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Tag: Komet

  • … weggeblazen door aanstekelijke punk rock uit Amsterdamned: The Covids!

    … weggeblazen door aanstekelijke punk rock uit Amsterdamned: The Covids!

    Football Euro Championship opening game with Germany, 50.000 on the Heiligengeistfeld plus many in pubs all across the Reeperbahn – all of no interest for the few that made their way to the Komet. Still, the almost empty streets gave the stroll over to the Komet an unreal feeling for a Friday evening.

    I was keen to enter the cellar (that i more dislike for shows than like) not only because my last Spitfire Stevens show was a long time ago but even more because the hottest shit from Dutchistan was to grace Hamburg.

    These two created enough pull for me, pity though that the turnout was far from packed, specifically the energetic show of The Covids should have had a packed house (or rightaway a packed bigger house and stage).

    A somewhat negative surprise awaited us, at least that was the initial feel, in the simple message that a US 3-piece had bragged it’s way onto the stage as support for the support. And no, it wasn’t Green Day.

    When we finally got down from the bar into the cellar that unspecified band had already started, 2 guys on strings, a girl on drums. And loaded with negative energy it sounded initially like an open rehearsal. Though quickly i had the feeling that my brain was about to betray me.

    Nauseaters (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    After the set, lasting about 30 minutes, the negative feeling though had turned. Because they had a cool (and tricky) name as in Nauseaters and they had a wee bit a Power Pop undercurrent of the better side.

    Undercurrent as much as the guitar tended towards the heavier side (Flying V model, most likely can not be played non-heavy) but still you could make out the sugar coating somewhat.

    After their set we got to understand what got them onto the stage – they had a free slot within a a DIY trip across central Europe and had taken residence in Hamburg.

    It was not fully up my alley but it had enough pop nuggets scattered across to keep me entertained. If you come across them – go and check them out.

    Next Hamburgs own and only Spitpunk band and Spitfire Stevens set out to give the lot (including family and friends) the following classics and newbies:

    Spitfire Stevens – Setlist (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de)

    As ever the band was well dressed, uniformly (always a bonus), and well behaved. But from the start there were sound problems, Luke was barley audible. And frank, the guitars were way too loud, giving even some of the more mellow songs a very rough edge.

    Spitfire Stevens (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    Yannick, of Haermorrhoids fame, who does sound at the Komet tried to persuade both guitars to reduce volume but somewhat that felt between the cracks or on already deaf ears – it only ever improved slightly.

    Luckily a large portion of the audience knew the songs and thus was able to lip-snyc with Luke, who neither could hear himself nor see the audience (as he was standing exactly where an LED sport was soaking colorful light onto the stage).

    Spitfire Stevens (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    Strange set somewhat, it was far from the balanced sound they normally are able to get across. A mate noted that it felt to him like a totally roughed up set and thus a unique positive experience. I definitely missed the softer, more mellow sound structures and i was not alone with the feel that it was not their most stellar delivery.

    That said, i bet you they come back from this unharmed and their next show … will be their best. Have faith, fans!

    The Covids next and this is how they took residence on the tiny stage of the Komet:

    Bang! And proof that the sound can be good, if everything is set in concert.

    What do we get here? A hard hitting girl on drums that holds them together and adds vocals, a sturdy bass that secretly sings along to every song, a guitar that finds the right balance between too hard and too soft plus a singer that roams the audience and is a real front man.

    Cudos, Covids – you got a very fitting and very modern mixture here!

    The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    What surprised my even more was that the three in the back managed to keep their position on the tiny stage and specifically them strings not falling into the trap of moving (and either falling off and/or hitting their head).

    The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    The music they play is full of drive, energetic and borrows a lot: Their self proclaimed references include ’77 punk, punk, garage punk, glam, proto-punk, punk rock and rhythm & blues and that is not far off from reality.

    The tiny stage though felt like an artificial limitation, they should be allowed to roam around, thus i hope their next visit to Hamburg gives them a larger audience and a bigger stage.

    When it came to encore, i was lucky, as they started with my loveliest Covids song: Light A Match (Farmboy) from their really cool LP. Go and check it out loud:

    That is indeed a real cool banger that has it all, near to perfection. Whouah!

    Luckily for the lot they did not stop there and added a couple of more songs, almost enthusiastically received and people danced along with the singer.

