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Tag: Hafenklang

  • … that DeLorean thingy: The return of Yard Bomb and Verbal Abuse!

    … that DeLorean thingy: The return of Yard Bomb and Verbal Abuse!

    Early show, hence perfect for finishing off a hot and sweaty Sunday and still not being too tired for the work shift on Monday.

    As with many others that first Verbal Abuse record still is a special one – it was a hard and ultra fast surprise back then. I never saw them live and once they changed course (and the complete line-up) into what in my ears was more Trash Metal i lost interest, whilst still treasuring “Just An American Band”.

    Gracing Hamburg 40+ years later i was somewhat interested how it sounded today. And that they got paired with Yard Bomb was a bonus, as their very American, very Californian 1980s sound is just near perfect and would even alone justify attendance.

    And here is how Yard Bomb kicked it off:

    Pity that only ever about 50 folks got off (with some regulars being away at Punk Rock Raduno #8 in Bergamo).

    Yard Bomb featured Rolf sans hair on vocals and their original drummer Rüdiger, himself being a devoted Verbal Abuse fan.

    Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    It has been a while that i saw them live and i am not sure if they are still really active. Frank, it does not matter as long as they are able to hand a beauty (and in my head their signature song) like this.

    Turning Up Milhouse, forever:

    For me this is in the Top 10 of all songs bands from Hamburg (and near) ever penned down. It comes as near as a homage to Minor Threat as i could think of.

    And if you do not have their perfect 12″ then most likely you will not have a chance to score, the last 4 copies got sold that evening. That’s it. Gone.

    Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They did surprise some in the audience up to and including Verbal Abuse singer Nicki Sicki. For me they where yet again convincing, it would be great if they do Shows more regular (despite all of their other mu-sick-al ventures).

    Here is how they finished off their set, clocking in at a whopping 19:30 for the 14 songs:

    They not only convinced me, also – like Casey Royer in 2019 – they convinced the headliner to wear a Yard Bomb T-Shirt. Well done boys, well done!

    Fun fact: Their setlist can be turned into fun sentences…

    Yard Bomb – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    .. like “(The) beach patrol (is) turning up Milhouse down in the sewer” or “(We) need more invisible naked man” and “Modern kids feeling high about a man“. Honestly, it made me giggle!

    And whilst giggling about that setlist we also sneak previewed into what Verbal Abuse set out to give the lot.

    Verbal Abuse – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    That is drawing both from their 1984 debut and from their later endeavors like the 2011 thingy with Scheisse Minelli. My guess is that on purpose they avoid the in-between, in my head the right choice.

    And this is how they kicked off:

    Mhhhh, two minutes of an Intro but luckily then kicking off into a one minute banger. I somewhat, at this point, was a bit reluctant still if this would turn into an enjoyable set.

    In hindsight that maybe was also because i was expecting the band to look different. In real they simply looked … real. Aged according to life.

    And eg. for Nicki life included being locked away for a considerable amount of time related to speed found on him.

    Verbal Abuse (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Most of the songs where in same vein, around or below the 2 minute mark and very real. Just like this one:

    To my liking the double-bass on the drums could be let gone but by and large they delivered an entertaining set with a good mu-sick-al spread.

    Verbal Abuse (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 20.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And sure thing they finished off with American Band:

    And the lot chimed in, even in small numbers. Their set was well received, the applause increased song by song actually. And though it turned out a niche show somewhat the turnout was largely experts.

    Good one for a Sunday, a friendly ride home thanks to a mate and a feeling of somewhat having seen two bands of value.

    Lovely!

  • … fucking loud, fucking wild, fucking hot: School Drugs & The Drowns and a sweaty lot!

    … fucking loud, fucking wild, fucking hot: School Drugs & The Drowns and a sweaty lot!

    The Sunday at the Hafenklang with Good Riddance was pleasant and warm, that hydrogenic ball out there though decided to heat things up for The Drowns: It was a very sunny and very hot day, well over 30 degrees. Walking along the banks of the mighty river Elbe towards the Hafenklang was – where it lacked tree cover – a damn hot exercise.

    Arriving early it was time to get rid of water and get some fresh one, booze was not the right choice for the day. And somewhat – given the weather – i was happy to see the show was moved from upstairs (that is damn hot due to the windows) to downstairs in the the larger space (that is a tad bit colder and gives more space to breathe).

    But weather was not the reason, it was presales going well (and remember kids, Clubs and Bands these days need presales!) and a decent turnout was expected.

    School Drugs (indeed a cool band name) kicked it off and i was keen to see them, i did read some good references but shied away from checking their mu-sick-al output to have an unbiased live experience.

    They turned out a five piece, with 5 different stage personas. Most notably the singer, who went wild roaming from the start.

    School Drugs (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And from the start it was clear that the well filled Hafenklang was facing a more than decent set. They where tight, excellent on their instruments, together and still delivered an energetic show (without being bogus showmen).

    How did it sound and look like? Like this:

    A very 80s and a very East Coast approach that worked more than well for me (and also for many around me). They also threw in enough variations (including an instrumental) to keep the audience on their toes.

    Here is the same song from the record – class one!

    Perfect and some of the guitar work in my simple mu-sick-al head triggers Clowns, not the worst reference for me.

    School Drugs (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Great hard & fast set and already getting some of the crowd going. They actually bragged from the stage to get married in order to get a Green Card for Germany, they seemed to dig it here (understandably). Lovely!

    They also had some merch, in hindsight i regret to not have scored these 4 beauties.

    Cool Idea: Spreading the Funeral Arrangement LP over 4 perfectly styled 7″.

