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Tag: Hafenklang

… Punk Rock live rule #6345: shitty sound is for the support stint not for the main act!
It wasn’t the best start into a Friday night show: I was sick most of the week, my team managed to loose despite scoring 3 goals, me mates who would accompany me to footie and to the show where off sick and i had plenty of time walking from the Millerntor down to the Hafenklang to replay the grotesque game i just had seen. Aaarrgghhhhhhhh….

At least the Hafenklang was warm, friendly (i had my ear protection forgotten at home but thanks to the lovely girl behind the bar got a replacement) and to-be full of fellow old punks. And actually it was to be sold out (no surprise, given The Generators street-credibility and musical capabilities) and one of me mates came late from the game and without a ticket and was … unlucky. Not very clever mate!

Toxic Vapors (Hafenklang, Hamburg 11.03.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

First on Toxic Vapors from ~100km south of Hamburg, so they do not pass as locals. They kicked of with a tight and fast version of “Filler” (Minor Threat) followed by “Boredom” (Buzzcocks) before relating to own material. The unsatisfactory first slot, as ever, was paired with ignorance by the crowd. But they managed through that and at the end they got some smiles. The Toten Hosen cover though was something i would always let go.

The Lamplighters (Hafenklang, Hamburg 11.03.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

Next The Lamplighters from Sachsen-Anhalt who impressed me on many fronts: High on the list for rather pointless band name, a guitar player with a huge effect board (almost like in a surf band) and a bass player who centers (but does not sing). Very unusual and surprisingly good! The only item that did put me down was the fact the songs where almost all one tempo – variation please!

Unfortunately i only captured a short snippet and that from the side of the stage, but listen for yerself…

They got quite some applause from the by now full house and they seems to have thoroughly enjoyed the set.

But the crowd was waiting for Doug, Mike and the rest of The Generators – and they got it in a “wham-bam-thank-you-mam” fashion:

Shitty sound, technical issues and a bass player AWOL. That’s punk rock and it does not stop The Generators. For my liking the drums where to loud, the guitars to silent and the stage light too dark. Never mind, some of it got corrected during the set but the sound never was quite right (maybe on stage, but that is not really helpful for the audience).

But on stage they seem not to care too much, handled technical issues like pros (more or less) though Doug sometimes asked probing questions to his fellow band members (“Are we ready…?“). Still, the fun prevailed and they took course through the rather large Œuvre of 10 long players and some more and were met by an enthusiastic crowd (with an eye for detail and typical Hamburg hospitality ie. serving them some Jägermeister on stage).
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The Generators (Hafenklang, 11.03.2016) (c) gehkacken.de)
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And what more? Endless encores, i lost count after like six or so. So here is some more mu-sick to make you jealous (if you stood outside without a ticket mate):

That should have been the theme for the sound actually, “There gotta be a better way …“.

And on the final return to the stage they finally had an ear for the endless requests from the audience for “… play some Schleprock” (somehow this must be a bit of an annoying legacy i guess) – they gave a no frills version of my loveliest Schleprock song:

I guess that one went out to all the cheerleaders who talk to much, eh?

Luv it, just luv it! And it makes me so jealous that some of me mates saw Schleprock at PRB15 last year, damn them forever!

They blasted for 1 1/2 hours, took no prisoners and boy Doug is the perfect front man no matter what (by the looks, by the smile, by the commandeering of the crowd and sure by the voice). If only, if only – the sound would have been perfect. Then it would have been a perfect set, from a perfect band and would have wiped away my footie tears with endless joy. But hey, i am complaining from a very comfortable point of view and for fucks sake this is punk fucking rock!

With a nice Generators shirt for me wife i headed home and felt all fine again: good show, saw a lot of faces and finished of a bad week (out of work being sick) in best possible way. Thanks Hafenklang, Toxic Vapors, The Lamplighers and The Generators!
2016/03/13
… ett jütt noch immer jut jejange!

That was a bid off & an odd one, as it was not my mu-sickal standard setting but a huge way back to something that was important when i was a 16 year old teenager discovering what in Hamburg was coined “Neue Musik” (and that was all sorts of punk, new wave, industrial and what have you stuff).

But all of that was void as earlier that week news came around that a fellow mate did meet fate and just by sheer luck was still with us (but in hospital and awaiting a pacemaker for his heart (which choose to no longer function as designed and desired)).

