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  • … just thankful: The last of a great DIY and LOCAL series!

    … just thankful: The last of a great DIY and LOCAL series!

    Good ideas do not last forever, but good ideas can make a lasting impact. The fine folks that keep the Punkrock Hamburg community going had such a good idea in 2019 and as ever with their ideas they made it real.

    Just DIY.

    2025 and 4 editions done (annual, sure dropped during Covid times) it was now time for the 5th and last edition at its chosen home, the Stellwerk in Harburg.

    Again DIY and local heroes only. And again sold out.

    Blanker Hohn (Harburgs longest standing Punk Band) kicked it off, delivering a short but crisp set of their own Deutsch-Punk variant, up to and including lamenting about yours truly – thanks for that Oile!

    Blanker Hohn (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    It is a genre i still can not relate to but Blanker Hohn by now (compared to 2019) i can relate to: They have modernized sound and delivery and they have a couple of songs that do speak to me. And they had their local fan base dancing in front of the stage, setting precedent for the rest of the evening.

    Next Küken and they kicked off like this:

    Black Air from their 3rd Album, what a wonderful heavy slab to get it going! And from there they took it down the Küken path: Just a full on barrage of their very own, stripped to the bone, bare metal, destilled … you name it, it will fit. As long as it comes with the annotation of “unique” and “Punk Rock”.

    Küken (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    To my surprise they even had some of the lot dancing and i got to admit that indeed it felt like a huge amount of energy coming down and energizing the lot. Kudos, for me a near perfect and to the point set.

    Perfect for the occasion.

    Them Haermorrhoids it took a wee bit longer to setup and once the finally kicked in it sounded … just not as perfect as i would have expected. Not sure what it was, amongst many little bits eg. the drums sounded a wee bit card board instead of “crisp”.

    The Haermorrhoids (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    On top i somewhat had the feel they speeded through their set, tempo slightly upward. Luckily this rather slow song from their recent split EP with Proton Packs showcases what they are good at – here is C.I.A.:

    Whilst i am normally somewhat enthusiastic when it comes to my Haermorrhoids live experience this set somewhat did not make it to the same level. It could also have been me, still mentally suffering from the FCSP loss vs. BVB earlier that afternoon, a loss that in the 2nd half was feeling like the team not having any energy anymore.

    The Haermorrhoids (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Whilst The Haermorrhoids relentlessly pushed ahead, i still had this nag in the back of my head that condensed somewhat to “uninspired“. But it may have been with me only, the rest of the lot was either frantically dancing away or enjoying it as far as i could see.

    And the worst was yet to come: When i wanted to score their brand new 7″ after the show they (and the record) were all gone. Bugger!

    Next the Headliner, the unstoppable Party Machine outta Hamburg Horn, with the following setlist:

    Gerd – Setlist (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)

    And they kicked of with the song that Lemmy stole off them and gave to the Ramones – here is G.E.R.D.:

    Bang! And from there it was like a match from heaven: A band with exclusively known sing-a-longs and a crowd eager to sing-a-long and dance it away, on the floor in front of the stage and beyond.

    Gerd (Stellwerk, Harburg, 01.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    For some in the audience it was even too much (of booze) and they flippered along in the pit until a careful friend took them out (or they took themselves out). I happily stayed off booze and enjoyed it. And the joy was way beyond the mu-sick-al experience, the room felt full of joy (though towards the end of the Gerd set felt already no longer packed).

    With some overtime and slightly after midnight Gerd called it a day, to almost triumphant cheers. And, as far as i could make out, Gerd also gained a few new supporters out of the local circuit.

    I guess there could not be a better finish for the show and a better finishing line for that good idea formed in 2019.

    I am damn sure that it will have a lasting impact (DIY and Local!) and i am also sure that we get something else as a surprise next.

    If i could have my wish then it would be another Sommermärchen, in sunny beach setting at the Brewery. That was top notch entertainment in a perfect setting.

    FANX Perry and Arne for pulling this through over the years, much appreciated!

  • Bücher, schnell gelesen: 1.758

    Bücher, schnell gelesen: 1.758

    Margot Douaihy – Verbrannte Gnade (Blumenbar, 2024)

    Gelesen: 19. – 28.02.2025 (netto 360 Seiten)

    Aus dem Amerikanischen von Eva Kemper.

    Ein absolut grauenvoller Auswuchs in den US of A ist “Christlicher Punk” oder “Christlicher Hardcore”. Ne Danke, da muss ich relativ schnell speien!

