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Tag: T.S.O.L.

  • … an evening full of surprises: A first, a mainstay and a blast!

    … an evening full of surprises: A first, a mainstay and a blast!

    It was one of these dates left and right of Rebellion in Blackpool and for those who do not make that pilgrimage (like myself) it was a perfect setting – 3 mu-sick-ally different bands and a first: Shattered Faith never graced Hamburg before i believe.

    Early start on a typical Hamburg Summer day – wet, rainy and largely miserable. And the fear that many would be en route or preparing for Blackpool and as such a low turnout.

    But somewhat the three different bands drew different parts of the scene and some Blackpool pilgrims decided to watch them anyway in Hamburg too.

    Shattered Faith came about in 1978 already and gained visibility through Posh Boy (1981 7″ with I Love America) and their 1982 half live half studio LP on Prophet.

    That’s how they looked back then, and this is how the now incarnation of Shattered Faith took the stage:

    I am not sure about how many original members remain but for sure it is Spencer on vocals. And he was quite unhappy – his voice was almost gone (and during some songs was just a hoarse something).

    Pity, but sometimes that happens when you are a singer.

    EDIT: From Blackpool a mate brought home the message that the voice of Spencer was gone-gone, so he could not sing. Kerry Martinez (thus 2nd original member identified) took vocal duties. Real pity!

    Shattered Faith (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    How did they sound? Definitely not H/C but more of the California pre-H/C Punk with an emphasis on Rock. But with a very different spin than most of the contemporary bands back then.

    I do remember them most for the Posh Boy 7″ and their songs on various compilations. Here are some old 1979 demos:

    Whilst many of their songs had good structures the lack of full vocals and the somewhat a little bit off drummer made it not a full blown positive surprise. But indeed they deserve a 2nd chance, let’s see how the Blackpool pilgrims report back on them.

    Next Sloppy Seconds, a real mainstay over here in the 90s and still going strong. This is how B.A. took the stage (the rest was already there):

    I guess within the surprisingly well filled Hafenklang they had the biggest share of fans, many did sing along and came to the front.

    They positively get away with a biggest hits set easily, the bass throwing smiles and faces whilst being rock solid, the guitar bouncing around and the drummer driving it forward whilst singing along on many songs for himself.

    Sloppy Seconds (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And front, with his typical high pitched voice, B.A. – not too much interaction but definitely more then Spencer.

    And sure they gave the lot their big hit, aptly named Germany (and remember, that ones dates back to 1988):

    More than solid set, drive, umpf and emitting fun – perfect!

    Next T.S.O.L. and they share a lot with Shattered Faith: Starting 1978 in Southern California, first record on Posh Boy and for sure the singer being … currently the one Original.

    Here is how they took ownership of the stage:

    Ups, a lot of new faces (though one definitely known): Ron (Guitar) and Mike (Bass) where out injured, so Jack got help from Tevor (D.I.) on Guitar and Brandon (Head Bored) on Bass.

    And Brandon was fully exposed by Jack on stage: His youngest daughter is with them on tour doing merch, Brandon his her boyfriend and he recently proposed to her.

    Love is in the air!

    T.S.O.L. (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    Against these two “newbies” Antonio on drums – a definite powerhouse – is already with Jack and T.S.O.L. for 10 years.

    From start to finish Jack was in a smiling mode, chatty and taking questions from the audience (but only if you properly raised your hand). So we got a bit of learning, a bit of preaching and – for me a surprise – the very friendly side of him.

    T.S.O.L. (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 05.08.2025)
    (c) gehkacken.de 2025

    And very frank, that friendliness paired with super tight, super hard and super pushy play by the others made it a real blast. From start to finish.

    Here is another one, feel the energy!

    What surprised me the biggest was the perfect sound and within that the perfect sound of Trevors guitar, never being off a chord. Wow.

    T.S.O.L. left many in the audience stunned and most people after the show chatted about Shattered Faith having something (but not being able to bring it really across) and T.S.O.L. most likely having delivered their best ever set in Hamburg.

    For me it was simply one big enjoyable surprise with T.S.O.L. providing the icing on the cake. Now it is not a surprise to me that over in Blackpool they play a top spot, 2nd but last on Sunday at the Empress Ballroom.

    Great Punk Rock show! Thanks yet again Hafenklang…

  • … San Vernando Valley 0, Long Beach 1: A sweaty Californian twin headlining!

