Gerd, Hamburgs very own stadium rockers, are never afraid to throw a party. Anybody suggesting a reason? Mhhhh, maybe 33 1/3 (not yet 53rd and One 3rd) is a good one?
Deal!
And as a party needs companionship, they took the Perfect Cousin along, just like in 2016. And some 250 other members of the Punk Rock Hamburg Family, most from near – some from far.
The Perfect Cousins obviously traveled from far (Derry in Norther Ireland would be my wild guess) and came with the following gifts:
It is custom knowledge in Hamburg that a party failing to get momentum only ever needs an Undertones song (below the magic 02:00 mark) to get the lot onto the dance floor and dancing.
And as it was to be Family Entertainment they choose their entry wisely:
Perfect Cousins, actually not seen for a while. Hence i was a wee bit surprised that they did shrink to a 4-piece but it did not hinder them at all (in contrast, they had a near perfect sound).
Perfect Cousins (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
Sure that near perfect sound had it’s icing with Arne and his voice – if there ever was someone with the same type of nasal vocals as Fergal it is definitely him, Period. And on top Arne was jumping around the stage full of energy – the same energy that the others took into their gear.
Together with Jan on Guitar, Kai on Drums and Lui on Bass he continued almost down the Wrong Way:
Beating the original by 13 seconds, puuurrrrfect!
But also above the magic 02:00 mark they are able to score, because they didn’t let go:
Poor Little Jimmy (Jimmy), one of the saddest hit songs i actually know. And a real banger that stands the test of time, easily. And as ever, was one of the biggest sing-a-long within the set – maybe next to Teenage Kicks.
Perfect Cousins (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
But as a Perfect Cousin they also had an Angry surprise gift in tow all the way from Samoa:
What a perfect finish, they even did threw Lights Out next towards the audience (though Arne needed a little cheat sheet for the lyrics). I guess that one was a message from Lui that he needs yet another job in an Angry Samoans cover band.
But as said, there ain’t no better way to infuse a dance party than throwing in an Undertones hit. Thus, the party was already going when it was time for Gerd.
Their œuvre speaks for itself – like in those words on the right. Clues needed? Come on, you are part of the Punk Rock Hamburg family, you do not need no fucking clues!
Hold tight - Now we're on our own Cue lights - Now it's ready to roll Tonight How I've waited for i've competed for years It's fun - Oh I just can't wait Hold on - Do I look up to date? You're on - I'll do anything if it's the right thing to see There's one - Born every day Same song - Then they fade away Ding-dong - What's the future in the pop music industry All right - So you made the grade Hold tight - To the buck you made Just wait - You've been rated for constipated peak viewing time
And putting enthusiasm over stage entry grandness Gerd went about to Kick Out The Jams:
But hey, there is a new face! Led Zeppelin could not lure him, but Gerd (with all of the money from their stadium tours) got him signed. Welcome Henry (who still has a little side hustle with Boy Division, Hamburgs best dressed cover band)!
Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
The last time they graced the Knust for one of their club shows was 2021, it was sheer luck that their busy schedule allowed them back so early – the lot did only expect them in 2031 for “40 years of GERD”.
The lot largely anyway was happy, i ran into a number of good people that had a bright smile on their face following the grown-up-controlled-play-like-a-champion away win of the FCSP at Nürnberg in the afternoon.
Gerd took on to continue that party on the lawn:
Boy, they had this one in 1967 for 10 weeks in the German single charts (and it was single in our household that i could hum along to as a little boy). Good to see that Gerd have left that la battaglia del denaro long behind.
Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
But still, they can beat anybody when it comes to mu-sick. Twice this songs has been robbed from them and re-used with different words. And still they can hammer home their ode to G.E.R.D. in the exact 1:17 that it took that other band from NYC (that never paid their dues to Gerd):
The only item that was surprisingly not at par with their performance was the sound. It sounded less good than the Perfect Cousins and less good than last time at the Knust (where by and large most bands sound excellent, thanks to the good PA and experts at the sliders).
Gerd (Knust, Hamburg, 16.03.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024
But Gerd being Gerd just went over that with not even a blink in the eye. They rather took on to keep the dancing audience … awake and dancing. And they made them choose.
And the lot choose to be Foxes, on the run:
Far more people than the obvious offenders actually had their dancing shoes on, here is a snippet from the audience proving it:
Pick your king, as Poison Idea suggested. The lot picked Gerd, for sure.
As every family thingy it started early (doors 19:00) so that the elderly could have the most of it. Most of the elderly (and frank – the only sad of that show actually – it was almost exclusive elderly in attendance) where thankful, easily and early loaded (one so much that he was shown the way off the dance floor in a perfect choreographed ballet) and had as much fun as the bands.
The icing on the evening then was more booze at the bar to the blaring sounds of DJ Hollyholetsgo, where the stadium hardened stars and fans mingled and danced even harder.
I was home not too late (and not too loaded) around 02:00, so that i was able to make the most out of the joy of both the FCSP win and the fantastic Gerd party on sunny Sunday.
Only one wish went unanswered: More people and specifically younger people putting on their dancing shoes and descending onto the Knust – both bands and club would deserve it. And once there, knock it back and ‘ave another one.
So everyone – next time bring a younger friend along! And ask for him/her to also bring someone younger along.
I will try hard! Or even harder. But please not hardly.
PS: My perfect moment of the evening below – click for high-res!
