www.gehkacken.de

Tag: Bishops Green

… package deal, sold out: Convincing myself the best possible way!
This turned out a bit of surprise combination (at least for those who got a Cyanide Pills only ticket initially): The Power Pop of the lads from Leads, who are a mainstay upstairs at the Hafenklang, paired with the Vancouver Street Punk from Bishops Green (who would grace the Hafenklang for the first time).

But joining two different corners together resulted in a packed and sold out upstairs, to that extend a neat move by the Hafenklang.

The Cyanide Pills kicked off at 21:14 and for me with two surprises: Their Norwegian guitar player no longer is, as such Phil did sling a guitar. And the on bass there was a new recruit too. But that did not change a thing – they kicked off with the same drive as ever. Power Pop, with sufficient speed.
```
Cyanide Pills (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.11.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023
```
The last time i saw them was prior to Covid and i have to admit that i did not bother to check out their new LP, aptly named Soundtrack To The New Cold War. But as the new setup looked and sounded convincing i guess it is only a matter of time until i get my ears on it.
```
Cyanide Pills (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.11.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023
```
For the Cyanide Pills it was not only the post-Covid but also post-Brexit return to Europe, they are happy to be back and take the new obstacles as something to just deal with:
```
How do you think the government are doing, happy with the Tories still?

The government are doing a marvellous job! Encouraging us all to return to old traditions like starvation, destitution, hopelessness, and despair. Let’s hope the guillotine makes a resurgence too.

You finally managed to make it into Europe for your Covid-postponed gigs. What were the best and worse things to happen on the tour?

Touring will always be fun, a bit more bureaucracy and self-inflicted bullshit to deal with but it’s soon forgotten when we get to play for our punk brothers and sisters in Europe.
```
```
Cyanide Pills (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.11.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023
```
They played for about 45 minutes, included some fan favorites and had many (and the female contingent in front of the stage specifically) singing along. The only bit that i was missing to a certain extend was audience interaction. There was little audience engagement down from the stage, they choose to let the mu-sick speak for itself.

Great, tight set. And plenty of fun in the audience. Could this be topped?

That indeed was the question for me, as i somehow avoided Bishops Green in the last couple of years, i think it was like 2015 at the Monkeys that i saw them live. So i was not convinced and i have to admit that if it would have been Bishops Green only on this Friday i may have skipped it …

… and that would have been the wrong decision. And here is Another Door to prove it:

I guess i was wrong. Greg and the lot proved it with ease. And as i was sooo wrong (and got taunted by a mate more than once for it) i even did break my custom to only have a beer once the show is over – Bishops Green got me singing-along and drinking along. And right so!
```
Bishops Green (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.11.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023
```
And as most of their songs are well aged hits known by the audience Greg could command the lot with ease, ever the perfect front man. And the next well aged hit was just around the corner, here is Alone:

All of my fears and perceptions went out of the window, as much as the lot was singing, dancing and throwing fists. It felt indeed great in the packed room and it carried not only me away, smiling. And it was good to see that the female contingent was still up front, the show nicely passed without big bald males making a nuisance.
```
Bishops Green (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.11.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023
```
One complaint though i heard – with a smile: The drummer dropped his sweaty shirt and a female audience member (coming all the way from Berlin) commented “in Berlin the show now would be stopped” – i asked to stay shut about it, then we could continue to enjoy the show. And that we did!

They played for a bit more than an hour, Greg did steal a beer from me mate Beno (who sported a dodgy t-shirt anyway) and Dead Heroes came last:

Thanks Bishops Green, you surprised me. Well done! I’ll take ya back for good!

Bishops Green did not spend a lot of time mingling, they packed up quickly to hit the road towards Eindhoven, Revolution Calling was to be their next call. Same did some of me mates – the first car left also on Friday, the other one on Saturday morning. And that car was not so lucky, icy conditions on Saturday morning and an odd crash on the motorway.

Luckily no-one but the car was harmed. Puh, close call. And all of the joy of the show would have been gone. Sight.
2023/11/25
… a surprise, a disappointment and loads of sing-a-long: a Friday night at Monkeys Music Club!
Live mu-sick is the best cure, it also works for getting yer mind focused away from the fact that me love is in hospital. So with a wee bit of a troubled mind i mad way to the Monkeys, first and foremost to see Bishops Green who yet again tour Germany.

