to insert that damn cable into the input jack of the amp). And once they had all things sorted Doug joined them on stage and they kicked off with all the force, all the strength and all the sound that i was missing so far.
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The Generators (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 19.05.2018) (c) gehkacken.de)
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It has been only two years ago that they played Hamburg but this time they actually had a full new LP with them, so some part of the set was devoted to actually playing new songs. And them new ones fitted into their rooster just perfect, loads of sing-a-long and loads of grins’n’moves from Mike.

Now i felt in business and also the rest of the Monkeys was in front of the stage and enjoying them. And you could also see that they had fun on the stage, it was the last day of their touring in Germany and they only had one more gig in Copenhagen before they would resort home to L.A..
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The Generators (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 19.05.2018) (c) gehkacken.de)
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And whilst it all felt late earlier it was The Generators who made up for time: They did play long and they did add not one, not two but many encores. And then, against all american custom, they came back on stage to do even more. I think they where both in a good mood plus thrilled by the feedback from the Hamburg lot. Here is one of the many attempts of a final encore:

And all of these encore got the crowd going even further, that extra mile that cements the fun emitted down from the stage on the floor in front of the stage. And within that audience one member had utmost fun: Johnny Slash, once bass player for the band, was with them and either was out of his head or just plain boozed: His permanent stage invasions and falling across the monitors did anoy some people though Doug made it clear that there was not yet the need to throw him out. So, to double the fun, we also got him singing. And in the end he just turned out a nice chap with just too much fun and energy that moment …
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The Generators (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 19.05.2018) (c) gehkacken.de)
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Stunning, just stunning. And worth a reflection: Since Schleprock scammed Warner out of a million dollars for their 1996 Warner LP that combination of Doug and Mike just works like a treat. I did love them prior to that point and have all the Schleprock output on vinyl but that record to many people was just a surprise 10+ points. And now with The Generators they already have 11 Albums out (and over 20 releases in total) and they remain just and amazing outfit.

And with that knowledge i resorted back to a final pint, some more chats and plundering the merch stall. A very worthy show and i bet ya they will be back at the Monkeys soonest: That little gem fits them like a glove.
2018/05/21