CMI have been criss-crossing central Europe for a month now and already played in support for Slapshot at the Knust (a show i choose to let go, for various reasons). They had a couple of days free prior to a little festival and a final show, i believe that one was moved to Düsseldorf.
Sam offered a matching evening at the Indra and CMI took it, within that managing to grace Hamburg 4 times between October 23 and July 25 at 4 different places:
First Monkeys (surprising everyone), then Hafenklang (bringing the danger back into Punk), followed by the Knust (conquering a larger stage) and finally now at the Indra.
For a peaceful and quiet Thursday evening.
And peaceful it was, ask Oliver fucking Kahn:
Bäm! All the ingredients i was looking for, hard, heavy and offensive. And whilst the twin guitar, bass and drums almost remained fixed and in the backdrop it was Adam who roamed back and forth and engaged (as opposed to confronted) the lot.
From the start they had people dancing and it was without the big male macho style (though lacking the female contingent) – just absorbing the energy down from the stage and transforming it.
A mate noted: “I love when they play love songs“. And right he was!
The delivery and the sound was near perfect and their almost unique style has sharped over the last two years. And for whats it worth, they are a peoples band, interacting with the lot, loving to the feedback and act as one.
Bonus: Adam offered non-nonsense advisory between the songs and definitely was not talking cloudy bullshit but with street credibility.
At the end Adam was all sweaty (as much as the lot) and lifted his lovely Blueberry shirt and they finished the set off with this banger:
Summing it up i guess for me this was the tightest (and longest) CMI set i saw in Hamburg so far. A wee bit of salt in it was that only ~120 folks attended and thus it was not a full house.
Somewhat understandable, as they just had a much bigger audience at the Knust weeks before. But audience reception was positive, the pit was present and pit movements where violently peaceful.
At the merch there was no sign of fresh vinyl, if you are still lacking CMI records remember that you can score some from our local trusted dealer Sounds Of Subterrania!
On top of that we got to learn that the drummer on this tour also plays in Skinhead and that they aim to come to Europe next year – that’ll be a class one.
Check Skinhead out yerself – i am desperately waiting for that LP to physically appear:
Beautiful guitar and same onslaught like CMI. And same great style of non-nonsense lyrics.
Perfect evening, perfect show in a cozy setting. Surrounded by friendly folks. This can be repeated anytime soon, though i would believe i got to wait for next summer.
I’ll be waiting in awe now to learn what location in Hamburg CMI will grace next year.
Most likely i’ll be there. Will you? Will a local band be brave enough to play support?
Wow, what a surprise! Not only did Conservative Military Image return to Germany rather quick (they graced the Monkeys in October last year), they would return to my favorite living room aka the Hafenklang. And, more on the fun side, bands no longer were afraid to enlist as support to them.
The show was sold out in record time and the only questions ahead were if it would be dangerous and if they again would haul tons of Merch into the club.
The answer to the 2nd Q was easy: They would not and sadly their latest record was already sold out, poor #recordcollectingpretentiousarsehole me!
First Band at 21:00 sharp was local heroes Out Of Step and they kicked of like a headliner, taking ownership of the stage, club and audience within … let’s say first few chords and words.
Out Of Step (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
The songs came bang, bang, bang; the talk between songs (to give the fill-in on drums a rest) had a meaning;overall it was pretty much an US on and off stage. They even had fans who could fill in singing duties for chorus on various songs.
The US was cemented at the end of the set with a joint sing-a-long to a classic US H/C song:
Whilst this was an easy cover their other songs all came down the classic US H/C alley, presented in near perfection and well rehearsed (which makes the capabilities of the stand-in drummer rated even higher).
Thanks to the singer they had a full grip on the already well filled room and got already early on dancing going. Sweaty dancing, as that Wednesday was a damn hot day in Hamburg.
Out Of Step (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
They know what they do and they are worth a listen by all counts, so give it a go!
I’d be happy so them again soon, they throw a perfect support as in the classic sense of warming up and audience. On this occasion it felt like a torch burner!
