Wow, what a surprise! Not only did Conservative Military Image return to Germany rather quick (they graced the Monkeys in October last year), they would return to my favorite living room aka the Hafenklang. And, more on the fun side, bands no longer were afraid to enlist as support to them.
The show was sold out in record time and the only questions ahead were if it would be dangerous and if they again would haul tons of Merch into the club.
The answer to the 2nd Q was easy: They would not and sadly their latest record was already sold out, poor #recordcollectingpretentiousarsehole me!
First Band at 21:00 sharp was local heroes Out Of Step and they kicked of like a headliner, taking ownership of the stage, club and audience within … let’s say first few chords and words.
Out Of Step (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
The songs came bang, bang, bang; the talk between songs (to give the fill-in on drums a rest) had a meaning;overall it was pretty much an US on and off stage. They even had fans who could fill in singing duties for chorus on various songs.
The US was cemented at the end of the set with a joint sing-a-long to a classic US H/C song:
Whilst this was an easy cover their other songs all came down the classic US H/C alley, presented in near perfection and well rehearsed (which makes the capabilities of the stand-in drummer rated even higher).
Thanks to the singer they had a full grip on the already well filled room and got already early on dancing going. Sweaty dancing, as that Wednesday was a damn hot day in Hamburg.
Out Of Step (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
They know what they do and they are worth a listen by all counts, so give it a go!
I’d be happy so them again soon, they throw a perfect support as in the classic sense of warming up and audience. On this occasion it felt like a torch burner!
With a wee bit of changeover Time X Heist took the stage, a young 5 piece from Denver, Colorado (in the US of A). The internet (damn internet, never forgets) provides the following hints about them:
TIME X HEIST is a straight-edge hardcore band hailing from Denver, Colorado. Not hearing a lot of current hardcore that reminds them of the style of music they fell in love with, they decided to start something of their own. Drawing influence from the youth-crew sounds of the late 1980s to the early 2000s, they seek to inspire positive change in anyone that would like to listen.
And it was their first time abroad, from off the stage they gave a wee bit the impression of being, mmmhhh, shy or uncertain. Specifically the singer was not able to catch the audience, creating a bond. To a certain extend it felt – me mates around me noted that too – like a distant delivery.
From a mu-sick-al perspective they indeed delivered very classic US H/C out of the so called “Youth Crew” cupboard and to be quite frank they delivered that well, they all know what to do with their instruments and came across well rehearsed.
TimeXHeist (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
The coolest stage persona with them was the drummer: Not dressed in black and performing his duties a) perfect, b) upright and and c) with an almost exclusive blank stare forward, rarely looking down onto his drums.
Their one but last song, as with Out Of Step, was a cover:
Hui, that was a speedy slaughtering of that Blitz classic. I guess you can do it like that, i would have loved to have it delivered Youth-Crewcified rather.
A pity that they somewhat were not able to catch the audience (that now already packed the room) as much as Out Of Step did, their set somewhat toned down the excitement in the room.
As ever, form your own view – here is their 2024 and brand new record:
Once they stopped and removed their gear the room filled even further and there indeed was a buzz in the room with respect to expectations on CMI, you could see many eager faces waiting for them.
Standing as ever on the side of the stage front i had the luxury to early on get a glimpse of what was to come, 13 songs and thus somewhat half of their oeuvre.
They kicked off at 22:30 and boy, they had the packed and sweaty room in an instance. The rather male contingent in front of the stage exploded and never stopped dancing, throwing fists and pushing shoulders into each other.
I got to read a fitting reference to that some day back when i tried to understand were CMI come from:
A band like Conservative Military Image serves up an attitude that many people may take too lightly and then complain about it online. They’re a musical unit that takes you back to a time where one's grit and honor in the scene were forged nowhere else but on the dance floor.
Again, a very male dance floor that was. Adam positively noted on stage “… the last time we played Hamburg there were 4 people dancing, happy to see now so many more“. And against all odds, it was a heavy but non-violent pit.
Conservative Military Image (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
Compared to their first appearance in Hamburg there was a distinct different feel: Last time it was all about discovering them, largely mu-sick-al experts taking them in. Nowadays their name, their style and their stance has traveled wide and has settled, so a packed house with people seeking entertainment was the setting.
But still no compromises on the mu-sick-al side, their songs stay wide away from entertainment, here is All-American Jaw Line:
As ever with CMI, words have a meaning – so sing-a-long:
We wear what we like and we like it when they stare Too dumb to bother too smart to scare They're always screaming we don't know shit Truth is they're right we look good every time we do it Bomber jacket with gang colors sewn across the back A threat to everyone we don't know how to act We all have haircuts some have real jobs But we're still a bunch of slobs still an unruly mob You want to know what we do You wanna learn are the rumors are true Well here's a clue it doesn't involve you Dream of a better life since that's all you'll ever do All-American All-American Songwriter: Adam Voss
Aggressive, fast, heavy – a real great package if you ask me. And Adam can deliver that with a rock solid backing. Out of that backing, the drummer stood out to the max: Being all quality and technical ability he looked non-stressed to the max whilst he let his wrists do the job to command the sticks. It looked so cool!
Conservative Military Image (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 26.06.2024 (c) gehkacken.de 2024)
They blasted through their set taking no prisoners (and their security detail somewhat softly slapping an somewhat out of mind mate for trying some workout by lifting the monitors during a song, a wee bit a stupid and dangerous idea).
Within record time it was over, like almost all bands from yonder that big water there was no encore to be had.
I loved it and most of the heated, sweaty and smiling people around me loved it too.
Still, one – i guess slightly wrong – audience member at the merch table after the show tried to inject into the conversation the notion that the merch of CMI is looking shite. I was told “one more word and Adam would have eaten him alive” and i guess that is more than true.
It is anyway unjust to any band to try to take the piss out of their merch, if you don’t like it – do not buy it. It is normally deal of financing such an activity like touring, so sometimes it might be prudent to think twice.
Great show, including the support, and from where i sit they can return every year. It is assurance for getting not only something Punk but also the Danger back into Punk.
And me workout mate? He was drunk and got out alive. And excused himself next day. Right so and sure thing he should convert to my church: Only booze after the last band has played. Shows and the next day get so much lovelier!
Big hugs to the big man for setting this up, right choice!
