Now that was supposed to be fun – not only was our old mate Rudi on his (by now almost annual) trip to Europe (Rebellion first, then 2 weeks with his Hamburg Family before returning to his new home and his loved ones in Perth) but it was also the return of Raw Power (though an incarnation far from what i kept memory).
I saw Raw Power in 1986 in Lübeck and they blew us away not only with the 17 year old drummer with the double bass but also with their long hair and their sheer power. Sheer raw power. They made a huge impact on many (and on some in Hamburg) who followed the H/C-Metal fusion style and created band after band with that style.
I remember them for these looks (and the double bass drum):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF6l01UxF_c
But first things first, Free Target from Schwerin had the not so encouraging support slot and had loads of space in front of the stage – one of their two vocalists could roam it without being challenged. Somehow sad, as quite a lot of people did show up for this Sunday show.
They had some neat moments, most of them driven by actually 3 people singing and thus providing a degree of variability that many bands can not give (on the vocal side). Interesting concept indeed. They also covered Negative FX but to no avail – the audience for a large portion was not interested in them and blocked the bar and the alleyways in the Monkeys. Sad – they deserve a wee bit more attention. Fact!
Next Raw Power and at the start it felt a wee bit odd: The sounded like a copy of the Raw Power i imagined but i guess that is more a fault on my side (with a 30 year gap in following the adventures of Raw Power). They had a long setlist and went on … to sound better and better (though they somehow killed their stunning hit “We shall overcome” and took some of the magic away by blasting it).
Thanks to the Internet (damn Internet, never forgets) here it is in all glory in the version recorded on their US Tour.
Raw Power (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
And they got some people in front of the stage, though both by the looks and by the preference of T-Shirts the vast majority was up for H20 rather. Still, i did like it more and more (though some stupid stuff like a drum solo was thrown in) and at least a number of folks gave them some gentle applause too. In the end i think a good job, though i am forever spoiled by that 1986 setting!
Note that the video was done by Rudi and thus travelled far to down under and then back home to Hamburg, thus it is of slightly differently quality (as the H2O ones too).
Next H2O and now we had a crowd and the crowd went apeshit. And a band that so much more interacted with the audience and got so much in return.
H2O (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 14.08.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
And they had all the sing-a-long and dancing hit’s with them (as you expect) and generally radiated “fun” from the stage and into the audience. And let’s be frank, a band that still can pen down a gem of a hit like “#NOTREALLIFE” after a long hiatus in recording has something special.
And it has great words too:
Famous for no reason Fake! Credibility Your image is so far from the streets comment To act like you know Past! Made up of lies Your future is what you choose to disguise!!!!! I've seen your type way before This social media Don't try so hard to be Something you're not I've seen your type way before This social media You want the world to see Something you're not Afraid to portray who you are inside Walk past me in person Don't!!! Even say hello Fantasy your true colours are dull comment To act like you know Past!!! Made up of lies Your future is what you choose to disguise And I use it too, just not like you Cos, I know what is true! (c) H2O / Bridge Nine Records 2015
Although there where some near misses upon people stage diving the tiny elevation of the Monkeys stage (and Rusty reminded them that his guitar neck could make it difficult for them too) they made the impression that returning to smaller stages without security barricades after having played large festivals gives them also a relaxed time.
Rudi did capture two videos, so see for yerself:
Thanks for the moving pictures Rudi!
In summary worth the trip down memory lane and a great night out with a mate that only on rare occasions can make the 20+ hour flight to see a show in Hamburg.
