Hard Skin have been regular visitors to Hamburg over the last say 40 years, have made endless close friends over here and as such their Final Hamburg Show was sold out in record time, with demands for more tickets pestering the Hafenklang.
When i arrived my first feel was not only “wow, that’ll be packed” but also i realized that some of the 80’s Network Of Friends where in attendance with plenty of people coming from far (i saw faces from Munich, from Berlin and god knows where else).
Support was from Hamburgs own Jesus Skins, a band that i never got and who also on this slot still did not get me.
Jesus Skins (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 25.09.2025) (c) gehkacken.de 2025
They sported a good guitar on my side of the stage and the dual vocals had something to it. But the very German (albeit not Rumpel-Oi!) approach to Oi! is just not my cup of tea.
And, on top, the light was shite (not their fault i guess).
Luckily Hard Skin took the stage quickly and here is how they kicked off in typical Hard Skin style (telling the audience how much they love ’em) with Law and Order:
It sounded a wee bit wobbly but nevermind, it was the kick-off to a set with only bangers, a set with almost exclusively sing-a-longs.
And the packed house did. Sing-a-long. And danced like there is no tomorrow.
And, in between, Sean gave the lot some rest and demonstrated how easy story telling is: From him being important via German footie and Cock Sparrer being shite to small cocks in less than 1:40.
Also an achievement and definitely greatly missed in future:
And remember, having a laugh and having a say goes hand-in-glove.
The almost rushed through their set, unfortunately it was not a 2 hour set but only ever roughly one footie half with a bit of extra time.
Hard Skin (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 25.09.2025) (c) gehkacken.de 2025
But from the start to the end it was pure fun, sing-a-long and in the end of the day brilliantly played and with a surprising good sound.
In the rooster also short & fast bangers like Who’s that Boy? had their place with the lot filling in on the chorus:
Just puurrrfect!
Much too fast it was over, much too fast i had to catch my ride home and give my still hurting foot a rest. Indeed the humor of a Hard Skin show is the one thing i will greatly miss, but only 2nd to the utmost great people in the band themselves.
Next to me also my favorite booker was happy, he had the best working day in quite a while and a sold out house.
And if those that have to work to make me consumer happy are also happy – than it was absolutely a very special show. A perfect farewell for a band with a long lasting love for & by Hamburg.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Thanks to Riebe Hard Skin made a short stop-over whilst on a mini-tour through northern Europe and almost packed the Goldener Salon upstairs at the Hafenklang. Nice’n’cozy and quite full, coupled with the promise of a working club show to get us to bed early, so that we can be up early for work on Monday.
Hard Skin seemed a wee bit tired (after a lengthy drive from sunny Malmö) and Fat Bob being a bit under the weather from a cold. Nevertheless they armed the stage just short after 21:00 and blasted into their sing-a-long hits – but not without complimenting Exhibit A for the nice tits (and making it clear that in some jurisdictions shirtless dancing means being expelled from the premises, something that in hindsight might have been a good idea in the first place).
But all of that did not stop them to tip off to Status Quo:
Besides some awful behaviour in front of the stage by Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C it was all that a Hard Skin show needed, though sans some of the lectures normally given.
Hard Skin (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 22.01.2017) (c) gehkacken.de)
Whilst Hard Skin where Hard Skin the Exhibits made themselves … Exhibits. A was taunted from the Stage, B was moved into the silent corner by force at one stage and C tried to take it on with Fat Bob and got removed. Following the removal Hard Skin suggested to bring everyone back altogether and set sail into “If the cunts are united”:
… and because Exhibit C decided to take some fights with himself, with Exhibit D (like Drunk) and the world as such outside the club the song got stopped. Exhibit A by now had a shirt on, Exhibit B was no longer seen … it is quite a long time ago that i did see so many Exhibits at a show. Odd.
Hard Skin and one of the exhibits ( Pic by Alan Ford, (c) gehkacken.de)
Nevermind, after a break Hard Skin came back and provided some encore, but still finished the show early enough so that people would get home in time. And thus they gave us (and them exhibits) “Taken Away“:
And, any morale? Nope, there ain’t no lesson hard enough to penetrate them brains (of them Exhibits) – so we better not waste time on that one. We’d rather pass the blame to Riebe for bringing violence, drugs, nudism and … let’s make it wanking to our little, peaceful and quiet community (on our pleasant and flat earth).
… an audience with a problem …. ( Pic by Alan Ford, (c) gehkacken.de)
So thanks for that Mate! And for the show. The flyer. And the cardboard posters!