    The Covids (Komet, Hamburg, 14.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    Perfect show by The Covids and i guess indeed they are currently the hottest shit from Dutchistan. Can i have a whish? Make it like Nauseaters, brag you way into a support the support slot at the Knust on 26.07.2024, supporting The Briefs and The Spits.

    Alsjeblieft! Bedankt!

    As ever when a band convinces me live i score vinyl, here we go with the LP and the “Banned from the USA” single. Go and click on the pic, it gets you to Wap Shoo Wap Records were you can order it rightaway!

    The Covids on Wap Shoo Wap Records (from Amsterdamned)

    Because of the 3 bands the evening turned out longer than expected but surrounded by like minded connoisseurs i could finish it off with a cold beer.

    Nice one.

  • … the worlds best band with the worlds tiniest record release party: The Haermorrhoids (time to make it big)!

    … the worlds best band with the worlds tiniest record release party: The Haermorrhoids (time to make it big)!

    The worlds best band (at least according to me mate Luke, who is someone i would blindly trust as he is a lawyer by trade) seems also the worlds most unorganized lot, be it timing the record release party for the evening when all of St. Pauli is being pillaged by Schlager Fans (or is being annoyed, pissed upon, vomited into – choose your chore) during the annual Schlager Move. Bad timing.

    Equally bad was setting the start of the procedure via a Facebook announcement to 1900 (where the Komet almost would have been unreachable by anyone with a sane mind).

    From where i sit also having this at the Komet would be underselling the abilities of The Harmorrhoids but on that day i guess it was not even sold out. Many of the regular supports where already en-route to Bergamo for Punk Rock Raduno #6, where this record release party would have been a worthy addition (as me and other locals desperately want this band to break big internationally).

    As support they had invited Neon Bone from Münster, like minded when it come to #ramonescore. They are around in the genre a wee bit longer and have plenty of releases out. They kicked off around 22:30 and graced the Komet with medium tempo and sugar coated #ramonescore.

    Neon Bone (Komet, Hamburg, 08.07.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    What they do get done quite neat is multi-vocal harmonies and they center many songs alongside that ability. And that sugar coated thingy most of the time delivers a love song (at least as far i was able to pick up the lyrics) and i would guess it is generally in the category of enjoyable mu-sick (without getting me registered as a fan).

    Here is one of these:

    I guess they where a fitting (and to the extend they musically rounded off the evening) partner in crime for them Haermorrhoids. Once they were done with their rather short & crisp set they grabbed a towel and lined up in front of the stage to praise the worlds best band.

    The Haermorrhoids not only premiered their new record, they also premiered their new Bass player Martin to me (as i missed an earlier show in April), who joined after the recording of the record was completed (as Jan moved to focus on his other band).

    And brave as brave could be – or better bold as bold must be (for the best band of the world) they choose to play the new record (just leaving poor Captain Isolation out) in full first thing:

    The Haermorrhoids – Setlist (Komet, Hamburg, 08.07.2023)

    And this is how they kicked into their set (after some setup problems as Yannik had to be both drummer and sound man (as he is resident sound man at the Komet)):

    Bang! Off it went into a perfect and fast set of these soon-to-be classics. The sound though was never perfect, but down in that tiny cellar below the Komet Bar it rarely is anyway. What they won over though immediately was the audience, plenty of happy folks singing and dancing away.

    The Haermorrhoids (Komet, Hamburg, 08.07.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    And what fueled the lot? It is timeless beauties like “Timewarp Incest“, the so far untold alternative story line within “Back To The Future”. Sure some expert moaners will moan sounds like … Riverdales, Queers, Screeching Weasel or what the fuck else – but that won’t change the position of The Haermorrhoids being at level with those. And better.

    Go – here is “Timewarp Incest”:

    What was a feel during the show turned out to be true by validating numbers at home:

    Where the first LP clocked in with 20 Songs at 00:32:52 the new one pushed the boundary to 16 Songs at 00:28:20 – thus moving the songs from average 1:38 to 1:46, all still within (and much nearer) to the magic “around the 2:00 mark” as set by experts like Undertones and Ramones.

    The songs are a wee bit longer, a wee bit more complex and … a wee bit better without loosing punch.

    The Haermorrhoids (Komet, Hamburg, 08.07.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    What also was fun to see is that somehow the new LP reads like a concept album, both song rooster, cover (expert design by Patt Whelan at Thrillhaus!) and lyrics – pretty much themed into one direction. As a concept i do like it, if all of that is really purpose (more than coincidence) than hats off to the lot for making that silly but grand idea real. That would make the record an extra gem!

