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Tag: Pretty Vacant HQ

  • … Limited Edition DIY ctd: Fat Flag and Youth Of Altona!

    … Limited Edition DIY ctd: Fat Flag and Youth Of Altona!

    The fine folks that run the Limited Edition just don’t stop, two editions in September are a surprise (though two weeks ago technically it was out of town bands only). And the much bigger surprise was that the hosts would greet guests and bands with … a song.

    That is cool as fuck i’d say. Here you go:

    Thats Koma Kombo on Drums (Eugen), Buttocks on Guitar (Mike), Kaltfront on Bass (Jörg) and Nancy on Vocals. Ever since i have been seeing Punk Shows (1979 ’till today) i did not spend a second on thinking such thing could happen.

    Well done and if three chords are indeed enough you are now a band!

    Fat Flag kicked it off and kept it equally brief for the start:

    And that’s also how they continued, upbeat, fast, plenty of breaks and multi vocal singing. A very modern, very American approach to Punk Rock.

    They also had a rather juvenile fan base in attendance that pretty much enjoyed itself and could sing-a-long (much more then us old farts).

    Fat Flag (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 26.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    The only downside on their set was the the vocals where not fully understandable (too silent i guess) and that the heat emitters called stage lights burned both the band and the neck of the audience. If only the crew could pilfer some less heat emitting LED lights…

    Besides that an energetic set, well received by the audience (and enthusiastically supported by the fan base).

    Youth Of Altona next and they are not just a band covering songs from the Wipers, they are a band that play the Wipers. Both on stage and off stage i’d say:

    …Youth Of Altona 2025 and Wipers 1979: No difference at all!

    On stage they started, as ever, with Return Of The Rats:

    From the start it was simply this feeling of joy of playing that came down from the stage, in full speed and taking no prisoners.

    But playing the Wipers is not all they do, trust me. They also preserve the simple fact that – give or take – the first three Wipers records (spanning from 1980 to 1983) are simply flawless beauties with songs that stand the test of time. And much more than other bands most of the songs are A1 material, there is almost no weak spot.

    And for those who are connoisseurs they also have hidden some Easter Eggs, like the Karl Alvarez intro to Same Old Thing (that has an Karl style bassline for a start, dating back to 1979).

    Killing a nod to two loveliest bands in one stone throw – near perfect!

    Whilst Youth Of Altona lacked the juvenile fan base of Fat Flag they still had the audience on it’s toes and moving. And those who did not move at minimum had a huge smile on their face and simply did enjoy.

    Because the songs are simply great.

    Youth Of Altons (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 26.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Youth Of Altona are also a peoples band, hence they invited half of Demolition Girls to sing D7 with them to make up for earlier show planed but not happening.

    It is a wee bit a complicated and lengthy song and many people name it their least liked song on Is This Real?. I guess largely for 01:30 slow burning intro … but then the firework starts!

    Sing-a-long:

    Straight as an arrow
    Defect, defect
    Not straight, not so straight
    Reject, reject
    Towards antisocial
    Dull, dull, so dull

    Standing on the stairs
    Cold, cold morning
    Ghostly image of fear
    Mayday, mayday
    Gonna leave this region
    They'll take me with them

    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven

    Straight as an arrow
    Defect, defect
    Not straight, not straight
    Reject, reject
    Towards antisocial
    Dull, dull, so dull

    Past astral borders
    Zeno lies waiting
    Past gaseous remains
    Intrigue, such intrigue
    Gonna leave this region
    They're taking me with them

    Straight as an arrow
    Defect, defect
    Not straight, not so straight
    Reject, reject
    Towards antisocial
    Dull, dull, so dull

    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven
    Dimension Seven

    Perfect adaption with two voices, also presented in a class way. The icing on that cake would follow suit as the setlist indicated: The “encore” would entail the all time favorite Over The Edge plus Youth Of America and finally Nothing to prove (also a lesser known song but dating back to 1986 and Sub Pop 100.

    Youth Of Altona – Setlist (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 26.09.2025)

    As said, Youth Of Altona play the Wipers.

    Youth Of Altons (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 26.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Have i seen a tighter set by Youth Of Altona prior? I don’t think so – they grabbed the opportunity to excel in the small and private setting, amongst friends. Are they a cover band? Never. They play Wipers!

    Boy, what a great evening. Surrounded by largely friends, from diverse background and enjoying two crisp sets by local bands. In a full DIY setting, up to and including another great physical DIY ticket:

    … perfect DIY ticket!

    With a broad smile (and a wee bit of less pain on me foot) i took the subway ride home, humming a Wipers tune and looking forward for another Limited Edition. The mark is getting higher, i wonder how the good people making this happen will top it.

    And guess what: I know they will.

    … the canceled show that Demolition Girls had to pull out on
  • … another pretty, vacant and DIY show!

    … another pretty, vacant and DIY show!

    Another Limited Edition show at the Pretty Vacant HQ, aptly limited to 77 tickets. Average age of attendance was also much nearer to 77 than to 18, though many of the good folks attending where praising the DIY feel it had, much like “back then” (which in Hamburg would be Krawall 2000 times and 1979).

    The rooster was almost a Sounds Of Subterrania (just another DIY venture) exclusive, all the way north from sunny Ålborg came the migthy Columbian Neckties and venturing north from sunny Kölle where the Cellophane Suckers. Two bands destined for raunchy, sleazy and fast paced Punk’n’Roll.

    And both bands share the same fate: I have records of them but i can not recall to ever have seen them live. So easiest choice for me to get out, despite the sorrow of a family loss and an injured foot.

    The Cellophane Suckers kicked it off and from the start delivered in top form: Solid backline of Drum & Bass, dueling guitars and a singer leaning all in (and going shirtless in 1,2,3 … 4).

