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Tag: Hafenklang

.. twice packed, twice fun (at least for some): Friday Night!
Sometimes the early footie kick-off on Fridays is an advantage if there is a show on the same day. On this Friday me and some mates where down for the Hamburg Derby and then Steve Ignorant with selected CRASS songs at the Hafenklang.

The story of the Derby is quick and single sided: Plenty of stupidity outside the stadium, loads of fireworks inside the stadium and a favorite being outsmarted by the FCSP coaches (and their 5 in the back tactic).
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... it was Derby time (Millerntor, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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It did sure help that HSV was red carded early on and it definitely did help that for a change FCSP did score. In the end it felt almost uncontested.

We hit the road to the Hafenklang after the final whistle quickly, to a certain extend to avoid being dragged into Football trouble or being blocked by the Police (closing certain streets to avoid potential confrontations) – and because it started to rain anyway.

Arriving at the Hafenklang it was packed (and sold out) and Headsticks where about to start. Their self-selected mu-sick-al cupboard is an odd one:
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With an ever growing fanbase at their side, Headsticks are reaching new heights with their self proclaimed 'Revolutionary Punk Roots Rock'n'Roll' which has cross genre appeal seeing the band gaining endless plaudits from pillars of the Folk/Roots, Post Punk, Punk, and even the rock and blues fraternities.
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In my selfish world that is a turn down, but as ever i wanted to give them the chance to convince me.
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Headsticks (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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And whilst some songs actually where pleasant and very English revolutionary Punk songs indeed others where more on the folk side (and not my thingy). But stance and message they had, so i bet they have their audience (but it won’t be me, sorry).

Next Steve Ignorant, of Crass fame, with a selected backing band performing Crass songs from 1977 to 1984. It was one of these “canceled 2020, canceled 2021 again” shows that finally did happen.

From the last time Steve came out to Hamburg to do this there was loads of praise, it was actually to no surprise that a) the Hafenklang was packed and b) that almost all of the Hamburg Punks who sported a Crass Logo on their Leather Jacket in 1980 where there. Even i had to admit that back then at least for some time i sported a Crass badge (still around somewhere).

And how did it sound? It sounded like this … Steve and band kicking off into the set:

Wow – time warp ahead! Not an updated, adapted or modernized version of Crass songs – it sounded indeed like straight out of 1980. And “The Gas Man Cometh” was a worthy start into more songs that today would defeat most of the mu-sick-al cupboards used. But – give or take – they all had enough of a beat to get people actually dancing (and those older to sing-a-long).
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Steve Ignorant (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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Back then i was more the “Sham, Upstarts, Cockney” or “Fingers, Ruts, Members” Fan and did not take biggest notice of Crass, only of selected songs. But here and now to a certain extend i am regretting it – there was so much more.

Unfortunately half way through the set i had to leave: I was under the weather the day before (and had to miss Mobina Galore for that reason) and the humidity and bad air (lack of oxygen) inside the Hafenklang gave me cold sweats and definitely an ill feeling … so i simply strolled uphill and home.

Those who stayed on until the wee of the night assured me it was indeed a great set and perfect show (and many where quite vocal about the perfect and hard hitting performance by the drummer). Well done Steve, well done. And Thanks anyway.
2022/10/17
… not just boys fun: Ramonas & Bullshit Boy at the Hafenklang!
After having two week off (enjoying Danish sunsets and moving back into the vicinity of the Hafenklang) it needed a bit of lure to take the stroll downhill to the Hafenklang. The lure though was easy, one of the best Ramones cover bands was in town, so a neat sing-a-long evening was on the table.

Next to me they lured about a hundred odd folks down to the harbor front, some with 2020 tickets, some with 2021 tickets … and some with 2022 tickets. The show was moved twice … Covid times, sight.

Kick-off was with Bullshit Boy from Hamburg, 2 girls on strings and Carsten (Emils etc) on drums. I already came across them earlier in the year and took note of their EP on Bandcamp, as i do like Punk with female vocals and Girrrls in bands per se.

Sabine, the guitar, used to be around as a one girl band called Dark Horse, now she seems to have expanded and plays her songs under the moniker Bullshit Boy:
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„WE KNOW IT ALL – WE CAN DO IT ALL – WE LOOK SUPER FIT AND WE ARE TALKING RUBBISH ALL DAY – WE ARE BULLSHIT BOY!!!“
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Bullshit Boy (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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Unfortunately this evening i had a negative Déjà-vu – very often i do like bands live but not their recordings, here it was just opposite. I had to let go after a half of their set and was not surprised to meet a couple of me mates outside, who already left and equally did not get the groove.

By all means check them out yourself, here is their 5 song 10″ (still the coolest format around). I will give them another chance for sure, maybe it was just me or a bad day for them. Or both.

The Ramonas came next and they have already quite some length under their belt: Started in 2004 as a pure female Ramones cover band they have added since 2016 also own material – all worth to check out.

With them it was speed, power and sing-a-long – a visible and audible difference to Bullshit Boy. From the first chord they emitted fun and energy from the stage and took the audience on a Ramones memory trip.
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Ramonas (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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Having seen the Ramones 8 times (and every single Hamburg show but the 1978 Markthalle one) and having seen plenty of Ramones cover bands (from killer ones like Hamburgs own Ramones Revical Band aka Ramonez 77, Hamburg Ramönes and eg. Gabba to not so good ones i’d rather not name) i gotta say they are one of the better ones.

Without a doubt.