Black Heino (Hafenklang Hamburg, 25.02.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

First on where Black Heino from Berlin, who dub themselves as “Post Punk” and “Hamburger Schule” and for me meant nothing – this is just not my type of music and way too intellectualized (if that word exists). They even killed one of The Who’s worst efforts – the 1965 hit “The Kids are alright” which is a Beatlesque effort from where i sit was killed with a 12 string guitar (in itself something i dislike). Never mind – i am not here to judge them…

Fehlfarben (Hafenklang Hamburg, 25.02.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

Next on Fehlfarben with that oldpunk Peter Hein (aka Janie J Jones), who can claim a long history in music, going all the way back to Charlys Girls (1977), Mittagspause (1978), Fehlfarben (1980) and Family 5 (1981) and a constantly evolving style. And no lasting mainstream success, something he anyway was never found off i take.

Fehlfarben in 1980 made a big impression on me, something different than pogo punk and something new (as in German). They folded quickly but where key instigators of what ended up as “Neue Deutsche Welle” and was only ever a nuisance.

Fehlfarben (Hafenklang Hamburg, 25.02.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

They still have on and off records, quite unique pieces of pop muzak with extremely intelligent German words or better rants by Peter. Also on the rooster is another household name from my youth – i always liked “Der Plan” from Düsseldorf for both their simplistic electronic muzak but also for their incredible great cover and stage design – and that is Kurt Dahlke aka Pyrolator, who provides some of the throb-throb bubble in the backdrop.

Fehlfarben (Hafenklang Hamburg, 25.02.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

So what was it like to see a name and a face from the past? Luckily they did not play their massive hits in a 1980 fashion but did stick to a 2015 style. It may have taken some people off in the packed Hafenklang but i believe this is the only way to do it if you want to maintain credibility for the stuff you are doing.

Fehlfarben (Hafenklang Hamburg, 25.02.2016 (c) gehkacken.de)

And whilst the rest of the band did stay “shut” Peter entertained the audience big time and sometimes even falling back into local Düsseldorf slang. They played quite long (1 1/2 hours i bet) and they finished off their 3rd (or was it the 5th?) encore in style i’d say!

And me mate? Was not only on my mind but also on several other peoples mind – we all where quite shocked and considered him to be ultra lucky. Some already payed a visit to hospital, some will do later. But one will carry a small gift with some choice words from Peter Hein on the front cover.

Get well mate, the world without you would be so much darker!

2016/02/26
… The Freeze conquered Germany, the punk rock capital of Deutschland (apparently)!

Their last real effort is from 1999 and their only steady member is Cliff Hanger, the manic singer. But their records are timeless beauties and i can still sing to any song from Rabid Reaction – so the choice between Anti-Pasti at Monkeys and The Freeze at Hafenklang was easy!

Punktucke (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

Support was Punktucke from Hamburg which was feared to be a bit of a downside, though they proved much better in the end. Me mate said “…they are boring, let’s go and see if we can have a drink outside” prior to the show but then we stayed on. They have some good tunes, some even wander into post-punk territory. But what they don’t have is stage presence. And that add’s to the downside i guess. But a tight set and even some appreciation from the audience (120 odd who where there for The Freeze predominantly i’d say).

And then the fun started. It took The Freeze like 5 mins to get on stage, plug in, setup the drum and Cliff saying “OK, i think we are ready”. And real, rough and ready they where.

And there was no holding back, after Nazi Fun they stormed into American Town.

Bang! There are only few bands that could kick off with such a blast from the past i’d say. Sing-a-long galore!

The Freeze (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

And surprise, Cliff Hanger this time round was almost well behaved – last time in Hamburg he behaved a wee bit more … crazy!

Bloodlights! Another classic!

And sure no hiding, backed by a rather sturdy band Cliff muffled his way through one classic after the other.

The Freeze (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

And that gave way to one of my loveliest songs – with just brilliant words:

That little story about loneliness is just on of the best songs ever.

The Freeze (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

And the people thoroughly enjoyed it, loads of singing, head nodding and dancing. And with a lengthy explanation they blasted into 25 seconds of “This is Boston, not L.A.“.

A nice way to sum it up indeed! Me mate Frosch, who sports a Boston (as in BossTones plus Boston skyline) tattoo had a big smile on his face!

The Freeze (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

And with some few choice words about how useless walking off the stage and returning is they threw themselves into what was the encore (not to forgetting to place a reminder on watching our backs when out there and facing them cops).

And a random bloke from the audience gave the classic that makes the headline on this one – trying to convince The Freeze to play another one he screamed famous word “… Germany, the punk rock capital of Deutschland“.

And Violent Arrest was followed with one of the fewer played old songs, Halloween Night.

And that finished off a great show and was some good Boston Hardcore. Loved it. And me mates loved it too!

Frosch, Thomas, Nickel (Hafenklang, 10.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

And that gave way for a few more drinks in a dingy bar with some more classic sing-a-long punk. Great night out, best way to prepare for a work week away.

2015/10/11