Sometimes the early footie kick-off on Fridays is an advantage if there is a show on the same day. On this Friday me and some mates where down for the Hamburg Derby and then Steve Ignorant with selected CRASS songs at the Hafenklang.
The story of the Derby is quick and single sided: Plenty of stupidity outside the stadium, loads of fireworks inside the stadium and a favorite being outsmarted by the FCSP coaches (and their 5 in the back tactic).
... it was Derby time (Millerntor, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
It did sure help that HSV was red carded early on and it definitely did help that for a change FCSP did score. In the end it felt almost uncontested.
We hit the road to the Hafenklang after the final whistle quickly, to a certain extend to avoid being dragged into Football trouble or being blocked by the Police (closing certain streets to avoid potential confrontations) – and because it started to rain anyway.
Arriving at the Hafenklang it was packed (and sold out) and Headsticks where about to start. Their self-selected mu-sick-al cupboard is an odd one:
With an ever growing fanbase at their side, Headsticks are reaching new heights with their self proclaimed 'Revolutionary Punk Roots Rock'n'Roll' which has cross genre appeal seeing the band gaining endless plaudits from pillars of the Folk/Roots, Post Punk, Punk, and even the rock and blues fraternities.
In my selfish world that is a turn down, but as ever i wanted to give them the chance to convince me.
Headsticks (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
And whilst some songs actually where pleasant and very English revolutionary Punk songs indeed others where more on the folk side (and not my thingy). But stance and message they had, so i bet they have their audience (but it won’t be me, sorry).
Next Steve Ignorant, of Crass fame, with a selected backing band performing Crass songs from 1977 to 1984. It was one of these “canceled 2020, canceled 2021 again” shows that finally did happen.
From the last time Steve came out to Hamburg to do this there was loads of praise, it was actually to no surprise that a) the Hafenklang was packed and b) that almost all of the Hamburg Punks who sported a Crass Logo on their Leather Jacket in 1980 where there. Even i had to admit that back then at least for some time i sported a Crass badge (still around somewhere).
And how did it sound? It sounded like this … Steve and band kicking off into the set:
Wow – time warp ahead! Not an updated, adapted or modernized version of Crass songs – it sounded indeed like straight out of 1980. And “The Gas Man Cometh” was a worthy start into more songs that today would defeat most of the mu-sick-al cupboards used. But – give or take – they all had enough of a beat to get people actually dancing (and those older to sing-a-long).
Steve Ignorant (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.10.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
Back then i was more the “Sham, Upstarts, Cockney” or “Fingers, Ruts, Members” Fan and did not take biggest notice of Crass, only of selected songs. But here and now to a certain extend i am regretting it – there was so much more.
Unfortunately half way through the set i had to leave: I was under the weather the day before (and had to miss Mobina Galore for that reason) and the humidity and bad air (lack of oxygen) inside the Hafenklang gave me cold sweats and definitely an ill feeling … so i simply strolled uphill and home.
Those who stayed on until the wee of the night assured me it was indeed a great set and perfect show (and many where quite vocal about the perfect and hard hitting performance by the drummer). Well done Steve, well done. And Thanks anyway.
