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… up, down, up and further up: FCSP Season End and The Spitfires at the Indra!

It was supposed to be a long and glorious day, footie followed by a show, but in fact footie turned out to be a wee bit a downer.

The magical FCSP had a glorious “run” in the 1st flight following 2nd league championship and promotion. At least when you put it into perspective, give it financial capabilities or value of the player rooster. Or Bundesliga experience of the rooster.

How ever people looked at it, they came to the conclusion that FCSP will go down again. In reality only the first 4 games FCSP stayed on a relegation place and since November 2024 they did not even were down to the 16th, which would be relegation games vs. someone from the 2nd league.

Comes May 2025 and with a tough 2:2 away in Frankfurt they cemented the lead to place 16: 3 points, 13 goals. Almost safe.

FC St. Pauli – VfL Bochum (Millerntor, Hamburg, 17.05.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025

But the final home game vs. VfL Bochum did not turn into a glorious finish of the season, it turned into a sour summer kick without energy, without winning 1:1’s and without a score – like so many other games. 2nd best defense in the league, by far the worst offense (if counted in scored goals only).

But, ending 14th is a great season result. Lets see what the club is able to do in the transfer season and lets hope that key personnel can be kept, up to and including the coach.

No clue why many others in the stadium wanted to party directly after the game on the pitch, for me and me mates around me it was a too poor finish to be cheerful.

So the only way to cheer us up was a quick bite prior to the short stroll over to the Indra. To an extend it did work…

… and got us early to the Indra, doors still closed. Many others arrived early too, many being fellow FCSP Fans that attended the game.

It was unfortunately still some time until the reformed Spitfires would take the stage, so it was chatting and sipping. And fortunately the show was a birthday show for Sam (who runs the Indra and the Monkeys), so the sipping part was supported by some gracious free beers.

The Spitfires took the stage around 21:45 and faced a ready for the action audience. The original band was busy from 2012 to 2022, when they called it a day. It was largely due to Covid and falling out with they record company as this got them deprived of the financials to keep a touring band (not able to tour) afloat.

Comes 2025 and Billy Sullivan, who kept a solo act running, is back with a new, reformed, 4 piece outfit. And back in Hamburg, where they played and recorded a couple of times.

The Spitfires (Indra, Hamburg, 17.05.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025

It ain’t necessarily my mu-sick-al niche but you can see that Billy (like so many others in the UK) grew up with loads of Mod and Punk references. And taking that into a slick combination of harmonies, storytelling and – my guess – what some people call “Brit Pop“.

Also throw in some undercurrent of Reggae and Ska and you are bang onto their turf. And that one they delivered with precision, to the point and – to widen the sound – with some organ and brass coming from the computer.

The Spitfires (Indra, Hamburg, 17.05.2025)
(c) gehkacken.de 2025

Specifically the 2nd guitar added some nice soundscapes to their live sound, it gave many songs both depth and something listen up to. Anyway, the overall sound was almost full, perfect and without any sort of miss.

I guess they played for the length of a full football game (like in 90 minutes) and finished the set of with this one:

And, frank, they convinced me – that was great entertainment in the purest sense. And whilst i nodded to it, large parts of the audience danced to it. And the Mods in the first row even … had the old classic “We are the Mods, we are the Mods, we are we are we are the Mods” out.

It definitely did more then cheering the day up, it made it end on a high. I guess Sam got himself a nice Birthday present there, well deserved.

The other birthday boy, also a Spitfire but of Stevens make, was also happy though now officially can be called an old man. But as much as we love him, he loves us back.

After the long day i called it a day rather early than late, also because of my ride home nowadays is a wee bit longer.

But i did that happy and with a smile. As #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic and #thereaintnuthinbetterthanstayinginthetopflight.

2025/05/19
.. twice packed, twice fun (at least for some): Friday Night!
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:
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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).
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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.
2022/10/17
… a season in hell ends on a high!

Home, sweet home…

Was für ein Saisonabschluss. Die Planer des DFB hatten eigentlich das schlechteste im Kopf: Zwei Heimspiele hintereinander. Und in der Heimtabelle standen wir diese Saison durchgehend auf “Abstieg”. Also die schlechteste Voraussetzung für eine schnelle Rettung.

Akt 1 – Die dankbaren Greuther

Millerntor (28.04.2018 12:58 (c) gehkacken.de)

Die Ausgangsbasis war klar: In Regensburg haben wir es verkackt und unsere #11 hat es so richtig verkackt. Und kein 3er gegen Fürth würde das Hinterherlaufen bedeuten (wo man es dann irgendwann nicht mehr selbst in der Hand hat).

Das Spiel war dankbar, das frühe Tor von Diamtakos hilfreich und die Verletzung von Buchtmann letztendlich entscheidend: Flum machte danach den Leitwolf. Und das Tor. Und ein perfekter Konter brachte ein Killertor von Neudecker.

Klasse, vor allem weil wir ohne #9 und ohne #11 das Ding sicher durchziehen konnten (und Fürth alles tat was ein potentieller Absteiger tun kann).

Bärenstark und mit der besten Zweikampfqote (83%!): Jeremy, mein heimlicher Held der Saison.

Millerntor (28.04.2018 14:55 (c) gehkacken.de)

Akt 2 – Schwarz-Weiß-Blau war keine Schau

Endspiel. Ohne wenn und aber. Und viele haben vorher gerechnet und auch ich war mir sicher: Mit einem Sieg war es das. Als Einstimmung gaben die Nord und die Haupt (Premiere!) eine schöne Choreo:

Danke Nord! 08.05. – wer nicht feiert hat verloren!

Danke Haupt! Wir sind der Fussballclub Sankt Pauli! Und aus Hamburg an der Elbe kommen wir!

Und das war die perfekte Einstimmung für ein Spiel bei dem wir hoffentlich das Team der nächsten Saison gesehen haben…

Millerntor (06.05.2018 15:28 (c) gehkacken.de)

Und diesmal war es um ein ganzes Stück härter. Die DSC Armina kam als möglicher Relegationskandidat (sollte Kiel verlieren) und mit dem Schwung einer ordentlichen Saison (die wir nicht hatten). Und der auf der Tribüne ja nicht so geliebte Coach unseres magischen FC hatte ein paar gelungene Kniffe an Bord:

Der Arminia wurde der Ball überlassen und hinten konsequent dicht gemacht. Und nach vorne eigentlich sinnlose hohe Bälle auf Diamantakos. Der konnte die wenigsten gewinnen aber rackerte wie verrückt und schaffte so zweite Bälle. Und auf die gingen wir schnell drauf. Und wenn wir vorne schnell und flach spielten dann wurde es auch gefährlich, siehe das Tor von Park.

In der zweiten Hälfte war dann wenig Angst da, Bielefeld hatte zwar den Ball aber kam nie richtig in den Strafraum. Und da die die anderen Ergebnisse auch für uns waren gab es bei Apfiff um 17:21 einen Riesenjubel:

Ein verdienter Sieg durch eine enorme Kraftanstrengung. Und hinter den Kulissen eine nette Geste an unsere #13, Ryo, bekam die Zuneigung der Kollegen direkt zu spüren (wenn auch die Hoffnung auf eine Fußballkarriere wohl endgültig begraben ist).

Millerntor (06.05.2018 17:32 (c) gehkacken.de)

Jetzt kann das Team diese tragische Saison noch rumreißen, 7ter werden und danach wird hoffentlich die sportliche Leitung einige (harte) Entscheidungen treffen. In der nächsten Saison muss es besser werden, vor allem wenn tatsächlich die Stadtmeisterschaft auf dem Spiel steht.

Forza FCSP!

2018/05/12