I guess by now it is an annual tradition: Showboating with the Bad Job Boys. Two hours of entertainment on the mighty River Elbe (a board of an not so mighty vessel), with one set dedicated to favorites plus new songs and the other one to crowd and band favorites (as in covers with Guest singers).
Unfortunately the start was more somber, 25% of the ticket holders seemed (or where confirmed) off sick, the soundman had to de-board (being sick) needing a replacement and some of the lot hoppled to the MS Hedi. And yes, we traded doc stories but kept our x-rays out of the discussion.
And on top the weather was perfect wet Hamburg autumn.
Sure this did not deter fans (who came as far as from sunny Bergamo, home of the finest DIY festival in this galaxy) nor band, off it went into the dark (and frank, these tours make more fun when the sun is up to say 21:00).
The Bad Job Boys kicked off with quite some energy, early on gave the lot new songs that, despite being showcased for the first time, sounded perfectly polished.
Bad Job Boys (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 08.10.2025) (c) gehkacken.de 2025
Knowing that Frank was out some time with his foot i wonder how often they where able to rehearse together. More then ever they came across perfectly in sync, not a slip of chord or break.
Bad Job Boys – Setlist (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 08.10.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)
Sad thing though during the 2nd set that none of the audience took the challenge to jump in and sing a cover with them (instead of those planed in but absent due to sickness).
So that job went solely to Mike, Denis (of Nixda! fame) and Sabine (of Bullshit Boy fame) gave umpf to sing-a-long hits like Waiting Room, Gotta Getaway or Bodies. And for sure one of the biggest sing-a-longs that ever came out of Hamburg: Nein Nein Nein!
Bad Job Boys (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 08.10.2025) (c) gehkacken.de 2025
The evening started with chatting about sickness and injuries, at the end of the 2nd set it also haunted the Boys. Piotr had issues with (my guess) the tendons in his play arm and could not play the bass anymore. After a short rest he tried again, but the pain was too big.
That somewhat cut the planed noisy return into the harbor short, it was a more silent return unfortunately. Let’s hope it ain’t serious, speedy recovery!
Nice one again, though a spacious sold out feels a wee bit off. But it remains a great fixture, provides perfect showboating with friends and provides hope that some of the new songs have actually been penned down to be recorded.
The Hamburg lot tends to dig regular fixtures. Be it the Razors with their year end “Burn Down The Baum” at the Knust, be it the Punk Rock Hamburg Fest at the beginning of the year … and now it looks like the Bad Job Boys giving the lot another annual event: The October Showboating on the MS Hedi.
Last year they set sail early in October and gained plenty of critical acclaim, most likely also for the idea to not enlist a support band but have friends from other bands jumping in and sing with them.
This year was 2nd verse, same as the first: A first trip on the Hedi with only their songs, followed by booze replenishment and a 2nd trip with a mixture of own and covered songs, up to and including guest singer choices.
Rounds One thus gave the lot the following set:
Bad Job Boys – Setlist (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 23.10.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Different songs compared to last year and also slightly different in presentation: Much more together, much more coming through that they have made steps forward on the mu-sick-al front. And this includes new songs too, though sometimes the songs seem a wee bit too long, a wee bit too much extra bridge/verse etc. thrown in.
Bad Job Boys (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 23.10.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
But that complaint comes from an ignorant who likes it hard & fast and below the 2:00 minute mark by definition, so do not trust my judgement necessarily.
Bad Job Boys (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 23.10.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Round Two, just like last year, was looking to be the fun one, upon gazing onto the setlist i was already thinking about who would join and what song he/she would be taking – some obvious choices, others not so obvious.
Bad Job Boys – Setlist (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 23.10.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Babro from Demolition Girls made the first stance jumping in for Faye Fife with an all-time favorite sing-a-long and a song that lends itself perfectly to a male-female back/forth singing.
And the use of sunglasses after dark.
Watch the skies above the horizon For the spies who have no flies on When they appear through the stratosphere Better lock yourself inside
Flying Saucer Attack I'm never coming back Oh, oh oh Until it's over
And here is that Scottish beauty back in 1978 on TV:
Perfect start into even more fun to come.
And this time round they fast forwarded into the mid-80s, covering Dag Nasty and giving the lot another all-time favorite sing-a-long that the audience was able to get into, single-handedly.
Twelve ounces of courage Makes the world look better You love the attention You never had it You never had it before
Under your influence, right goes wrong Under your influence, crossed my mind Under your influence, right goes wrong Under your influence, you crossed my mind for the last time
Dag Nasty, in the almost brief period with Dave Smalley, did it like this:
Boy, that was a fun one indeed! And a stark reminder that once i have my DeLorean fixed up D.C. in 1986 is worth a visit.
Not all invited to sing with the boys could make it: Sabine from Bullshit Boy was off sick, Diggen from Slime had conflicting commitments. But Yannik from The Haermorrhoids, who also does sound on the Hedi, jumped into and did a short & fast song with them.
Bad Job Boys (M/S Hedi, Hamburg, 23.10.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
For the final Mike, old Buttocks pale of Stéphane, joined in. And surprised us big time not only with his outfit (a cool The Unknowns shirt scored just the other week at the Komet) but also with his choice of a one-hit-wonder:
1, 2, 3, 4!
I don't read sounds or NME I know what I like, it's good enough for me You say you just wanna be free I say bullshit anarchy
It could be me, it could be me It could be me, it could be me It could be me, it could be me, it could be me, it could be me, it could be me
The Killjoys, sporting soon to be Midnight Runner Kevin Rowland in his 2nd attempt to get famous. I’ll fated, but leaving behind a great single on Raw Records.
