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Tag: Hafenklang

  • … an evening full of surprises: A first, a mainstay and a blast!

    … an evening full of surprises: A first, a mainstay and a blast!

    It was one of these dates left and right of Rebellion in Blackpool and for those who do not make that pilgrimage (like myself) it was a perfect setting – 3 mu-sick-ally different bands and a first: Shattered Faith never graced Hamburg before i believe.

    Early start on a typical Hamburg Summer day – wet, rainy and largely miserable. And the fear that many would be en route or preparing for Blackpool and as such a low turnout.

    But somewhat the three different bands drew different parts of the scene and some Blackpool pilgrims decided to watch them anyway in Hamburg too.

    Shattered Faith came about in 1978 already and gained visibility through Posh Boy (1981 7″ with I Love America) and their 1982 half live half studio LP on Prophet.

    That’s how they looked back then, and this is how the now incarnation of Shattered Faith took the stage:

    I am not sure about how many original members remain but for sure it is Spencer on vocals. And he was quite unhappy – his voice was almost gone (and during some songs was just a hoarse something).

    Pity, but sometimes that happens when you are a singer.

    EDIT: From Blackpool a mate brought home the message that the voice of Spencer was gone-gone, so he could not sing. Kerry Martinez (thus 2nd original member identified) took vocal duties. Real pity!

    Shattered Faith (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    How did they sound? Definitely not H/C but more of the California pre-H/C Punk with an emphasis on Rock. But with a very different spin than most of the contemporary bands back then.

    I do remember them most for the Posh Boy 7″ and their songs on various compilations. Here are some old 1979 demos:

    Whilst many of their songs had good structures the lack of full vocals and the somewhat a little bit off drummer made it not a full blown positive surprise. But indeed they deserve a 2nd chance, let’s see how the Blackpool pilgrims report back on them.

    Next Sloppy Seconds, a real mainstay over here in the 90s and still going strong. This is how B.A. took the stage (the rest was already there):

    I guess within the surprisingly well filled Hafenklang they had the biggest share of fans, many did sing along and came to the front.

    They positively get away with a biggest hits set easily, the bass throwing smiles and faces whilst being rock solid, the guitar bouncing around and the drummer driving it forward whilst singing along on many songs for himself.

    Sloppy Seconds (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And front, with his typical high pitched voice, B.A. – not too much interaction but definitely more then Spencer.

    And sure they gave the lot their big hit, aptly named Germany (and remember, that ones dates back to 1988):

    More than solid set, drive, umpf and emitting fun – perfect!

    Next T.S.O.L. and they share a lot with Shattered Faith: Starting 1978 in Southern California, first record on Posh Boy and for sure the singer being … currently the one Original.

    Here is how they took ownership of the stage:

    Ups, a lot of new faces (though one definitely known): Ron (Guitar) and Mike (Bass) where out injured, so Jack got help from Tevor (D.I.) on Guitar and Brandon (Head Bored) on Bass.

    And Brandon was fully exposed by Jack on stage: His youngest daughter is with them on tour doing merch, Brandon his her boyfriend and he recently proposed to her.

    Love is in the air!

    T.S.O.L. (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Against these two “newbies” Antonio on drums – a definite powerhouse – is already with Jack and T.S.O.L. for 10 years.

    From start to finish Jack was in a smiling mode, chatty and taking questions from the audience (but only if you properly raised your hand). So we got a bit of learning, a bit of preaching and – for me a surprise – the very friendly side of him.

    T.S.O.L. (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And very frank, that friendliness paired with super tight, super hard and super pushy play by the others made it a real blast. From start to finish.

    Here is another one, feel the energy!

    What surprised me the biggest was the perfect sound and within that the perfect sound of Trevors guitar, never being off a chord. Wow.

    T.S.O.L. left many in the audience stunned and most people after the show chatted about Shattered Faith having something (but not being able to bring it really across) and T.S.O.L. most likely having delivered their best ever set in Hamburg.

    For me it was simply one big enjoyable surprise with T.S.O.L. providing the icing on the cake. Now it is not a surprise to me that over in Blackpool they play a top spot, 2nd but last on Sunday at the Empress Ballroom.

    Great Punk Rock show! Thanks yet again 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!