I have to admit that i was doubtful. On more than one front actually. On the one side i got the ticket almost immediately when the show was announced, only to find that about 40odd people where even faster. Smelling like a high attendance for a band without any history other than … that other side. And that being the nagging question in the back of my head “Are they just an internet hype or good for real?`”.
As ever the answer does require to get your ass off the ground, so back home from work and out to the Monkeys for early doors at 19:00. And an outlook of maybe or maybe not a support. As Sam explained later he got nowhere to get one booked, even up to bands rejecting to support them (most likely for rather odd reasonings, but hey – own choices).
Arriving early i found already some mates that attended the Imploders on Tuesday too and i found them already armed with merch. And once i was inside i got to know that all 7″ where already gone. As my strict modus operandi nowadays is to buy records only when a band convinces me live i got a wee bit nervous. And once i was tipped off that LP’s where running low that plan went out of the window, i grabbed my dose of vinyl prior to the show.
And believe me or not, i have never seen a band carrying that large amount of merch into a club and selling it like there was no future. Shirts, Vinyl … go!
A lot to live up to now for CMI and from the buzz around me i could feel that the 200+ audience in the well filled Monkeys was as eager as much as me and me mates where.
Came 21:00 and CMI where on stage and took on the lot. The singer was sporting a black German DFB Shirt from Adidas paired with his signature white Adidas trainers. And as surprise the 2nd guitar was manned by the Charlie of Chubby & The Gang and The Chisel fame.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
The kicked in a wee bit slower than expected, i was thinking (dreaming?) of them killing it in high speed gear and facing up to a moshpit of death. Dreams actually, initially they faced a large empty in front of the stage.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
It needed the singer to come down and engage with the lot and indeed the lot responded. To my surprise many where able to sing-a-long (ie. have listened to them over and over) and help with singing.
Whilst the rest of the band was silent and more on the backdrop side the singer was outgoing, outspoken and happy to dive into the pit, full force.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
More than once he praised how happy they where to find places in Europe like the Monkeys where a considerable large contingent of misfits, outcasts and non conformative would cheer them.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
To my surprise there was no pit violence at all, even though some of the attendees where from out of town. Half of the audience was known regulars for this type of shows at the Monkeys and half seemed people i had not see before – i guess indeed CMI had a considerable pull or lure on people also from out of town.
Coming back to being convinced musically i gotta admit that they not fully convinced me, but that was less the music (though i expected them a wee bit more on the H of H/C) then the presentation. They had way to many breaks between the songs, too much chatting and tuning.
Bangers around and below the magic 02:00 mark should come in like 3-round bursts from an A-14, thereafter it is time for drinks, tuning and banter. I guess they stretched their set to about 45 minutes of playing all they had.
But distilled down to the songs – top notch aggressive hardcore with a casual attitude. And that ain’t bad at all. In contrast! They where good. They where real.
I was home early like Tuesday, had my dose of vinyl and was ready for a start at work on Thursday without a hangover. And thus somewhat happy!
PS: And the name of the band`? Just a tongue-in check lift outta an Army manual… effectiveness, pride and self-discipline as a band. What did you think?
PPS: Bonus Pint for them for making Oliver Kahn subject of a casual Adidas violence single…
A busy weekend to finish off September, with opportunities ranging from the MOi!n It’s Hamburg Festival (Edition #8) at the Monkeys, me mates Frosch 60+ birthday bash and FCSP playing away at Berlin (with ~ 12.000 Fans travelling, could have been me too). Hard stuff to choose from and taking all of these options somehow would not work out (though i was proven 2/3 wrong later).
Friday i choose the Monkeys, specifically as it would feature two surprises for me: Los Pepes had been on me bucket list for quite some time and Rotten XIII from Euskadi where something i regretted to have missed at the Indra in April 2022.