Kick off was at 21:11 and large parts of the audience where glued to the TV in the Pub to see Footie (that other team in Hamburg on an away affair). They missed this:

It’s the Berlin Blackouts and they where quite a surprise – great kick-off into the evening. Cool and driving Punk Rock with a good judgement of style: 77, some Social D and loads of drive and melody. Plus: Stage personas! An ever smiling drummer, a solid guitar and a ramonesque Girl on Bass. And an entertainer with guitar in the center on vocals. Short, crisp and should have attracted so much more people!
```
Berlin Blackouts (Monkeys, Hamburg, 23.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)
```
A brilliant short but crisp set and by all means give that band a home in Hamburg (the singer tried smooth the audience by noting that he would move “…anytime to Hamburg but it is so hard to get an appartment here“) and then give them a bigger stage.

Next Seaside Rebels, who are somehow partly displaced Greeks now residing in London. And the bass player from Booze & Glory does sing. They kicked of rather lame:

Seaside Rebels (Monkeys, Hamburg, 23.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

It is actually not uncommon – some bands work on record but on stage they disappoint. The Seaside Rebel this night where just not in tune for me and their sound was just too .. simple and boring. Only on few songs the singing and the rest of the band was in a fitting sync. Also the singer did take all the action and thus attention, it was somehow not work. Young lads though that still can grow together.

Seaside Rebels (Monkeys, Hamburg, 23.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

It just did not work for me, it did not work for me mate Frosch and also i sensed it did not work so much for the now larger audience (that other team had banked an away win). For some parts of the audience, by the looks friends of the band, it did work and they had visible fun!

Next Bishops Green, the 4th time in 2 years in Hamburg – somehow that feels almost “too often”:

Bishops Green – 1 (Monkeys, Hamburg, 23.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

They came in straight from Canada, this was the first date of their tour. From the start they where plagued with sound problem, up to the bass player almost too friendly needing to ask “… Mr. Soundman, can’t you set it back to where it was during sound check?“. So the first couple of songs i just felt something missing (guitar in my ears for example) but then they took the Monkeys in full force.

Bishops Green – 1 (Monkeys, Hamburg, 23.10.2015 (c) gehkacken.de)

Whilst playing some songs from their new album they also did throw in lots of old stuff; Whilst songs from the first category where musically more developed and structured the songs from the later category where just great sing- and -dance-a-long invitations to the now crowded dance floor of the Monkeys.

The longer it lasted the more i liked it. Though still somehow the sound of the guitar was too thin. But they have it all: Bass, Guitar, Drums in sync plus a great singer with a voice that differentiates him from those who below low.

And once they finished i was in a better mood and more relaxed, having a loved one in hospital is dreadful and drawing on your energy. This show injected some back and i could sport a neat hangover on Saturday when visiting her.

Friday night, 3 bands, cold cider – priceless!
2015/10/24
… thanks for trying to have fun in Hamburg after being robbed in Rostock!

They completely blasted the Indra in March, now Bishops Green where back in Germany for a quick Summer Tour. Bad luck for Hamburg they not only had to play the Logo (not really a good place for these types of shows) but they had to play it after getting their tour banner stolen in Rostock the day before. Throughout the show i had the feeling they where really pissed and part of blame was handed to those at hand, at the Logo.

First on where Bolanow Brawl from Hamburg, they feature under “Street Punk” and what shall i say … they have lots of things right but still sound like a copy cat. Sorry, was not what would get me going.

Bolanow Brawl (Logo, 02.08.2014 (c) gehkacken.de)

Next Bishops Green and mmh. I did not feel the same energy in the room, neither from the band nor from the audience – in a positive spirit i’d say it was due to the heat that had it’s grasp on Hamburg. And if you know the Logo then you know that this little shed of a club sucks up heat like salt moisture. Also the place turned out to be oversized for Bishops Green that night, i’d say max 120 people where there.

Bishops Green (Logo, 02.08.2014 (c) gehkacken.de)

They rushed through their set, spend little time with the audience and finished in time. As such not that warm and cozy feeling that i was looking for. But hey, touring is hard and if you get robbed by a naughty fucker than i will not complain that next day as a band you do not perform at the top. Anyway, for me it was ok and i still like their look, stance and music. So thank you for keeping the faith!

Now see and listen up – they blasted off with “Another Door” whilst most people where still outside seeking “fresh” air…

Towards the end there was more fun like eg. in “Alone”:

2014/08/04