    … San Vernando Valley 0, Long Beach 1: A sweaty Californian twin headlining!

    Bang Bang Bang – Hamburg not only suffers from a heatwave of a tropical nature but also from show overkill. Following Battalion of Saints i did let go Ruiner (and more) on Monday only to return to a packed Hafenklang on Tuesday. I am not sure if it was The Dickies, i think it was the combination of T.S.O.L. and The Dickes that was to be a wide spread mu-sick-ally and thus lured a wide range of people.

    A surprise support slot was handed to Scooter Kids Must Die, local heroes. A friend of mine had them down as worthy though their self set style as “punk doom hardcore punk thrash” did not speak to me. Others had them down as “THE new hardcore punk hope of Hamburg” and that at least had me check them out whilst i guess 150 people decided to enjoy beer outside the Hafenklang.

    Scooter Kids Must Die (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)
    Scooter Kids Must Die (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

    For me they sounded at times hectic, at times fast and to the point and all the time with a singer that roamed the dance floor and yelled, mumbled and screamed. And moshed it out, more or less alone, in the pit. Mhhhh, tough one for me – i stayed on but left prior to the final song – i was not (yet) convinced. And the pairing was way too off against what was to come (says the man who preaches contrast is good).

    Next on T.S.O.L. and ever since Jack Grisham in 1999 took back ownership of the name from the hair metal faction that did run it following the infamous Sun Set Strip Riot in 1983 T.S.O.L. are not only back for good but also enlighten the audience with a wide variety of mu-sick-al styles. Here is how they kicked off:

    Ok, Jack has some additional weight on him but he still has a voice and has a band that fits him. They took the stage and gave the as good as sold out Hafenklang  a wide run through what T.S.O.L. recorded over the years.

    T.S.O.L. (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

    And the audience was more than receptive. Actually rather enthusiastic (though not as much as for The Adolescents a week earlier). Loads of nodding, lots of applause and some dancing.

    Fun moment was at the end of every song: If the drummer gave a fraction of a second of pause then Jack eyed him angrily and yelled at him to speed up and storm into the next song: Obviously he had a game plan and did not care if his team died at 45° degrees heat on stage. A plan is a plan and a delivery to the audience is a delivery.

    Double fun that Jack allowed himself to take a breath whilst Ron was singing a song that was just from another style…

    Just perfect. And that is what i sometimes loved T.S.O.L. (and actually Joykiller too) and at times over all the years hated them for: Their spread of music is very wide and not that narrowed down as for other bands. And, on top, it is utmost fun when Jack starts talking between songs – he is a handsome entertainer!

    Still they can trash out their old 1981 signature song “Abolish Government“:

    For me they were just perfect. All i needed from a live show, although the sound was somehow not as perfect.

    Next The Dickies, who seem to be on a two years rota: 2014 Hafenklang, 2016 Knust (a near perfect show with a “Hits only!” set) and now back to the good old Hafenklang.

    And surprisingly they took the stage with an old Beatles classic:

    Unusual and it should continue in that vain – it was not to be a sing-a-long series of old hits, nope, it was Leonard playing some word tricks with hints towards the final album to come and new songs from that final final album where to be included in the set. And Leonard was not shy to announce that it would finally be end of … whatever.

    The Dickies (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 24.07.2018 (c) gehkacken.de)

    The sound was still not perfect and on the stage it also felt a wee bit not in sync. There where quite some looks coming from the bass player towards Leonard and Leonard himself a couple of times was unhappy with the poor roadie who had to hand him the gimmicks to accompany the songs.

    For me and some others it was a less fine show of The Dickies, something was just not right. Was it the band, was it the rooster of songs or was it the heat? Not sure – at least there is an outlook for a new Dickies LP and some final vinyl to accompany the many vinyl my collection holds (against a total 10 Albums (half of them live albums) and 20 odd singles (many in variations)).

    The only wish i have – continued – is that i want to see them play “See my way“. That stunning Blodwyn Pig cover i desperately want to see live. Please. Pretty please me!

    Just after midnight the show ended and it was more chats and drinks. And it was me at fault: The gang was there and i was not dressed for the occasion. What gang you might wonder? That gang with the “Free Melania” shirt from the Adolescents show it was. The other sported it proud, i just completely missed out. Hence i accept that i was the culprit that night. Accepted mates!