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Tag: Markthalle

… Comeback Kid and SOIA – short and crisp!
This was a flashback to 1980: Me and me love recently moved house and we moved out of the city into green suburbia, actually back to where i grew up. And thus this show at the Markhalle was a copy of my adventures back then – taking the S-Bahn down to Hauptbahnhof and then the short walk over to the Markthalle to see great bands.

Because of SOIA the best wife of all was part of the expedition, so it was not only down memory lane but also … hand in hand.

Kick off at the Markthalle was rather early and for those attending a day job tough. And surprisingly it was 4 bands rather than 3 – when i arrived Additional Time (from down south-west in Germany) just finished their early early set. No clue how they sounded but they had to play a rather emtpy Markthalle way before 20:00.

Next on Cancer Bats, playing towards an only slightly bigger audience. I guess it was the night driven to Antwerpen that followed the Hamburg show that force all timing to the rather early side (and made all sets rather crisp – not to say “short”).

Cancer Bats (Markthalle, Hamburg, 06.11.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)

Some have them down as Sludge Metal and others point to Metalcore, i frankly don’t care about the cupboard they are put into. I just have to admit that i don’t dig their sound. So it was chatting outside and some drinks.

Once Comeback Kid from sunny Winnipeg (that’s Manitoba, Canada) took the stage the space in front of the stage and the rest of the Markthalle was well filled (but sure not sold out). And they took the audience by storm as much as i did like them (even in this rather big setting).
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Comeback Kid  (Markthalle, Hamburg, 06.11.2019)
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They got the audience moving and had a number of fans singing along to every song. I am not too detailed into their output but i take it they played a variation of old and new songs. I guess if i would see them in the coziness of the Hafenklang i would dig them even more. The set was short but crisp and little did i know that it would set precedent for the headliner.

Sick Of It All took the headlining slot with all grandeur of a headline – dark stage, intro music and … bang, they stormed into Injustice System (as far as i recall, as i am late in writing up the show). The audience went full throttle in the pit and i saw many smiling faces (and people singing along) in the wide auditorium of the Markthalle.
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Sick Of It All  (Markthalle, Hamburg, 06.11.2019)
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Lou gave as ever the commandeering front man, Pete jumped and twirled around with loads of killer chords, Craig with his double strap for the bass driving the rhythm and Armand doing what he does best: Hardcore drumming with a precision that is rarely matched.

I loved every minute, me love loved every minute and me mates (actually fewer than normally) also did dig it. When chatting prior to the show i tried to reconcile how many time i did see them, i arrived at about 20something times (single-handedly beating the best wife of all with “only” 7 times).

Best moment was Lou singing a song in the audience and the pit doing a circle pit swirling around him – first time i saw such a stunt (specifically a stunt with a microphone on a cord).
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Sick Of It All  (Markthalle, Hamburg, 06.11.2019)
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SOIA took the stage at 22:04 and … gave us a coitus interruptus at 22:50. When they left the stage we thought it was for the encore but nope, they did not come back. When Lou came stage side to shake some hands i think i picked up he was quoting vocal problems, it may also just be the setting of the upcoming overnight drive to Belgium. Whatever it was, it was a little disappointment on an otherwise near perfect set.

I do hope SOIA return soonest in a sole setting and give us some extra time. We want it. We need it. We love it – no matter what!

#thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!
2019/11/16
… a professional rock show despite good music may not make you happy!
The Interrupters caught my ear early on in their career thanks to Hellcat Records, ie. the wings of Tim Armstrong. Their pleasant sound and quite fresh approach to fast paced Ska works well on record, hence i regretted it all along that they bypassed Hamburg over the years (they only ever came around as support for Bad Religion).

So when the show came up i got two tickets and was quite right, as it sold out in record time even being at the Markthalle (one of the largest club venues around here). So in the end a lucky mate, who missed buying in time, got the ticket. In return he treated us with free beer in front of the Markthalle.

Support was Not On Tour, the relentless touring machine from sunny Israel. They do Pop Punk and they never really caught my ear, though i tried multiple times.

Not On Tour (Markthalle, Hamburg, 26.07.2019)

They had to setup their gear in front of the Interrupters gear and that provided me with an initial feel of “rock show“. It was paired with a shitty sound, another “rock show” feel. I endured a couple of songs but then resorted back out for fresh air.

Next on, sharp at 21:00, them Interrupters. They came on stage backed by “Ghost Town” from The Specials and made a rock star entry. And kicked in from “0” to “100” in no time. From the first minute they commanded and pleased a willing audience, got plenty of applause and cheers.
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The Interrupters (Markthalle, Hamburg, 26.06.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
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All through the 80 minutes they delivered, they gave me a twist in the legs to move and dance (and many people did move) but that twist never arrived at my heart. My initial feel of “rock show” was now paired with “professional” and that would tear myself into two corners. One the one side they play pleasant and very endurable mu-sick, on the other side the whole show looked completely … mmhhh … rehearsed? Staged? A choreography (as someone suggest from Andrew Lloyd Webber)?