With a wee bit of changeover Time X Heist took the stage, a young 5 piece from Denver, Colorado (in the US of A). The internet (damn internet, never forgets) provides the following hints about them:
TIME X HEIST is a straight-edge hardcore band hailing from Denver, Colorado. Not hearing a lot of current hardcore that reminds them of the style of music they fell in love with, they decided to start something of their own. Drawing influence from the youth-crew sounds of the late 1980s to the early 2000s, they seek to inspire positive change in anyone that would like to listen.
And it was their first time abroad, from off the stage they gave a wee bit the impression of being, mmmhhh, shy or uncertain. Specifically the singer was not able to catch the audience, creating a bond. To a certain extend it felt – me mates around me noted that too – like a distant delivery.
From a mu-sick-al perspective they indeed delivered very classic US H/C out of the so called “Youth Crew” cupboard and to be quite frank they delivered that well, they all know what to do with their instruments and came across well rehearsed.
The coolest stage persona with them was the drummer: Not dressed in black and performing his duties a) perfect, b) upright and and c) with an almost exclusive blank stare forward, rarely looking down onto his drums.
Their one but last song, as with Out Of Step, was a cover:
Hui, that was a speedy slaughtering of that Blitz classic. I guess you can do it like that, i would have loved to have it delivered Youth-Crewcified rather.
A pity that they somewhat were not able to catch the audience (that now already packed the room) as much as Out Of Step did, their set somewhat toned down the excitement in the room.
As ever, form your own view – here is their 2024 and brand new record:
Once they stopped and removed their gear the room filled even further and there indeed was a buzz in the room with respect to expectations on CMI, you could see many eager faces waiting for them.
Standing as ever on the side of the stage front i had the luxury to early on get a glimpse of what was to come, 13 songs and thus somewhat half of their oeuvre.
Conservative Military Image – Setlist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de)
They kicked off at 22:30 and boy, they had the packed and sweaty room in an instance. The rather male contingent in front of the stage exploded and never stopped dancing, throwing fists and pushing shoulders into each other.
I got to read a fitting reference to that some day back when i tried to understand were CMI come from:
A band like Conservative Military Image serves up an attitude that many people may take too lightly and then complain about it online. They’re a musical unit that takes you back to a time where one's grit and honor in the scene were forged nowhere else but on the dance floor.
Again, a very male dance floor that was. Adam positively noted on stage “… the last time we played Hamburg there were 4 people dancing, happy to see now so many more“. And against all odds, it was a heavy but non-violent pit.
Conservative Military Image (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Compared to their first appearance in Hamburg there was a distinct different feel: Last time it was all about discovering them, largely mu-sick-al experts taking them in. Nowadays their name, their style and their stance has traveled wide and has settled, so a packed house with people seeking entertainment was the setting.
But still no compromises on the mu-sick-al side, their songs stay wide away from entertainment, here is All-American Jaw Line:
As ever with CMI, words have a meaning – so sing-a-long:
We wear what we like and we like it when they stare
Too dumb to bother too smart to scare
They're always screaming we don't know shit
Truth is they're right we look good every time we do it
Bomber jacket with gang colors sewn across the back
A threat to everyone we don't know how to act
We all have haircuts some have real jobs
But we're still a bunch of slobs still an unruly mob
You want to know what we do
You wanna learn are the rumors are true
Well here's a clue it doesn't involve you
Dream of a better life since that's all you'll ever do
All-American
All-American
Songwriter: Adam Voss
Aggressive, fast, heavy – a real great package if you ask me. And Adam can deliver that with a rock solid backing. Out of that backing, the drummer stood out to the max: Being all quality and technical ability he looked non-stressed to the max whilst he let his wrists do the job to command the sticks. It looked so cool!
Conservative Military Image (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
They blasted through their set taking no prisoners (and their security detail somewhat softly slapping an somewhat out of mind mate for trying some workout by lifting the monitors during a song, a wee bit a stupid and dangerous idea).
CMI – … too fast to be captured! ( (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Within record time it was over, like almost all bands from yonder that big water there was no encore to be had.
