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Tag: Hafenklang

  • … nothing!

    … nothing!

    There is nothing more damnable than using the speed, anonymity and force of the internet (damn internet, never forgets) to blackmail. What was supposed to be a great pairing (Puffer supporting Negative Approach) turned into just Negative Approach and a hastily thrown in support.

    I guess not just because of below comment on the Puffer Instagram account Puffer pulled out of playing but this i bet you is just the glimpse of an iceberg (that could kill a club, a promoter or an distributor – financially).

    I always wonder why people demand to take sides, in e.g. the conflict Hamas-Israel-Palestina (and happy to throw in other groups and countries) i bet you there is no road to be taken without massive potholes. But whatever on that front, trying to kill a trusted venue from abroad without insights … is outright wrong.

    Nothing, absolutely nothing that i will accept. And sure thing it leaves the Q why they believed the internet (damn internet, never forgets) and did not try to speak with the club.

    Florry are from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the US of A and they play … Cosmic American Music (a synthesis of country, blues, rock and soul). And to them fell the short notice option for playing live.

    Florry (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    Here they came in the form of two, equipped with guitar, harmonica and steel guitar.

    On record they sound like this:

    For me this was not a fit, both in sound and setting. Still, they rightfully got applause from the few who choose to stay inside.

    Negative Approach sure would be the maximum possible other side of the mu-sick-al spectrum and this is how they kicked off:

    Ever since they came together in 2006 they kept true of what was deemed their unique style back from inception to early glory on Touch & Go (1981 – 1983): 

    Negative Approach's brand of hardcore was savage and nihilistic, exuding frustration, pessimism and rage. 

    Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    And this is what the lot got, a savage blast of screeching vocals, fuzzed distorted bass, high speed guitar and heavy hitting drumming (to some extend too hard, at times it overshadowed the rest too much).

    On top all four of them come with their individual stage persona, up to and including the guitar constantly turning it’s back to the audience. (Con-)Fronting the audience anyway is the job of John, he still does that very well.

    Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    Sure a set from Negative Approach got to have their signature song. And here it is:

    Ever since it came to the record bin of the Konnekschen Record Store in Hamburg, in the form of the Tied Down LP on Touch & Go, it was for me one the all time favorite US H/C songs. Next to the SST stuff that Uli Rehberg imported he also got his hands on Touch & Go, i think i got both (effectively T&G #3 and T&G#2) Tied Down and Conquest For Death (Necros) on the very same Saturday from Uli.

    And it has forever been a sing-along for me:

    You try to make things work and gain something
It's all no use, it's all worth nothing
Complete satisfaction, too impossible to believe
Nothing's ever fucking gonna work for me

Tomorrow seems so hopeless
Can't keep it off my mind
Another day of nothing
I'm running out of time
I've got nothing I can look forward to
I'm always left with nothing

I'm always told things I don't want to hear
My destiny's become quite clear
Life's never fucking given nothing to me
It's just stood by and watched me bleed

Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing

    The original version is a wee bit more bare, as you can see above it now comes much more as a wall of sound.

    Frank, i am still sold on this song.

    They played for about 45 minutes and i have to credit them that it was not just delivering old hits in the sound it had back then, they very consciously chose to bulldoze all of the songs, including some covers and a longer noise period. 

    Negative Approach (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 21.05.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    Kudos to them, this was a very consistent delivery and deeply rooted into what is a Detroit wall of sound. If you want more of that turn also to Easy Action, a much more Detroit Rock (and fucking Roll) adventure of John and Ron (Bass).

    Great evening, somewhat hampered by the drop out of the support and the sad news of blackmail on the Hafenklang. From where i sit the Hafenklang is least dodgy / fencewalkers but a safe place for plenty of different mu-sick. And grown up and free minds respecting other positions (bur rightfully demanding vice-versa).

    I am damn sure the Hafenklang continue to enjoy the support of the locals and travelling bands, despite blackmail. In that context friends – your turn to support them!

  • … 3 corners, 1 full room: Diversity wins!

    … 3 corners, 1 full room: Diversity wins!

    From the outset this was a wee bit a strange mixture: Local support, best in class. Often outshining the main act. American all-time favorites and heroes, but being confined to smaller and smaller venues. And then English loudmouth lads, offensive and … let’s say talkative.

    Trusted Shitshow kicked off the proceedings, as early as 19:30. Also the Hafenklang now treats the elderly with due respect, so that the next work day starts with less of a hangover.

    This is what they set out to deliver, unfortunately initially to a rather empty room.

    Shitshow – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    And it started like this:

    I didn´t love to but i will
I will make it!

    Bäng!

    It did set the scene for another near perfect support slot delivery, full of energy, full of (self-proclaimed) kiss-ass powerpunk. And kick-ass powerpunk they delivered to perfection.

    The only downside: The light was shite to the max and thus most of the visuals went drenched in a flood of red.

    Shitshow (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    If you have not scored their two singles, do it now.