    I gave them a decent listen via Bandcamp and they are a great quartet. Perfect from sound to visual, wow. Now my greedy record collector scum self needs to go hunting.

    Great start and by the time The Drowns came on condensing water/sweat came already dripping from the ceiling.

    And this is how The Drowns took ownership of the stage:

    They followed right where their friends School Dogs left it, hard & fast but less hardcore – more rock (as in Punk Rock).

    I missed them every time they graced Hamburg before though many of me mates put more than good words forward (only one outsider claimed “too much of a rock show for me”).

    Whilst i can hear the claim towards “rock” i could not make out the “show” element. They are humble, outspoken and real. And emit a shitload of positive energy down from the stage.

    The Drowns (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Their main asset next to drive & speed is their multi vocal singing, this both adds to the choruses but also the needed variations for the songs.

    The Drowns (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And, as a bonus, they can even tone and slow it down a bit and still deliver a punchy message.

    What also caught my ear and eye was the fact that they where fucking loud (even with ear protection) and that somewhat the audience did shrink, i guess either people gasping for air or just being forced out by volume.

    Those who stayed in front of the stage though slowly lost the nordic reseved style and to the end turned into a surprisingly big and dancing pit.

    The Drowns (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They finished it off with some extras and for the start had the perfect sing-a-long from that little green island:

    Ever since 1980, when SLF played for my 16th birthday at the Markthalle, i can sing-a-long to that one:

    And they say they’re a part of you
    And that’s not true, you know
    They say they’ve got control of you
    And that’s a lie, you know
    They say you will never be free
    Free
    Free

    Splendid!

    Here is what the set plan looked like:

    The Drowns – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 01.07.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    They played about an hour and where totally done after it (though they had the hindsight of arriving to Hamburg and the start of the tour a day early to be able to shed off the jetlag easier) – as much as the audience was.

    Sauna feeling included for free!

    For me it was two bands i have not seen prior and both where great in their own way. Bonus: Both together worked well. Strange though that somewhat less people stayed for The Drowns…no clue why.

    Luckily there is cooling down ahead, on stage hopefully it remains loud and wild!

  • … packing a punch into 60 minutes: Good Riddance!

    … packing a punch into 60 minutes: Good Riddance!

    Summer is back in Hamburg and plenty of shows ahead, bands do like to tour in summer. On a warm and pleasant Sunday evening it was Good Riddance who finished their almost 3 week run through central Europe in Hamburg.

    Support was to be from Slaughterhouse but short notice they pulled out and thus caused confusion (as to who is going to play with GR).

    I was actually keen to see them and, greedy record collector scum that i am, i was keen to score their single-sided 12″ (with eachings).

    They got something and they sport a female contingent, always a positive thingy.

    I finally got to understand that Loaded would be the support and in my head it triggered “Duff McKagan’s Loaded” but not a German band. But that was far off, Loaded are from Mannheim, have 30 years under their belt, and …

    … a mate referenced “Ska” in their context. Not really a good trigger for me. As with many German bands i guess i happily ignored them over 30 years, so i was bit reluctant at first.

    In reality they turned out as a lovely 3 piece with their main asset being their always smiling, always laughing and hart hitting drummer Julia. The positive energy she emits, boy – it does make up for the occasional ska interlude.

    Loaded (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.06.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    I guess by and large they have morphed into something that is much more on the punk side, the guitar sounding more rock and the bass (manned by an exiled American) is more on the hardcore side.

    Somewhat a surprisingly interesting set, at moments even with right amount of umpf to take the audience along. They got a fair share of applause beyond their fans in row one. And they deserved it, short notice they opted for the slot and endured a “7 hour hell drive” back to Mannheim.

    I will now check their output in more detail, I also guess i will not pass the option to see them again should it arise.

    Not seeing Good Riddance on the other hand is not an option, in my single minded mu-sick-al head they are one of the few of the US (and specifically Californian) bands of the early 90s that are still relevant (and that still have a say).

    Here is what they set up for Hamburg for ending their Europe 2025 tour:

    Good Riddance – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.06.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    And this is how they kicked off:

    From the start i had the sense that we would be lucky and GR would be going ALL IN for the final slot in Europe. Energy, fun and loads of forward pushing power.

    Loaded (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.06.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They Hafenklang was not completely full but there where enough folks to fill the room and have a decent going in front of the stage, including plenty of sing-a-longs for many of their old hits.

    Best thing – next to Chucks banter with the audience – was the guitar sound. Luke not only shredded it like hell (and with relentless energy) but it sounded near perfect. That was a real “wow” throughout the set!

    Loaded (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.06.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    The same relentless energy by the way came from Sean on the drums, he was hitting it hard at any speed, much like a human metronome.

    Loaded (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.06.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    I guess nobody in the sweaty but happy audience noted that time flew and GR should have gotten a speeding ticket.

    The finished their set and came back for some extra fun:

    Just puuurfect! Ever since they are back at it they come on a regular basis to Hamburg and every time they have been utmost convincing. Lets hope that indeed they have a new record in the making, because that would bring them over yet again.

    Great evening at the Hafenklang and i was lucky to capture the essence of a GR show in a single shot (though Sean is hidden).

    So this is for you:

    Click! for high resolution version download (opens in new window).

    There was no vinyl to score but a grateful mate not only did hit me up with a ride but also with the last ever Effigies record (“Burned”, a loving memory for John François Kezdy who tragically died in 2023 before the record could be completed). So was not only home early but also with black gold in tow.

    Perfect summer Sunday!