I loved it and most of the heated, sweaty and smiling people around me loved it too.
Still, one – i guess slightly wrong – audience member at the merch table after the show tried to inject into the conversation the notion that the merch of CMI is looking shite. I was told “one more word and Adam would have eaten him alive” and i guess that is more than true.
It is anyway unjust to any band to try to take the piss out of their merch, if you don’t like it – do not buy it. It is normally deal of financing such an activity like touring, so sometimes it might be prudent to think twice.
Great show, including the support, and from where i sit they can return every year. It is assurance for getting not only something Punk but also the Danger back into Punk.
And me workout mate? He was drunk and got out alive. And excused himself next day. Right so and sure thing he should convert to my church: Only booze after the last band has played. Shows and the next day get so much lovelier!
Big hugs to the big man for setting this up, right choice!
I have to admit that i was doubtful. On more than one front actually. On the one side i got the ticket almost immediately when the show was announced, only to find that about 40odd people where even faster. Smelling like a high attendance for a band without any history other than … that other side. And that being the nagging question in the back of my head “Are they just an internet hype or good for real?`”.
As ever the answer does require to get your ass off the ground, so back home from work and out to the Monkeys for early doors at 19:00. And an outlook of maybe or maybe not a support. As Sam explained later he got nowhere to get one booked, even up to bands rejecting to support them (most likely for rather odd reasonings, but hey – own choices).
Arriving early i found already some mates that attended the Imploders on Tuesday too and i found them already armed with merch. And once i was inside i got to know that all 7″ where already gone. As my strict modus operandi nowadays is to buy records only when a band convinces me live i got a wee bit nervous. And once i was tipped off that LP’s where running low that plan went out of the window, i grabbed my dose of vinyl prior to the show.
And believe me or not, i have never seen a band carrying that large amount of merch into a club and selling it like there was no future. Shirts, Vinyl … go!
A lot to live up to now for CMI and from the buzz around me i could feel that the 200+ audience in the well filled Monkeys was as eager as much as me and me mates where.
Came 21:00 and CMI where on stage and took on the lot. The singer was sporting a black German DFB Shirt from Adidas paired with his signature white Adidas trainers. And as surprise the 2nd guitar was manned by the Charlie of Chubby & The Gang and The Chisel fame.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
The kicked in a wee bit slower than expected, i was thinking (dreaming?) of them killing it in high speed gear and facing up to a moshpit of death. Dreams actually, initially they faced a large empty in front of the stage.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
It needed the singer to come down and engage with the lot and indeed the lot responded. To my surprise many where able to sing-a-long (ie. have listened to them over and over) and help with singing.
Whilst the rest of the band was silent and more on the backdrop side the singer was outgoing, outspoken and happy to dive into the pit, full force.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
More than once he praised how happy they where to find places in Europe like the Monkeys where a considerable large contingent of misfits, outcasts and non conformative would cheer them.
Conservative Military Image (Monkeys, Hamburg, 25.10.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
To my surprise there was no pit violence at all, even though some of the attendees where from out of town. Half of the audience was known regulars for this type of shows at the Monkeys and half seemed people i had not see before – i guess indeed CMI had a considerable pull or lure on people also from out of town.
Coming back to being convinced musically i gotta admit that they not fully convinced me, but that was less the music (though i expected them a wee bit more on the H of H/C) then the presentation. They had way to many breaks between the songs, too much chatting and tuning.
Bangers around and below the magic 02:00 mark should come in like 3-round bursts from an A-14, thereafter it is time for drinks, tuning and banter. I guess they stretched their set to about 45 minutes of playing all they had.
But distilled down to the songs – top notch aggressive hardcore with a casual attitude. And that ain’t bad at all. In contrast! They where good. They where real.
I was home early like Tuesday, had my dose of vinyl and was ready for a start at work on Thursday without a hangover. And thus somewhat happy!
PS: And the name of the band`? Just a tongue-in check lift outta an Army manual… effectiveness, pride and self-discipline as a band. What did you think?
PPS: Bonus Pint for them for making Oliver Kahn subject of a casual Adidas violence single…