Not sure what words would describe it but is just did not feel real, it did not feel they way shows should feel or how shows should touch me. As such i now found a rare case where the records work for me (though they are getting more mainstream (radio ready) from album to album) but live it just did not work. No joy. No feelings.

Nevermind, the largest part of the audience did like it, including a wheele guy crowd surfing.

Dangerous trend sport: Wheelesurfing!

He got some flak from the security after the show, as despite him being a professional skater with his wheele and knowing how to handle that in extreme situations those that carried him won’t. And they could hit other, specifically to the front. It may be a cool thing (and a cool visual) to be up there but if you hit someone … it ain’t so cool anymore.

Once it was over 98% of the audience seemed to be happy. I had a final “rock show” itch at the end: The Interrupters made a final curtain gesture but omitted their keyboard/horn enlist for it.

I enjoyed the music but not the show. It was 20€, so a fair deal. Will i continue to buy records of them? Maybe. Will i ever see them live again? Most likely not.

And on the sideline: Is Aimee the best crowd winning singer? Nope, whilst having a great voice and always reaching she falls way short of Jenny Angelillo. Way short.
2019/06/27
… 40 years of Teenage Kicks: The Undertones!
Two years ago The Undertones surprised the lot at the Markthalle big time – an endless barrage of 2 minute party hits delivered in a maximum joy setting. As such the return to Hamburg as part of the “40 Years of Teenage Kicks” Tour was a fixture that even lured people from far, even a mate of mine from Rotterdamn came over after being blown away by them during their September show at the Paradiso in Amsterdamned.

It was an early night as they even sported a support band, but me and me mates happily let go that opportunity. And once it was 21:00 it was time for The Undertones, kickin’ it in for i guess 850 odd people:

And from the first chord something was missing. On the one hand the “Undertones” logo on the backdrop (has it gone AWOL?), on the other hand something with the sound was not 100% to my liking.

Nonetheless the only valid start if your tour is “40 years of Teenage Kicks”, as this was the A1 from their 1979 debut album. Most likely that record everybody has in his cupboard though it lacks said “Teenage Kicks” (as it came out a year ahead).
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The Undertones (Markthalle, Hamburg, 30.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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What i did like was the humble setting on the big stage: Two Marshalls, one AMPEG and drums on the riser. Three mikes. And loads of free space that was rarely used, as they tend not to roam around that much. That “tend” does not account for Paul McLoone who sometimes likes his Morrissey poses way too much (for my and some of me friends liking).

Did the rest of the audience like it? Yes they did!

Cheering for encore (Markthalle, Hamburg, 30.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

For me it was slightly less enjoyable than in 2016 as they played less songs and did threw in a wee bit more that came out later. Sure thing that is my very personal problem and they have all the right to give the audience a full view of their 40 years – it is just that i have a wee bit a narrower view on them.
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The Undertones (Markthalle, Hamburg, 30.11.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
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Still, it was lot’s of fun and we even got Teenage Kicks twice in the set as a customer in front of the stage complained to the band that he was delayed into the show and missed the first instance. Sure aiming to meet customer demand they did threw it in again – nice trick.

If they come back every other year and if they but a different spin every time then i will still be loyal and go and see them – they deserve it, as they continue to be humble and friendly musicians from Northern Ireland.

And they played my loveliest song too … here it is straight from a January 1979 Peel Show with an intro by the honest John Peel himself:

And now sing-along:
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If you say no 
It would break my heart in two
But don't you realize
There's too many watching you

We're making too many problems
Making matters worse
Maybe its a curse
But oh baby its hurts
oh baby its hurts

If you say no 
It would break my heart in two
But don't you realize
There's too many watching you

We're making too many problems
Making matters worse
Maybe its a curse
But oh baby its hurts
oh baby its hurts

If you say no 
If you say no 
We're making too many problems
Making matters worse
Maybe its a curse
But oh baby its hurts
oh baby its hurts

Songwriters: William Edward Martin Doherty
Billy’s Third lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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And for me and me mate the night ended in way too much beer, and then some more. And then being thrown out of the venue (due to closing). But there are more humble and friendly Nothern Irish lads in Hamburg – one manages a watering hole not too far away and we even got a free pint there to top the night.

I can assure you i had a decent hangover going to the St. Pauli game on Saturday and that little snippet tells you actually how great The Undertones have been, are and will be.

Thanks Lads!
2018/12/03