    But be aware, they try to scam you every once in a while: A mate went over and said “the two singles” and got two singles. After the show, on the final sundowner sip, he took stock of all records bought (which included just another Hard Skin record) and realized … two times same.

    Luckily they got their merch still on the table and with a blushed smile it was corrected. Charming band, i’d love to see them grow much bigger.

    Next the Avengers, who in their new incarnation since 2004 are by now also a 20 years going force. With them the room was much more crowded and sure their all-time hits from 1977 – 1979 still trigger plenty of sing-a-long.

    Avengers (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    Delivery was a bit on-off, the sound varied between not so good and … bad. And the drummer – as on previous occasions – was hitting it too hard (and thus too loud). But the energy flow from the stage (and back) made up for it.

    And in front of the stage it was a largely female (and happy) contingent, also that did add positively to the energy flow. For me this is most of the times that is a sign for a good show.

    How did it sound? It sounded like this (and not exactly the type of more mellow delivery that should have been there for the song):

    But however the sound is, the songs still touch (and btw the newer ones work too). And very frank, the songs from the Steve Jones produced White Noise EP are even today so relevant.

    As the internet (damn internet, never forgets) has it:

    The Avengers, featuring singer Penelope Houston, helped lay the groundwork for political punk while giving the nascent musical form one of its first dynamic frontwomen.

    And thus American In Me, Uh-Oh!, Corpus Christi and Gold Digger (avoiding the innocently choosen original name White Nigger) are still the skeleton of todays Avengers set, also at the Hafenklang:

    Avengers – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)

    Touching set, not the best sound but still one of the most convincing packages from 1977 still around. And still taking the time to tour Europe, big thanks for that.

    With that the room was fully energized and actually fully packed, 250 good people downstairs at the Hafenklang.

    How to top that?

    Invite Hard Skin and let them have a go at the lot.

    The last time that try ended in a real mess (thanks to the (in)capable hands of Riebe), this time it went dramatically different.

    For a start Sean looked much more healthy and for a finish Exhibits A, B, C and D where absent from the show. So the only confrontation came from the stage and by Sean, trying to take the piss out of Bremen eer Hamburg.

    What he did not account for was that from time to time he will be meeting someone with a witty mind – when he tried to place the old joke of “why do we think we are here” and finish it off with the scoreline of “because of the money” he was cut short by a tongue-in-check reply from the audience “because you want to get your teeth done“.

    Thanks mate, that was masterclass challenge/response. Even on stage all three Hard Skins fell apart laughing.

    And whilst be chatty they also managed to delivery stupid little sing-a-long gems like this one:

    Sing-a-long:

    Sitting in the corner, cookin' up a ruse
Laughing with the Hard Skin, drinkin' lodsa booze
Along comes the old brill, stinking up the drum
Talking fuckin' bollocks, talking' out his bum

Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce
Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce

Accusing us of this, accusing us of that
Fuckin' stupid bastard, pork scratchin' twat
You're down the road johnny, fuckin sort him out
If you need some muscle, give the boys a shout

Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce
Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce

Fuckin' sort it!
Sort it!
Fuckin' sort it!
You know you better sort it out!

Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce
Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce

Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' farce
Law and Order - up your arse
You make me laugh - you're a fuckin' FARCE!

Shove it up your ass!
Fuck off!

    Whilst i was a bit skeptic with giving Hard Skin the headlining it simply turned out as the winning receipt. And to my surprise the packed house stayed for them, was glued to them and laughed with them.

    On top of that the female contingent in front of the stage did grow and entered into serious dancing – influencing most of the room into getting going.

    Just purrrrfect!

    Hard Skin (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 29.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    It is quite stunning how much Hard Skin are still appreciated in Hamburg, obviously their humor works for the Hamburg lot. So big fanx to them and hopefully Riebe is able to persuade them back again once they have rested a wee bit (and again are out of money).

    And if that was not enough, Hard Skin also had an additional surprise in the pocket (respective in the van). As you may know myself (and some of me mates) are always looking after buying vinyl at shows, for me it always comes from the fact that a band either surprised or convinced me live.

    Upon chatting with one of me mates, who had his hands already full of two Shitshow singles and the Hard Skin Live At Dijon LP, Ben (Hard Skin guitarist) noted that he had his Solo Album with him and offered that with the words “and it is quite different“.

    JT – The Hill To Die On (JT Classics CLASS016 2022)

    My mate was interested and Ben disappeared (for some time). Coming back he held three records, that where immediately taken away from him (against hard european currency). He added the advise to listen to it with headphones on and closed eyes.

    The internet (damn internet, never forgets) states with respect to the LP:

    Hard Skin’s JT presents an album of alternative, accidental instrumentals that are not for the faint-hearted or hard of hearing. 

Described as “delicate”, “thought-provoking” and “emotive”, this unexpected cluster of melodies offers an unwitting nod toward Eno and the like. 

It’s easy to pander to the mob. JT has veered away, confirming this record as an irregular punk classic.

