Last year The Bolokos delivered the show of the year at the Indra, surprising 30+ people with more than 2 hours of joy. This years return optimistically was moved to the bigger Monkeys … and indeed more than double (but still not enough) turned up.
Support was to be Dead Dates from Düsseldorf, who would have brought the gear. They had to pull out short notice and the Monkeys had to find a local support with Backline. NōōS jumped in to help and thus secured the evening (and a support slot).
Without NōōS there would not have been a show, hence they had my sympathy. Unfortunately they only called debits on that sympathy account, largely for their mu-sick (a bit of everything) but also for the overly self assured (and talkative) singer.
NōōS (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 15.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
To a different audience and setting they may work, for me they did not work at all (though their Bass was fun – a guitar with Bass strings). For the rest of the audience they also did not work, it turned into the rare occasion that a band literally is emptying the room in front of the stage.
Sorry NōōS, with me you need to try again. Or better not, as my mu-sick-al mind is very narrow minded i fear.
Next The Bolokos and they simply followed on from where they left it almost a year ago on 19.08.2022 – childlike joy and emitting fun down from the stage. Yet again with their borrowed drummer (running gag ctd, their drummer could not travel) and in their typical Bolokos gear (did i say that i like uniform stage attire?).
The Bolokos (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 15.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
Thats energetic Edy Caramello on Guitar, lovely Océ Cheapfret on Bass and the running gag on Drums. Edy joked that the last time they rehearsed was right back on the stage of the Indra – i guess that was a lie, as they where perfectly together.
The Bolokos (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 15.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
It was nice to note that Edy could remember almost all that attended the show last year but it was even more fun when he realized that the “lalala” replay attack would be levied against them again. His realization and the broad smile that came – priceless.
I guess they did not play as many songs as last year, this time round they limited themselves to “only” ~2 hours. But these two hours where filled with exactly that uplifting joy that makes you feel good.
As me mate Christian noted: Musically there are definitely better bands, but in terms of sympathy and what they have delivered, The Bolokos are way ahead.
As expected the distance between the band and the yearning audience disappeared quickly and as per Bolokos custom their version of “If the kids are united” invited everyone on stage. The only item odd was that it also lured Luke (of Spitfire Stevens fame) on stage with something brewed in his hands that was not … Jever. Wow!
The Bolokos (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 15.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
They came back for some more and despite that the Bass did not work anymore on the final song they got the lot singing. Indeed The Bolokos know how to deliver and how to take an audience along and thus deliver a worthwhile evening, period. Even with the too small attendance on a Tuesday evening.
The only item i’d love to see next year is that they up their merch to include the famed Bokit sandwich and some local white rum. They they would not only please my ears, my eyes but also my stomach.
How about that Edy?
For the Hamburg lot the gentle reminder that attending a Bolokos show is minimum 2 hours of joy – don’t miss that next year (the only ones excused this year where those seeing DEVO in Berlin on the same evening).
