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Tag: Monkeys Music Club

  • … swan songs for mOi!n It’s Hamburg!

    … swan songs for mOi!n It’s Hamburg!

    At the end it all fell apart, somewhat. It started with an early announcement, early bird tickets and the outlook to see something know, a surprise and i guess a mainstay.

    All nicely spread over Friday and Saturday, with plenty of side enjoyment.

    But it was followed with a long silence with respect to who would be playing and a plea for help, as also the Monkeys suffered from post- Covid support re-claim by the City of Hamburg, the definitely changed night life pattern as such and the cost rises all around.

    To allow the Monkeys to get rid of open bills, loans and get some needed renovation done (it is now around for 11 years, btw) please consider dropping some funds.

    Throw it all into a can, give it a good stir and you end up with tickets for the two days being refunded and a Friday only replacement show being setup with 4 bands (more from near then from far, but still with the outlook of surprises).

    I was happy to part with 20€ at the door but looking around it was not too many others. Some local regulars where at a birthday bash and i would guess some out-of-towners simply dropped the trip in total.

    The Law from Hamburg kicked off and you can guess exactly once what kind of style that would be:

    The Law merch … sole item!

    They are currently traded as Hamburgs hottest invention, playing low key sets left, right and center and feature well known faces: A Trashing Pumpgun on Drums, a Yard Bomb on Bass and a Razor on Guitar. A very surprise mix and the musical outcome is even more a surprise!

    The Law (Monkeys, Hamburg, 02.10.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    All of them come from a very different mu-sick-al backdrop but unite here to perfect raw, sturdy, up-tempo where needed and to-the-bone street rock. Throw in some 70s, throw in some harder core.

    Here is one beauty (of all the originals they have perfected by now):

    They already have a signature song (“The Law”), a real hit (“Hooligan Girl”, performed with Anja (Östro 430) taking over the female vocals) and boy, they got the lot dancing!

    I now understand why there was such buzz on them! They also announced that they jump into an empty slot on Saturday in Elmshorn together with Küken and another band but that one i had to let go.

    The Law – Setlist (Monkeys, Hamburg, 02.10.2026 (c) gehkacken.de)

    I am pretty sure i’ll see them soon again and i am looking forward to it. In December they will also grace a bigger stage, the will support the Harbour Rebels on their record release show at the Knust (together with the fantastic CRIM from Tarragona).

    Next Urban Elite from København, who surprisingly have never played Hamburg, let alone Germany, before. I do savor their first LP (came out in 2024) as it carries a real hit.

    And checking the setlist i was happy to see it towards the end of the set.

    They took the baton from The Law almost literately: hard, stripped down and rarely speeding. As much as The Law two people singing, giving slightly different voices and intonation (which always is a bonus).

    Urban Elite (Monkeys, Hamburg, 02.10.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    To much surprise for the danske mænd the dancing in front of the stage continued to be non-stop, something they had not had before.

    They did not really got a chance for a proper soundcheck, as they ran into a proper German Stau on the motorway from CPH to HAM.

    And yes, towards the end they also played my loveliest song, here is Cold Death:

    … and it came for free with a too hard hitting drummer who did send his sticks flying. Nevermind, still a beauty of a song and a great sing-a-long:

    A cold void, freezing hell
    Immediate death, exploding shell
    Shots ring out, cracks like ice
    Bullets scream, death device

    In the arctic cold, insanity’s near
    In the arctic cold, filled with fear
    In the arctic cold, death smell
    In the arctic cold, war is hell

    Death in canisters, grenades hurled
    Blood runs free, fills the world
    Ripped to shreds, icy nightmares
    Dying alone, no one cares

    Bang!

    Their 2nd LP is in the making, here is a first snippet:

    Just perfect and great to finally catch them. Looking forward to more and hopefully a return to Hamburg soonest.