Los Pepes kicked off at the Monkeys quite early, i guess some people simply missed them because it was a footie kick-off at 20:45. They hail from a little niche within the niche of evening, some sort of edge overlap in the wide (warning, euphemism incoming) territory of Oi!:
The loudest powerpop band on earth… the Motörhead of powerpop! No hit wonder 60s and 70s garage pop melodies drowning in a wall of punk rock guitar. Good Vibrations records served up with a Testors punch in the face. Songs about love, antipathy and getting up to no good. They’ll stick in your head and leave your ears ringing.
Let’s agree it is Power Pop on steroids, it is indeed the thunder and drive of hard hitting Rock’n’Roll sugar coated with the beauty and twang of Power Pop. And delivered taking a Johnny Ramone memorial stance on stage (at the least by the towering bass and by the 2nd guitar).
Los Pepes (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 29.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
They did not waste time on audience interaction, they rather fast forwarded through their set in a near perfect delivery. And within that, they even got some people moving and a fair share of applause.
Where they a 100% fit for the evening? I think yes, as much as Alvilda from France would be on Saturday. They both cover some of the softer edges (lol) and indeed they cover that well. I thoroughly enjoyed them and thus they ended up as the record pick of the night (and if you are a regular reader you know what that means).
With the City Saints from sunny Göteborg next it was back to more traditional territory. Straight forward working class Rock’n’Roll, delivered rather unpretentious. They sing in Swedish and in English, with some neat sing-a-longs in the latter.
And as such them Göteborgare got much more of the audience, they also had an easier bonding as they played more than once already to more-or-less the same locals over here.
City Saints (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 29.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
By and large i liked it, though i have to admit that at some times it was a too simple receipt for me ears. But hey, that is the beauty of such occasions – you get a crisp exposure also of things that are not 100% up your alley. The rest of the by now more and more filled Monkeys gave them plenty of cheers, so i better shut up.
From the shores of the North it was then all the way down to the middle if Italy, Mad Rollers hail from Rome and musically they trace back the same roots that Giuda took in: Proto Punk, though with less Glam.
Their debut album was recorded by the Giuda producer as far as i can make out and thus there is some truth that it sounds like a early Giuda record. But hey, what is wrong to play in a successful niche, a niche that has it’s devotees and a niche where you can excel?
Mad Rollers (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 29.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
A review of their record summed it neatly up:
‘Bish, Bash, Bosh’, and it’s like the 70s never ended, in the best way. One listen, and you’ll be convinced you’ve known it all your life. Producer Silvestri has mastered the Chinn/Chapman hit factory sound. My heart goes out to any young bands in Rome; the benchmark , for this style, is immense.
‘Another Night’ adds some cheesy keyboards, but doesn’t stray into the 80s, so if Giuda’s brief flirtation with Duran Duran wasn’t your thing, you’ll be happy here.
My legs got the beat instantly like me many in the audience. It was namely the female contingent up front, who could not stop their dancing shoes from moving. And right so! Strong beat, driving bass and superb twin guitars and a singer that takes the audience along.
Great stuff, great live band.
It was for Rotten XIII from Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea to finish the lot off and boy did they do that.
5 young lads from Larraga and a mate noted immediately after their first song “They must be very angry“. Stance, delivery – all came deep from the heart and all came delivered with all anger & stamina they got.
Rotten XIII (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 29.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
Mu-sick-ally they are broad: Fast stompers, slower and longer songs with some folk like edges and even using outlandish instruments like the saxophone. How did it sound? It sounded like this:
It is though only one angle, one corner of their wide abilities. They got me and judging by the cheers they got plenty of the by now well filled Monkeys. By storm i’d say. The singer tried to explain bit’s and pieces and more than once apologized that their English was not that good.
Who cares actually? Even without understanding Euskara there was enough in their songs to a) like it and b) almost feel the urge to sing-a-long. The sing-a-long in the audience was delivered too, i guess they had a couple of mates with them.