    Cellophane Suckers (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 13.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Their career spans since 1993 i think and within that they have ventured criss-cross many mu-sick-al lables, exploring the boundaries within our little niche (with a tendency to what people may dub Garage Rock, Sleaze Punk or simply … Punk mutherfucking Rock).

    The songs differ in length, my loveliest one was this short banger that effectively showcases all of their abilities within a 01:30 limit…

    … Rise Up!

    No chord spared, no unnecessary reprise, verse or chorus.

    There where also other songs that stretched much longer, if i am not mistaken the rest of the band on one took the piss out of the singer (who suffered under the 12 600 watts emitters called stage lights) by extend one song almost into oblivion (just by encouraging each other with quick looks and eye brow nods the singer did not realize).

    Cellophane Suckers (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 13.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They had fund on stage, the audience had fun and despite the heat emitters it was a near perfect sound. Spinal Tap moment: Turning the Marshall Amp Beer Fridge on stage to … 11.

    They know what they do!

    Columbian Neckties next, hampered though by they bass player being off sick and having to short notice recruit and train a tour replacement. According to Jeppe that took Torben only one hour … though on stage he got a little chord helper laid down on the floor.

    With them, the Punk’n’Roll had less speed but more depth (at least my mu-sick-al receptors decoded it that way), relentless driven forward by the guitar.

    Columbuian Neckties (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 13.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    It felt a wee bit like a wall of sound and that feeling was utmost good. And just like the singer of the Cellophane Suckers Jeppe succumbed to the heat emitters and went 1,2,3 Oberkörper Frei in due cause.

    Their approach has been summed up almost perfect like this:

    This is Punk – Punk and not Rock in disguise. Garage will always be Garage and that means getting your hands dirty. Their shows never fall short from being total revelations and are cramped with energy to an extent, that you could illuminate the Autobahn at night, if we were able to feed that energy into our power circuits.

    Most of all, Columbian Neckties are real! Not just Students jamming around, No Dressmen, no ‘we’ll-do-whatever-the-industry-can-sell’ – types, but rather the boys from nextdoor who happen to play mindblowing Garagepunk.

    And boy, there is nothing to add to this!

    Columbuian Neckties (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 13.09.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    They got the lot even more engaged than the Cellophane Sucker, more dancing and i guess even more cheers. And frank, they where a 110% fit for the makeshift DIY stage at the Pretty Vacant HQ.

    Very real!

    Once they where done the whole thing was not done yet, the good folks that throw this had organized a little raffle and every ticket could win. I was lucky, my (normally unlucky) #34 got me some Schnaps, a Dream Boogie LP and as the highest value item a professional air guitar plectron.

    …surprise raffle win – Dream Boogie LP on Sounds Of Subterrania

    The only pity was that my hurt foot started to be very painful whilst the Danes played and i had to sit down. I should have taken painkillers and drop the beer thingy.

    Looking forward to the next edition of PVHQ Limited Edition (that comes fast with Fat Flag and Youth Of Altona), it is utmost fun, done by utmost nice people and attended … by friends.

    Just like back then!

    100% DIY VIP Ticket!
  • … a record release party amongst friends!

    … a record release party amongst friends!

    The return of the rehearsal room shows ctd:

    C³I, thanks to Power It up Thomas, have a new record out, a split with Jimmy Pelz Fistfuck USA from sunny Bruswick. And Eugen & Mike provided the Pretty Vacant HQ (or, as some dub it, the Krawall 3000) for the release party deep down in Rothenburgsort.

    First Jimmy Pelz Fistfuck USA. A naming choice that does not exactly lends itself to entry for a nationwide US tour these days. And also triggers with me nothing more than raised eyebrows initially.

    But upon learning that one (or some) also play with the mighty Torpedo Harms i got much more interested.

    What did i get? Fast paced hardcore with a slight metallic overtone on the guitar and a mighty humping double-bass drum pedal. And a very outgoing & roaming singer.

    Jimmy Pelz Fistfuck USA (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 29.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    The songs are mostly in German and short&crisp. It is not 100% up my mu-sick-al alley but delivered with force and in a fitting style. And some songs even have sing-a-long quality of sorts.

    As extras they provided some covers, here is a notable one:

    Very entertaining and actually much more than i expected.

    Next C³I and for them it was more than a record release show, it was also the first live performance with Stéphane (of Bad Job Boys and other fame) on drums (as Jens moved away from Hamburg).

    C³I – Setlist (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 29.03.2025 (c) gehkacken.de)

    And in a positive way it was no surprises: Very modern, stripped down, Punk sound with great German lyrics (and sure the unique sound of Arnes voice). And whilst Stéphane used a little scribble helper the drumming sounded both in sync and fitting.

    C³I (Pretty Vacant HQ, Hamburg, 29.03.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    The only item i noted and later Rudi questioned the audience was sheer volume: It sounded loud, very loud (for the rather small room). As the majority wanted it that loud, it stayed that way (aka The Kids Will Have Their Say).

    How did it sound? It sounded like Niemals so wie du:

    I love it, despite all of them engaged in other bands too this little venture has a very unique sound that is almost 100% according to my likes. And with the replacement on the drums it hopefully continue to thrive.

    Lovely evening, many friends and sure a record to score (and Thomas even took some limited colored editions along).

    Get this beauty upon market release from Power It Up!

    And the topping? Someone very gracious individual provided some free catering (that elsewhere would have landed in the bin) that tasted excellent.

    And allowed me to award a symbol of praise on a trusted mate:

    The Red Ball of Praise goes to … Sonny Vincent!

    This DIY and small scale setting continues to be a fun one, i sincerely hope a couple of more showcases can come around until the surrounding development eats up that part of the street too.