    The Haermorrhoids (Komet, Hamburg, 08.07.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)

    Fun also to see the old bass player upfront in the audience to party along to the tracks he used to play (and recorded) and cheering up the band (and the new bass player) along the way.

    And as on every occasion they finished their set with my personal favorite – so here is “Overdose” yet again:

    Great set, shitty light, no oxygen, loads of sweat, not really perfect sound, too small stage and hopefully loads of records sold. But whatever – the record release show simply confirmed that Hamburg has nurtured a mighty force ready to take on #ramonescore anywhere on #planetramone – can someone please hook them into a successful tour of the US, followed by more shows in Japan and say … Italy.

    #worldtouragesponsor anyone?

    Me mate Luke for the remainder of the evening was unstoppable (as long as had a Jever in his hand – and i rarely see him without) to point out that they are the best band of the world. I have to admit that they are currently the most non-German band around in Hamburg and at par with classic #ramonescore bands from the US and Italy, say.

    As ever when a band convinces me live i take home vinyl (or other merch), at the Koment i actually took in the new LP even ahead of the show, as some few where around of the red vinyl version (100 pressed?), so my greedy #recordcollecorsarepretentiousarseholes self was very very satisfied. 

    The Haermorrhoids - At The Earth's Core (released 08.07.2023)

    The stroll home though was a pain – still to many Schlager fans pissing, vomiting and littering in our path. So me and me mate Thomas more or less ran the beauties home in record time to Altona-Altstadt, where it was a little less filthy and loud (but still annoying).

    Get your own version via Monster Zero Records, Mom’s Basement Records or directly form the band. It is fucking worth it!

  • … enchanting feedback: All Girl Power Pop with Alvilda!

    … enchanting feedback: All Girl Power Pop with Alvilda!

    That is was going to be the lead in into a long show weekend was pretty much a given, that the cozy cellar downstairs at the Komet was half filled with people that looked like being around for MOi!n It’s Hamburg 7 was a bit of a surprise.

    As much as a surprise that the support slot was with the Heartliners, as they turned out to be far off from Power Pop but firmly rooted into 1990’s sunny California Pop Punk.

    It was only their 2nd show but it was far off from being amateurish … all of the musicians seemed to be very professional with their instruments and all songs where faultless. 

    Heartliners (Komet, Hamburg, 29.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)

    How did it sound? It sounded a wee bit fallen out of time – whilst i really did dig into this 30 years back (as it sounded new), it now sounds “old” to me. Funny feeling.

    But hey, who am i to complain? It was a tight, fast and upbeat set and by no means it was boring. I guess they will make their way and i will come across them soon again.

    Next Alvilda, traded by some as a really hot band. To be honest, i fell for them too last year and got their really sweet EP in August 2021 (from Alien Snatch!). And ever since was thinking who the hell will be able to lure them over? Wild Wax did and and put them on a short run from Hamburg to Dresden and then Berlin. Learning German in 3 days i guess.

    Alvilda kicked off like this:

    They where not really happy with the sound, specifically with the feedback from the main mike (as they choose to slip down from the tiny stage the mike technically was in front of the PA speakers – inviting feedback). Once the main singer move back on stage that got corrected and it sound a wee bit better.

    They play exactly like on the EP, enchanting Power Pop presented by always smiling and singing ladies. And much better than some of the girly Schrammel Pop that was en-vogue in the 90s.

    Alvilda (Komet, Hamburg, 29.09.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)

    Whilst it was indeed enchanting it was also a wee bit amateurish, sometimes that added on the positive side, sometimes it actually destroyed the nice and cozy pop feeling.

    What it sure was was authentic and real. And that by far outweighs any shortcomings. And whilst their songs are brief and their set is no longer than 12 songs they still please the ear (and, let’s be frank, the eye).

    They did not play too long, smiled away all mishaps and got a good share of applause from the audience. I would love to see them on a bigger stage, with better sound, knowing that they would charm the audience anyway.

    Alvilda – Setlist (Komet, Hamburg, 29.09.2022)

    It was worth to note that they also lured Giuda into the Komet, who where already in town to headline Friday at the MOi!n It’s Hamburg 7 over at the Monkeys.

    For me it was nice to now be able again to have short strolls to shows and it was a perfect start into the weekend already on Thursday. It was with best companionship, uplifting mu-sick and thus a good evening.

    Fun fact: “alvilda” is danish and means “forever”. I guess i should have approach the band asking a question in danish…how would they have responded?