Rotten XIII (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 29.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
They did not stun me as much as Kaleko Urdangak did in 2019 but they where a worthy headliner to finish off the first day on a high. The little niche that these two days at the Monkeys would showcase has indeed some high’s in France but that is not all there is – also bands from Euskal Herria continue to deliver on a high.
Well done boys, specifically as this was only ever the 4th show outside of their own ground.
Suggest you check out their latest record:
I was home late and luckily not knackered, as i resisted the thirst most of the time.
But i still had options for Saturday. Sure not i was going to travel to Berlin and sure i would start the evening at the Hafenklang (a mates invite is always worth more than my 2-day tickets for the Monkeys) but would i sneak out and head back to see The Drowns?
MOi!n It's Hamburg #8
(Monkeys Music Club & Indra, Hamburg, 29./30. September 2023)
Came Saturday and it was a private function at the Hafenklang. And would surround me with some of the Punk Rock Hamburg family, fellow old punks and generally good people.
The plans to get a last and final stand of Jam Today with some extras though fell through the crack short notice, as their drummer tested positive for Covid. Damn.
Live music thus was limited to the nameless band (that quickly was christened Frogger by the lot) that was originally only ever to play a few songs as a very personal gift of Nico (one of the guitars and one who helped me mate to to conquer fate).
They play guitar pop, at some times like early Cure at other times more like 80’s bands from the UK. Within that they also threw two Jam covers, namely to please the lot (and lot was pleased).
It was a nice surprise over some of the more obvious choices me mate could have made and i recon it was his return for the support provided. And within the short set they also covered the very personal song that Hedwig penned for him for his 40ties birthday:
Yes, they call him Frosch. Less Pogo now, as the knees are utterly ruined but still attending loads of shows, much more than i do. And holding the season ticket next to me a the Millerntor.
Frosch gave a little speech and reminded people that fate can strike anytime, anywhere (something our little community has experience more than once recently) and that you must enjoy the moment.
And that the lot did, with DJ Starry Eyes perfectly providing the soundtrack to a couple of hours of chatting, dancing, drinking and … enjoying the result in Berlin. Top of the league, as much as this party. And as much as the people around me.
For those who don’t know that song, here is the beauty i did for his 40s birthday following the drunken guarantee to Hedwig & me mate “… if you record the song i’ll put it out as a picture disk“. Said & done, back then in 2003.
Demolition Girl & The Strawberry Boys – They Call Him Frog (Holy War Records, 2003, limited to 500 – last copies on sale!)
And here is how the original sounds like:
Happiest Mate, it is a privilege to be on your side and it is a pleasure to have you around, continued.
The options on Saturday? I did not take them but one of the lot was so brave to take a taxi, see The Drowns and be back (with companions) for some more dancing. Well done Mao, well done.
And Sunday? Lazy.
Perfect weekend i’d say. Welcome to Hamburg i’d say.
The lead in towards this master class was just another master class by FCSP, a neat home win vs. Holstein Kiel that finally had the team score at home. And not once, not twice but 5 times.
FC St. Pauli vs. KSV Holstein Kiel 5:1 (3:0) ( (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
The master class exhibit here was the tactical choice to give up the box and score (4 out of 5) from outside the box with stunning kicks from far out. That home win was a perfect intro into the early show at the Monkeys, fueled with joy i set out on me bike to see not less than one of the best French band of these days (next to Syndrome 81 and Kronstadt)
Cran are very new and as such i guess their setlist included all the songs they have done so far – it covered their great LP, a new (old) song and their excellent (if not world class) contribution to the Paris on Oi! compilation).
Cran – Setlist (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 – from the collection of Monsieur Matthias)
They started bright and early at 20:00 and where done within i guess 30 minutes. But stunning 30 minutes. 30 minutes of near perfection. Sturdy drumming (that though sometimes was not mellow enough, the only little naughty bad feel i had during the set). A near perfect guitar wandering between Blitz, Test Tube Babies and Wave. A full perfect Cold Wave Bass sound and execution, with good drive. And aggressive but fitting vocals and presentation by Edlira.