    As mate noted to me at this point in the proceedings “I think i have seen the headliner (notch to The Law) and the main support (notch to Urban Elite) now, what comes next looks less exiting“. Others had already jumped the bandwagon, leaving to see The Prize (great Australian Power-Pop) down at the Komet.

    And that made me realize that the Monkeys was rather empty than packed, though those attending largely had the party mode enabled.

    I still looked forward to at least One Voice, a Dutch/German band that ventures more into a chorus and sing-a-long driven street rock. On record more-or-less not my thingy but live always enjoyable to listen to.

    One Voice (Monkeys, Hamburg, 02.10.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    Their main asset is the Guitar, as it is somewhat genre bending in sound. Whilst Drums and Bass lay an uptempo rhythm (and the Bass player sings and smiles to it) it is the guitar sound that brings the icing on top.

    I enjoyed it, not only because it had melody and sing-a-long chorus but also because it did set a contrast for the first two bands. And these types on contrast make an evening with more than one band always enjoyable. They finished to loads of cheers and applause and the sweaty lot resorted to the bar, for just another one.

    Johnny Wolga had the tough job to finish the evening off, some already had left, some where exhausted and i got to admit that i just can not find myself in their music.

    Nevertheless i had to give them a chance to persuade me, as only ever live counts.

    Johnny Wolga (Monkeys, Hamburg, 02.10.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    Unfortunately, they did not. And as i found a near perfect public transport connection home i aborted it, it was anyway only one mate left (who also left early). Sorry, but if the sound of a band just does not work for me, it does not.

    So it ended somewhat sad for me and it does end sad for mOi!n it’s Hamburg after all these years. Sam already announced that he is not gonna continue the series and i guess he has other fish to fry anyway.

    For me still a worthwhile evening out, as i saw a surprise (The Law) and something i was eager to catch (Urban Elite). And anyway it was a more then pleasant and friendly evening, with the audience – albeit small – was in a good mood.

    And that counts!

  • … fun friday with The Snouters and Wonk Unit!

    … fun friday with The Snouters and Wonk Unit!

    I had a bad week: First off sick, in parallel palliative care for a loved one and some tough work related items. I was basically yearning for a mind change. The promise of Wonk Unit returning to Hamburg and a Friday evening thus was too good to be missed.

    Support was from The Snouters, a name that i had not heard before. One of me mates guessed them towards Dutchistan, when they entered the stage they looked much more southern and quickly revealed that they are from Italy.

    The Snouters (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.03.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    They play Ska with some scent of Rock (too many solos by the Guitar) and a good dose of Surf (too few surf reverbs by the Guitar). And have a girl singing.

    In good moments it was energetic, uplifting and inspiring the lot to move, in not so good moments it was a wee bit too much show (but that is a typical stoic northern complaint).

    The Snouters (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.03.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    Some folks compared them to The Interrupters but that would a too simplistic match, they where not even half as annoying with their live performance – i did dig them, they where entertaining and emitted joy from the stage.

    And they had a great Ghost Town cover, well done.

    If you like Ska, go and check them out:

    Next Wonk Unit, in a slightly adjusted fashion: Only one guitar and the original drummer back behind the kit. According to Alex the best incarnation in a while.

    The last time they graced Hamburg was in 2023 at the Knust, that one was for me like the best ever Wonk Unit set at our shores.

    Three years on at the Monkeys it was less full than i expected, i take too many other shows on the same night.

    It did not deter Alex, always the entertainer and giving it all, nor the band as they rushed through their quite large set list (that would carry the lot across all of their nine albums from 2009 to 2024).

    Wonk Unit (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 27.03.2026)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2026

    In between they simply left it to the audience to pick and choose and finished off with plenty of sing-a-longs like Je M’appelle Alex:

    Sing-a-long:

    
Do I look Rich? Do I look Rich?
And I would love to indulge your ego
But suddenly, you appear dead to me
And I would love to indulge your ego
But suddenly, you appear dead to me

    That one is an at par (if not even better) ode to the infamous Guest List already referenced by P&TTB. The one that you should never need to or dare to ask to be on!