    I gave it a spin a couple of days later and Ben was spot on: The songs are near perfect soundtrack parts and closing your eyes and firing off your brain cinema makes it click. Click big time actually. Well done for getting something that wide done, Ben!

    If you dare, score the vinyl here from JT Classics (mind you, post-Brexit import cost).

    Great evening, rounded off with a final Cuba-Libre.

    Great bands, great companions up to and including Rudi K coming all the way from Munich. Gave me a cosy, warm and home feeling after doing my 60’s birthday alone, up and away with the love of me life.

    And further to that, it was stunning to see that a show with diverse bands from three different corners could sell out a Monday evening and that a show with non-perfect lightning and non-perfect sound can put so much positive energy into the room.

    I bet ya almost everybody left on a high.

    I did, happy me.

  • … there ain’t no better way to kick-off for a tour, congrats Moving Targets!

    … there ain’t no better way to kick-off for a tour, congrats Moving Targets!

    It is not only me, also some friends around me have this little shiver whenever a Moving Targets show is being announced. The shiver is less driven from that they are top of the individuals personal list of “best records“, it is more a positive shiver steaming from that fact that they are exceptional friendly humans.

    Exactly the type of guest you like to have in your living room (aka the Hafenklang).

    With that in mind i was utmost happy that they started their month long run across Germany in Hamburg and just a day ahead of me buggering off to our second home up north in sunny Denmark.

    Support was from Skranefjell outta Wilhelmshaven. The guitar player Robin was a known face to me, he did some guitar for the Moving Targets on their 2022 tour. His dad is behind the drums and an old scene veteran (infamous for his 80s Band Rudolfs Rache nowadays but back then a known fixture on the Deutsch Punk scene).

    They claim to play Happy Pain & Pow Pow Pop-Punk and i am not sure if i would use such wording. On the good side the music relies pretty much on the guitar and that guitar provides a lot of variation.

    Skranefjell (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    On the not so good side half of the songs mingle around the Indie mark and that by definition puts me off. When they are to the point they have drive, umpf and are good. As ever, check it out for yerself.

    .. and when they are not to the point then they smear Where Eagles Dare (Misfits) onto the street, piss on it and set it on fire. And that is what you should not do with that song. That cover was extremely painful to digest.

    But the good thing is that this rant allows me to slot in this great cover of the same song:

    My personal guess though is that outside my single minded mu-sick-al dictatorship Skranefjell actually do appeal to younger people today, so i wish them good luck.

    The Moving Targets where quick to setup and with broad smiles kicked into the proceedings. And as ever the initial eye catcher was the relentless action by Ives on Bass, jumping around and always smiling. 

    Moving Targets (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    Once initial sound problems with the Bass were solved the overall sound was near perfect. And fan boys that we are we knew what was coming our way, a nice mixture of old and new stuff.

    Moving Targets – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 19.04.2024)

    Given that the Moving Targets are still a band wide apart (Ken in the US of A, Emile and Ives in sunny Montreal) and rarely rehearse in the same room it remains stunning that they kick off the first show of the tour, across the big pond, as a near perfect and tight outfit.

    Within a couple of songs they had won over the audience, roughly 80 people made the effort to come out and most of them had broad smiles on their face.

    It was double fun to note the stage setup: Ken not centered but pushed to the right, Emile way back and Ives demanding and commanding the rest of the stage up to and including the side part of the Hafenklang that is technically not stage anymore.

    Give him room, he will roam.

    Moving Targets (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    The longer it went, the more joy came back from the audience. Plenty of people dancing, loads of sing-a-long and everybody glued to the stage.

    It all culminated with the extra, Ken choose Dead Wrong from Bullet LaVolta (another cool Boston outfit he provided guitar duties for). There could not have been a better choice to get the audience completely going – well done both on and off the stage!

    Moving Targets (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 18.04.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024

    They graced the Hafenklang in their current incarnation in 2018, 2019 and 2022 – this show by far was the most convincing one counting all possible angles, they rocked the place (to use an old-fashioned and odd expression).

    In my head it was simply the human energy that came down from the stage and was upped & mirrored back from a willing and thankful audience. That created the sound in everyone’s head and made the pre-synaptic neurons releasing their neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft.

    But the Moving Targets were not the only exceptional human in the room as you can see, also Luke falls into the same category (also both on and off the stage).

    Luke – the only double Jever wizzard in the world!
    There ain’t no better companionship at a show!

    Within in minutes from leaving the stage Ken, Emile and Ives roamed the Hafenklang and, being indeed the exceptional friendly humans, mingled with the lot. And as always after a Moving Target show more people than normal stayed longer for another drink (and a chat), including me and me mates.

    I wish them good luck for the “In The Dust” Tout. If they keep this form, if they keep this energy – then their run through Germany will an exceptional and well deserved success. And hopefully a platform for the next record and the next tour.

    We’ll be there!

    PS: Thanks to Frosch for the videos, i was so glued that i did not take one.