Cran (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
And how did it sound? Here is how one of the more tempered songs sounded:
I was lucky to capture Edlira on stage, most of the time she used the void in front of the stage to roam around and dance with those from the audience how also danced along.
They have something and they are one of the great examples of creating and subsequently filling a niche within a niche genre (which itself is a sub-genre of another genre). Marketing literate people would have fun to unpack that, i rather enjoyed a great set of something that the French currently do extremely well.
Cran (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
They finished off their set with Famine, a song that is as much great on the musical side as it is on the lyrics: It is a hymn (and sing-a-long) to carry the memory of the Holodomor – the great Ukrainian famine of the 1930s and simply another forgotten genocide.
Wow, what a stunning set by a young band. For very good reasons they got plenty of applause and support, up to and including my friend Matthias dancing all the way throughout the set.
And for me it was the much needed live set that did allow me to finally buy the record (remember the rule: Only buy records if the band convinces you live). This was holding true to the promise to their bass player when he graced the Monkeys earlier in the year with Claimed Choice.
After that great but short set any band would have just a little bit of difficulty unless … yeah, unless they completely change course, direction and sound.
And voila, Béton Armé did set themselves up on stage, had a little but of sound probing and knocked us back in time. They are self-proclaimed a Montreal Oi! band inspired by French Punk/Oi! bands from the 80’s and that is what they did throw at the audience:
It was very primitive, very cut back to the bare bone, full of chorus-chants (like on this one from their 2023 EP) and delivered by the singer full on at dance floor level instead of the stage.
And what comes across initially too primitive turns out as just a crisp delivery of some really lovely sing-a-longs (if only i would speak French). And whilst the band on stage did not move a lot but hammered out the songs with a sort of smile, the singer was on non-stop movement, boxing, kicking and just like a whirlwind.
Béton Armé (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
Go and check them out for yourself, best live. They are worth it if you dare bare bone and a real deal. You won’t be disappointed! And if they pop up in a package – even more, because i saw all 4 supporting Crane in front of the stage and later No Class. They are simply into it!
It took No Class (sometimes also referred as Nö Class) a wee bit more to setup (as they had two guitars) but they did not fiddle too much with sound settings. By 21:45 (remember, it was a 20:00 start) they where ready to ruck (though Australia just lost to Fiji in the 2023 Ruby World Cup in France).
No Class (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
And where Cran where the French surprise and Béton Armé the Canadian full-frontal it was no surprise that No Class very clearly took the audience down under, into a sleazy & greasy bovver territory with rustic calls into Rose Tattoo and – no surprise – Colored Balls.
It is all baseline Rock’n’Roll in the end and it is all about energy. And loads of energy came down from the stage, all contingents (Hamburg, Norway and Denmark) where up in front of the stage and everybody enjoyed it.
No Class (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.09.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
The only item of concern was that No Class where thoroughly roughed up in the previous rucks of their “Trouble over Europe” Tour, they admitted that they where a wee bit spent. This was their final date leading into a couple of days off (recovery, anyone?) before they finish of the tour in style in Paris.
As such they only ever got like 30 minutes under their belt and then needed recovery time (which i guess they later traded against party time at the Jolly Roger).
As far as i am concerned they are a simple but perfect party band, like the other two they would have fitted MOi!n It’s Hamburg just perfect. Because it would have given them so much more bodies in front of the stage.
Whilst me mates took home shirts, EP’s and even more i focused on convinced me most – Cran. As such the excellent Cran LP ended up at my home.
Whilst the Millerntor was sold out for the home win, this master class session was far from. It had more attendees than the Claimed Choice gig (and people coming all the way from Norway and Denmark to see the package) but still lacked overall presence from the Hamburg lot.
Sad.
Great evening, perfect timing, early home and on Monday still a broad smile. Life can be good, you gotta just enjoy it! And whilst enjoying yourself, you gotta support the band and the club, please. Me and me mates did it and we got something back.