    Auftritt Margot Douaihy und ihrer Figur:

    Schwester Holiday entstand aus dem Aufeinanderprallen meiner streng katholischen Erziehung und meiner Bewunderung für Riot Grrrl und Punkrock. Ich wollte eine Figur schaffen, die sowohl echten Glauben als auch rohen Trotz verkörpert, jemanden, der mit seinen eigenen Dämonen kämpft und gleichzeitig versucht, andere zu retten.

    Ups, das ist mal ein Setting. Und dann noch in New Orleans.

    Schwester Holiday ist tatsächlich Nonne und Musiklehrerin in einer Christlichen Schule.

    ( (c) Aufbau Verlage 2024)

    Sie trägt Halstuch und Handschuhe, denn vor ihrer Zeit unten in der Hitze von New Orleans war sie in einer Punk Band in NYC und ist über und über tätowiert. Ach ja, Lesbisch ist sie auch.

    Was sie nach New Orleans in den kleinen Orden verschlagen hat ist nicht sofort klar. Und erzählen kann sie das auch nicht, denn sie ist zu sehr damit beschäftigt einen Mord und einen Brand aufzuklären. Und als Detektivin nervt sie ihre Schwestern, die Brand-Ermittlerin und die Detektives der Mordkommission.

    Und je mehr sie über die Ermittlungen erzählt, je mehr lässt sie ihr Leben, ihre Lieben und ihre Vergangenheit einfließen. Und die ist ziemlich spannend.

    Und ganz am Ende klärt sie nicht nur den Fall, sondern es klärt sich auch warum sie Nonne wurde und warum Feuer da eine Rolle spielt.

    Launig, zum Teil mit Längen aber mit einem klugen Blick auf die Post-Katrina Gesellschaft in New Orleans. Mit einem Blick einer Aussenseiterin in einer Aussenseiterposition.

    Mal gucken wie der nächste Teil wird, ein wenig mehr Krimi wäre mir recht.

    Soundtrack dazu: BL’AST! – For Those Who’ve Graced The Fire!, was sonst?

    PS: Und Margot Douaihy so?

  • … packed Thursday: Nasty Rumors and Cyanide Pills!

    … packed Thursday: Nasty Rumors and Cyanide Pills!

    Oh my, end of February almost and only by now i got to see my first show at the Hafenklang. Somewhat frustrating but as the time went towards loved ones in need of care it is somewhat all fine (though not ideal).

    The package was cool, both bands sporting almost the same idea: Uptempo, Punk Rock and a heavy scent of Power Pop. And whilst the early show (doors 1900) at the start felt empty it turned into a nice packed upstairs at the beloved Hafenklang.

    First the Bern contingent, last time over in 2023 as support for Chelsea. Back then i was somewhat full of praise, this time round some of me mates where. They got something going but this evening it sounded to me “too much the same”.

    Nasty Rumours (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.02.2025 (c) gehkacken.de 2025)

    I have no clue why this feeling somewhat was paired with an undercurrent of “lacking inspiration” … as they did have a good tempo, an almost good sound and got people somewhat moving and smiling.

    Guess it must have been me, on this evening: They are in the end pleasant to listen to. Still, i won’t add a record of them.

    After some shuffle and a revive of the Bass Amp it was time for the Leeds contingent. And with them it was an even better sound (thanks to a 2nd guitar with a perfect clear twang), a wee bit more variation and entertaining orchestrated stage movements (always a bonus in this household).

    Cyanide Pills (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.02.2025 (c) gehkacken.de 2025)

    And, as ever, they are a near perfect party machine, well rehearsed and no-nonsense. In that vein they speeded through their set like no tomorrow, little breaks and almost no chit-chat or banter with the audience.

    Cyanide Pills (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.02.2025 (c) gehkacken.de 2025)

    Did the lot like it? Yes, the lot did like it – broad smiles, shy movements but overall a great and joyful feel. They finished so quickly that they just immediately came back and gave some extras.

    Pity though that they continue to ignore my loveliest song:

    Hey Lads – next time pleaaaase! A round of beer will be on me, if!

    For the greedy #recordcollectorsarepretentiousarseholes they even had a tour single on the merch table, get it here if you missed it:

    Perfect packed Thursday it was, with loads of known faces and friends around – that did feel good!

    Now i gotta go repeat repeat!