I had a somewhat shitty work week and it was eventually crowned on Friday by a shitty away performance of my football team. Largely unhappy i strode into Saturday with some doubts if i could stand unknown mu-sick but the love of my life kicked me out and demanded that i go out and enjoy.
And right she was. I was not alone, the show was sold out for quite some time and was to be packed. Good for the bands, better for the Hafenklang.
Support was Bad Assumption from Münster, self proclaimed track suit punks.
Bad Assumption (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.03.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
I got to a admit that it has been a while that a band was not able to touch me at all. From presentation, to the music itself and even down to the set list … it just did not make click at all.
None of their songs worked for me, for some in the audience though it seemed to work. Check them out for yourself, i fear i will not be trying to see them again.
Next Dead Pioneers out of sunny Denver, Colorado. Sporting a long set list and rumors of a fast set. Would work for me!
They are not your run-of-the-mill hardcore band on Alternative Tentacles, as they came about as a means of supporting an art performance by the lead singer Gregg. He is well known Indigenous artist of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and wanted some real music to complement a performance piece titled “The Punk Pan-Indian Romantic Comedy”.
He is known for Graphic and Spoken Word art and the latter is nicely mixed into what is by and large Punk (and when fast Hardcore), with plenty of elements of Rock (of the more modern side).
Dead Pioneers (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.03.2026)
(c) gehkacken.de 2026
It did work for me, specifically as it came down hard and fast. And with some clear cut messages (sans preaching).
And as a devoted fan of the books of Tony Hillerman i understood why Gregg greeted us in his tribe language and why he noted that his ancestors own him. And why he dislikes people noting that he does not look like … an Indianer.
This is how they finished their set with … the song is called Dead Pioneers:
It nicely summed up a great set by a great band (a well oiled engine) with a great messenger (aka story teller).
Once finished they mixed and mingled and where utmost approachable. Genuinely interested in meeting people and getting feedback. Responsive. As such i chatted a bit, continued to be surprised about the audience (very different faces) and had my two post show beers.
And then i rode home to the love of my life and thanked her for reminding me that #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!