Their song selection from the vast Ramones œuvre is actually on the more clever side (as above with Bonzo Goes To Bitburg), though they missed two of my favorite gems: Highest Trails Above and Strength To Endure unfortunately where absent.
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Ramonas (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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The audience was happy though, so i did not complain. I anyway had zero complaints, the band was energetic enough (and getting the max out of their small amps). And by the smiles traded between them you could see that they like what they do. And when there where errors and mishaps – they just smiled it away and went on.

Sure thing they covered the cover (the best ever ode by a Band to another Band of a different genre) as their final song, well done.

If there was any complaint, then it may be my usual one: Dress code on stage. But that is just me and my anal view on stage related items. I guess they have better things to do then wash (or not) their stage attire after every sweaty show (and sweaty it was indeed).
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Ramonas (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 13.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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In retrospective i actually would have loved to have gotten more of their own material, i think it was only about 6 songs – the rest was from NYC. But hey, still a great set and and enjoyable Tuesday evening at the Hafenklang, that i guess we left as the last consumers after midnight.

Next to the short stroll home the best was actually chats’n’drinks with friends and regulars and the simple fact 6 out of 7 musicians on stage where female.

Not just boys fun, as ever!

PS: Nothing, nothing at all, can beat this live set from 31.12.1977
2022/09/17
… when the support also surprises the main act then it must have been a great show!
As i share my views on shows i attended i never shy away from pointing out items i liked and items i did not like. And there is no preference nor bitterness. What i do like is to get surprises, share surprises and praise surprises.

And this hot Tuesday was to be a show of surprises. The least surprise was that the Avengers used the Blackpool weekend as a lift off for a round of shows in Germany, it was actually expected and much welcome. Also a lesser surprise was to meet Biber, former Knallschoten Bass Player, as he usually attends Avengers shows at the Hafenklang.

A slightly bigger surprise was to meet an old school fellow long out of country, who actually was Punk #4 at my school in early 1979 when i was just about to venture into that mu-sick-al direction. I think he is to blame for my love for Sham 69!

The biggest surprise though was the support act. I never took note of them prior and only got word from friends after the show that they had seen an incarnation earlier (and had been equally surprised back then).

And what did surprise me? It was Reverend Beat-Man & The Underground from sunny Switzerland.
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Reverend Beat-Man & The Underground (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 09.08.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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It has been quite some time that i saw such an enigmatic front man who is able to not only command his troops but also literally confronting the audience in a way that glues eyes towards him. He is quite unique and acts like a real actor in the best positive sense of the word.

And how does their self proclaimed Doom Blues Nasty No-Future-Wave Synth Folk Trash sound? The Doom Blues element of it sounded like this:

Every song sounded different and on every song the Reverend assumed a different persona. I guess his fellow musicians (i understand stolen from other bands. eg. Milan Slick from the Synth-Punk-Duo Entartete Musik on Keyboards, Beatrice Graf from Ester Poly on Drums and Benjamin Glaus from Skinny Jim Tennessee on Guitar) and their respective abilities and background make that possible.
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Reverend Beat-Man & The Underground (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 09.08.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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They not only got plenty of applause from the audience ( i guess almost 200) but also had Penelope Houston glued to the side of the stage and taking videos. I guess they surprised her as much as they surprised me.

The are unique, driven by a singular cause (and personality, i take) and they bring back a variation that frankly i sometimes lack on eg. H/C shows. Somehow it felt like being back at the very early 80s when Punk branched out way beyond the original rock rooted Punk Rock.

If you dare, try them out. I won’t dare to buy a record (as i am unsure if the music works for me at home or on the move) but if you dare on that front too than please rely on Sounds Of Subterrania to get their stuff. The owner loves them.

The Reverend and his disciples already made the evening a good one, as such i was in no eagerness for the Avengers actually. A rare feel in the context of support and headliner but to a certain extend if was here exactly for them in the first place.
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The Avengers (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 09.08.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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It feels really good to see Penelope and Greg still at it, supported by young guns on Bass and Drums. At the start the drums felt a wee bit loud, as the drummer had a high intensity, and Gregs guitar was way to low on volume. Down the road that got better and we got to enjoy not a 1:1 copy of the 1978 Avengers but got their classic hits (and they only ever produced hits) in a real 20th century fashion.

Here is Corpus Christi and a song that is covered in 2020 by a rock star is testament to that simple fact: Only ever hits!

And yes, Penelope is still a great voice and has aged well. Would she know that some of her 1978 pictures made an everlasting impression on me? I bet she does, as she has been a hell of a good looking punkette back then. And she does well in keeping the Avengers alive and kicking.
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The Avengers (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 09.08.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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They played for about an hour i guess but game back for some extras, including the all time sing-a-long and mantra: I Believe In Me!
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I believe in me
I make my dreams real
I believe in me
I said I believe in me
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If there is one 7″ you should get from 1977 US of A then it is the Avengers debut one on Dangerhouse.

To quote an infamous person:

These three songs are the Avengers recording debut. My all time favorite female punk singer, Penelope Houston, fronts the band and is just too great. What a voice filled with feeling she has! You just automatically believe everything she says.

True, so true. The Avengers left behind many happy people, the Reverend left behind many happy people – i can tell you i left happy too. I got what i love most: Live musik i can sing to and live music that surprises me. Paired with meeting people that share an equal vision. Just puuuurfect!

PS: The story of The Avengers is not without tears and one of the sadder element is the story of the original bass player James Clavin Wilsey, who went to fame and from there down to drugs, homelessness and … death. There is a book on this story but to get my hand on it i would have to spend 25$ on postage. Too expensive. Anyone with an idea to get it in Europe cheaper?
2022/08/12