And just another all-time favorite sing-a-long of the lot. Here it is in a staged setup (remember, 2nd attempt for fame):
Sure thing Mike topped it up with another class redemption of the Buttocks classic Kill The Pigs, much to the liking of the audience – who was close, upfront and dancing along.
Perfect Showboating trip again, though the contrast between the two sets almost was too big. But the open question from last year (“How the heck will the Bad Job Boys ever top this night?“) was answered with ease: By just doing it again, slightly different.
Well done Bad Job Boys, you pushed the mark to high tide – next year you will need to flood!
PS: Big hugs to Frosch for the videos! Enjoy the Spanish sun!
PPS: Thanks for all those checking back with me re. my loved ones – they are out of hospital but it is still a struggle. Hopefully uphill.
Next show for the Bad Job Boys is on 16th of November over in sunny Osnabrück at the Trash:
It is not only me, also plenty of me mates share the desire to see The Haermorrhoids making it big. For a start (though a wee bit of a tiny start) they have setup a short tour through Germany, Dutchistan, Belgium and back to Germany: 10 shows in 10 days.
Kick off was sure on home turf, this time round on the MS Hedi supporting Autogramm from yonder side of the Atlantic.
Technically speaking it turned into a tour on the MS Claudia, as the MS Hedi was not available. The good thing with that was that slightly more people could be taken on board, so the packed tour turned into an even more packed tour.
The Haermorrhoids kicked off and from the start proved that they set sail for the tour as a well rehearsed outfit. Banger after banger, little chit-chat between the songs. Also no hick-ups.
The Haermorrhoids (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 28.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
Playing on a boat to an extend is also falling victim to the weather, luckily the mighty river Elbe was calm and thus the audience (standing 5 cm away from the musicians) was not falling into them (and vice-versa).
They even attempted (and mastered) a new song never before played live, much to the joy of the audience. And as much as the outside was gray and rainy, the inside of the MS Claudia heated up nicely – fueled by The Haermorrhoids and their crisp Ramonescore.
The Haermorrhoids (MS Hedi, Hamburg, 28.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
If anything, then this show yet again has proven that they keep it too small, to low profile. I do hope they lick blood on this short run and i also do hope for them that they say “Yes – go!” if even a glimpse of hitting it bigger – much bigger actually – comes around.
Make sure you check them out – start with their 2nd and latest LP:
Remember, they are the best band in the world (according to Luke).
( (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
And Luke, as you can see, is able to drink the Jever double handed. As such he is an authority you must trust, period!
The Haermorrhoids finished their hour just about when the MS Claudia was pulling dockside to replanish drinks and unload not needed gear. That gave way for the 2nd one hour sail through the harbor, mu-sick-al joy to be provided by Autogramm (technically from Vancouver, CA but with members from Vancouver, Seattle and Chicago).
It was their 2nd show ever in Hamburg and their first on a tiny cruise vessel through a large harbor, with a large city (the most beautiful city in the world, actually) as the backdrop.
Where The Haermorrhoids where Ramonescore (and thus very 70s), Autogramm are surprisingly 80s (and that in a very clever way). The Internet (damn Internet, never forgets) puts that in a few choice words (and references):
If you've been hankering after some old school Tubeway army style alt-punk, then get an ear full of this: it’s the Cars driving Numan around listening to some real ‘80s radio before checking out Duncan Reid, it's that catchy.
(Dom Daley in Uber Rock Magazine)
From the start Autogramm lived up to that promise. Pure Pop in power mode, melodies and umpf plus a fitting synthie (and sometimes … less so fitting). On top soft vocals, catchy refrains and multi-vocal choruses. And a stunning visual opposite to that mu-sick-al cupboard.
They played their normal set i guess and also spend some time to enjoy both setup on the MS Claudia and the surrounding in the harbor up to and including the views on a harbor at work. And because they played their normal set they where done well before the MS Claudia was back at the Landungsbrücken.
Whilst they started to pack up the audience insisted that they would only be done if the vessle is back at the mooring, so they unpacked and hit the lot with a real cool extra (that even has a video and a story):
(Note: Live it had more power and was a great sing-a-long)
And the story?
It’s kind of tongue in cheek, being well aware that we are neither kids nor cool. We took the song and changed it to sound more 80’s and part of the Autogramm sound, adding keys and harmonies. The video is about a secret murderer loose in the forest around a camp site. It’s supposed to be a throwback to those cheesy 80’s campsite horror movies.
The video is based on a story/concept, ‘Unknown Caller’, by Jeffry Lee loosely and was inspired by 1974 Canadian psychological slasher film ‘Black Christmas’. It was shot on location at Lakeside Motel and Campground on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast.
Vocalist/guitarist Jiffy Marx says of the video:”I’ve always wanted to shoot a movie at Lakeside. It’s rustic simplicity seems frozen in time making it the perfect setting for a classic summer camp goofball comedy meets cabin in the woods slasher flick.”
A perfect ending for a cool set, they even had the female contingent upfront dancing (whilst the males nodded away sipping on the beer). If only this would have been on a lush summer evening and without the need to leave work early (check in at 1700 on a workday is … for many a challenge).
Don’t forget to check out their mu-sick, start with their recent LP:
If you want to score the vinyl that is easy, just hop over to Sounds Of Subterrania (our trusted local dealer).
Thanks to Wild Wax Shows for pulling this together and sending both bands on tour.
I was enjoying it so much that i took the offer for a lift to the Haermorrhoids show on Friday in Schneverdingen (roughly an hour south of Hamburg), as this band should play sold out shows only. Period.