    And remember that Alex has more good choices and advice ready! BIN HIM!

    Dare to sing-a-long:

    
Bin him before you end up in a bin
In a bin

Oh god he's gonna hit me
Oh god he's gonna hit, gonna hit me

Like fuck are you gonna hit me
Fuck are you gonna hit, gonna hit me

    I guess they played 1,5 hours and had the lot going non-stop. They are just fun to watch when they banter on stage, they are fun to listen to live and they are simply uplifting.

    To that extend the promise by Alex prior to the show was met, my fucked up week was done with with the help of The Snouters, even more help from Wonk Unit and some help of mates (up to and including some pints of Guinness).

    And as ever when a band convinces me live i need to buy something off them, my choice was the neat Black Flag themed Wonk Unit shirt!

    Good evening, though they should have gotten a larger installment of good people in front of the bar & stage.

    From where i sit they can come back on a more regular basis, it is always worthwhile to speak to Alex and listen to Wonk Unit.

    And the best? A quick lift by a mate all the way home.

    Purrfect and fun Friday evening!

  • … late but reasonably happy: Clox, Erection and 999.

    … late but reasonably happy: Clox, Erection and 999.

    Frank, i wanted to be at the Monkeys on Friday. To see D.I. who twice convinced me big time at the Hafenklang recently. But family care duties came first, so i opted for the next available show: 999 with support from Clox (a very very long running band from Dortmund) and Erection.

    I somewhat missed the message from the Monkeys that the show was moved forward, so that later in the evening the Tainted Love party series could happen. Instead of doors at 20:00 it was doors at 18:00 and Clox starting shortly after 19:00.

    I was not alone with that miss, a mate who was earlier than me said that many did miss Clox.

    Clox (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025 (c) Clox)

    In hindsight i am frustrated now, as they ring a bell from back then and still create a very British style of Punk:

    They existed 1977 to 1986, with their prime being around 1983/1984 when they toured with Die Toten Hosen extensively. The came back together in 2008 and ever since are at it.

    My mate, who was almost on time, praised their set.

    Pity poor me, i missed it!

    I also missed the first half of Erection, in contrast a rather young band from sunny Regensburg. And that is quite a ride north for them in order to grace Hamburg.

    They play self-proclaimed Pussy-Penis-Power-Punk and their main assets are the outgoing singer Julia and Schtiefn on guitar. Songs are in English and German, the mu-sick is wandering between many references.

    Erection (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    For me the Englisch songs worked better, specifically when it wandered into Thunderland (no surprise the Guitar sported a LAMF shirt), modernized. Here is one of them:

    Towards the end of the set though a nagging itch in the back of my single-minded mu-sick receptors broke through: It was too much of Rock, too much of Rock show elements.

    Did i dislike them? No. Did i like them – still a no. I realized others around me where of similar feel, a larger part of the audience though did dig them.

    Next 999 and more of a time warp. From their initial success (the first three albums and a slew of singles carry almost hit after hit) they disbanded twice in the 1980s, only to come back in the 90s and doing the rounds ever since.

    999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Nick was a bit underestimating the Hamburg lot, when he referenced them playing early on in Hamburg at the Markthalle Christian lectured him on support (Fehlfarben) and what color Nicks shirt had back then. A wee bit of a surprise smile came over Nick…

    … if you dare listen to the live tape conserved over at Tape Attack:

    Click me!

    Whilst they also put out new records (every 10 years or so), their 1978-1980 hits, slightly speeded up, still make the cut to get the people going and – line by line – sing-a-along.

    999 (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 26.07.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    As i dodge Blackpool every year it has been quite a while since i saw them, i think that was like mid-1990s in London. And the longer they played, the more i liked it. It ain’t something fancy new but it is a slew of hits, many sing-a-longs.

    And there is nothing wrong in keeping these songs going.

    Whilst i was still unhappy with myself having missed the early start i was reasonably happy as #thereaintnuthinbetterthanlivemusic!