Tag: RED⚒BRICKS

… how to ruin a good show!
It could have been a great Thursday, the tourist from St. Ingbert yet again in town and visiting the show, the lovely couple self-exiled to Denmark (❤️ 🇩🇰 ❤️) was there and a perfect line up with local heroes Red Bricks, the energetic Antagonizers ATL and the so called “legend” Anti Heroes (who played Hamburg last time 20+ years ago). But it would turn a wee bit sour at the end …

Red⚒Bricks kicked off with a great (at least according to the Blackpool Pilgrimages tales) Rebellion Set under their belt. They where hampered though by the fact that their Bass Player Keith was not available short notice, hence the Bass from Antagonizers ATL jumped in (and did a good job under the circumstances).
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Red⚒Bricks (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
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The unfortunate thing though is that indeed the signature bass was missing, for my ears it provides that extra that makes them slightly different, slightly better. How did it sound? It sounded like this … though throughout the whole night the sound was not perfect, somehow.

Still, a good set and a fitting start into the evening. For their little niche they bring everything needed and specifically melodies, though they can also do full frontal chants. Check out their new single “They Shall Not Pass” which has just been released .

Next Antagonizers ATL from sunny Atlanta, Georgia, in the US of A. And from the first chord on their main asset towered the center of the stage: Their singer Bodan is large, present and lends into it as if he is commandeering 100s (if non 1000nds) in front of the stage.

I take it that he is also self aware, as sometimes he steps aside and gives space to the others too, great stage movements by all actually making it a really entertaining set. On top they have all ingredients in the music, a well balanced mix of pace, melodies, twin guitars and sing-a-long.

The played for like 45 minutes and had a good grip on the audience, i saw a lot of smiling faces around me and even a couple of folks happily dancing away in front of the stage.
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Antagonizers ATL (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
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For me and my ears a near perfect set (give or take on the sound, it wasn’t perfect all night) delivered in class (and completely unpretentious). Rock solid work if you ask me, out of the rooster of American Street Punk (what damn stupid cupboard actually) one of the key assets. I will definitely endeavor to see them again, suggest you check them out too if this is down your mu-sick-al alley.

Finally Anti Heroes, if my memory serves me well they played Hamburg last somewhere around 2000 or 2001 at a small youth club in Ahrensburg, a suburb just north of Hamburg.

Here is what they set out to deliver:

Anti Heroes – Setlist (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de)

And this is what we got:

From a musical point full on and absolutely my thingy: hard, fast and short. What quickly caught the eye of some folks though was the shirt of Mark Noah – the slogan “Let’s go Brandon !” is taking a side that was not savored well.

During the show he paired it with the explanation “It means fuck Joe Biden”, after the show when a friend asked about the shirt he responded with a barrage of trash along “… Joe Biden is more bad than Hitler and Stalin together, you in Germany get not told the truth“. My wild bet would be that he also explained the corrupt left press is the reason, i guess the odds are 1:1. My friend turned around and did not want to have anymore of that shit, rightfully.

One part of the audience decided to let go during the set and retreated to the pub, the larger part stayed for the show. I had no clue what the shirt actually referred to during the set and the “Fuck Joe Biden” comment could have meant anything – so i kept watching.
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Anti Heroes (Monkeys Music Club, Hamburg, 17.08.2023 (c) gehkacken.de 2023)
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Luckily he took the shirt off (not sure if told or because it was too wet). On the mu-sick-al side they continued to deliver strong though.

After the show i got tipped off with respect to the shirt and context and somehow that took away large part of the joy the live music provided. I have no clue how much the rest of the excellent band shares Marks views, from where i stand i will sure not take an effort to see them again. I guess they will also not be booked anymore into my favorite clubs and i am fine with that.

Still, great evening with some good chats and great music. I could also walk the tourist home with a bit of sightseeing, explaining the beauties of the Große Bergstrasse emptiness at night. He and his son only ever complained about Beer pricing in Hamburg, one of the key disadvantages of the big city.

But whatever great music, stupidity sometimes ruins it. Well done Mark, now go back and bail out America from the hands of the Un-Americans. Oh my lord …
2023/08/19
… UK82 reloaded: Mess, all the way on Intercity from Guadalajara!
Another great Monday evening at the Hafenklang was waiting for me and me mates, MESS all the way from Guadalajara, Mexico, would be in town. Plenty of folks got attracted by their sound, many where eager to grab their vinyl and one even made the effort to see them in Berlin a day earlier.

Support was local and fitting, the RED⚒BRICKS where providing the warm-up. I have noted their record and i took note of their struggles from the need to replace the singer like the day prior their record release show – but i was yet to see them live.

I guess thanks to them it was already well filled upstairs at the Hafenklang when they kicked off. Their sound is pretty dense, neither fast nor harsh, and they not fall victim of the trap of putting themselves into an obvious Oi! or Skinhead cupboard.
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RED⚒BRICKS (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.11.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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Controlled speed, loads of melodies and as an asset a pretty decent signature bass play, sometime carrying the songs that bit further that makes it worthwhile to listen. I am not sure if the singer resp. the vocals is a full fit, but that is just me and me mu-sick-al preferences – i would prefer it harsher and a bit more … dangerous maybe? Adventurous?

Good tight set, excellent sound and some applause but actually they did not get people dancing.

With a quick changeover MESS took the stage and took it into a different territory: Much more basic, much more stripped down and – with a positive spin – amateurish. Or simply: Authentic. Whilst many refer to them as “ah, the Mexican Blitz” i don’t think that default provides them justice.
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MESS (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 14.11.2022 (c) gehkacken.de 2022)
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Sure some of the guitar at moments has that Blitz sound but by and large they are a very basic, very energetic and pretty much non-nonsense band that takes inspiration from UK82 (to use their own reference).

At times they indeed sounded like lads just picking up instruments back in 1982 and screaming it out to friends, at other times they actually proofed that they are close, tight and able to create a sing-a-long wall of sound.

Just like here with “Street Boys”:

A great sing-a-long by the way:
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We have been challenged
To hate the whole world
Stand firm, stand proud

We have walked
The streets for hours
Searching for a way out

We are street boys ! X 4

We are different
And we will fight for ours
Struggle while growing old

We are tough guys
And we don't need your lies
Never say why, never say die

We are street boys ! X 4
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I liked it, many of me mates liked it (just one found them too lightweight) and the well packed audience at the Hafenklang liked them too, even beyond the novelty bonus of an Oi! Band from Mexico. I would definitely see them again, they are worth it.

Worthy was also the shopping experience, being alerted of low quantities of records already ahead of the show i broke my own rules and purchased the vinyl prior to the band convincing me live. And i was lucky to score all i wanted, including the MESS / The Chisel split EP in colored vinyl. Lucky greedy bastard me!

In case you need it this shit too – which is not only great songs but also great packaging – try local at Sounds Of Subterrania!

Best shopping for a #recordcollectorbeingapretentiousarsehole

It is these shows that actually make my day, specifically when that day was spoiled on the work front. Best club, best booking, best companions (many life long by now) and great new music. Luv it, love you (you know who you are).

PS: Thanks to Beno for the video, i was too busy enjoying the band to shoot one myself.
2022/11/16

Tag: RED⚒BRICKS

… how to ruin a good show!

… UK82 reloaded: Mess, all the way on Intercity from Guadalajara!