Early show, hence perfect for finishing off a hot and sweaty Sunday and still not being too tired for the work shift on Monday.
As with many others that first Verbal Abuse record still is a special one – it was a hard and ultra fast surprise back then. I never saw them live and once they changed course (and the complete line-up) into what in my ears was more Trash Metal i lost interest, whilst still treasuring “Just An American Band”.
Gracing Hamburg 40+ years later i was somewhat interested how it sounded today. And that they got paired with Yard Bomb was a bonus, as their very American, very Californian 1980s sound is just near perfect and would even alone justify attendance.
And here is how Yard Bomb kicked it off:
Pity that only ever about 50 folks got off (with some regulars being away at Punk Rock Raduno #8 in Bergamo).
Yard Bomb featured Rolf sans hair on vocals and their original drummer Rüdiger, himself being a devoted Verbal Abuse fan.
It has been a while that i saw them live and i am not sure if they are still really active. Frank, it does not matter as long as they are able to hand a beauty (and in my head their signature song) like this.
Turning Up Milhouse, forever:
For me this is in the Top 10 of all songs bands from Hamburg (and near) ever penned down. It comes as near as a homage to Minor Threat as i could think of.
And if you do not have their perfect 12″ then most likely you will not have a chance to score, the last 4 copies got sold that evening. That’s it. Gone.
They did surprise some in the audience up to and including Verbal Abuse singer Nicki Sicki. For me they where yet again convincing, it would be great if they do Shows more regular (despite all of their other mu-sick-al ventures).
Here is how they finished off their set, clocking in at a whopping 19:30 for the 14 songs:
They not only convinced me, also – like Casey Royer in 2019 – they convinced the headliner to wear a Yard Bomb T-Shirt. Well done boys, well done!
Fun fact: Their setlist can be turned into fun sentences…
.. like “(The) beach patrol (is) turning up Milhouse down in the sewer” or “(We) need more invisible naked man” and “Modern kids feeling high about a man“. Honestly, it made me giggle!
And whilst giggling about that setlist we also sneak previewed into what Verbal Abuse set out to give the lot.
That is drawing both from their 1984 debut and from their later endeavors like the 2011 thingy with Scheisse Minelli. My guess is that on purpose they avoid the in-between, in my head the right choice.
And this is how they kicked off:
Mhhhh, two minutes of an Intro but luckily then kicking off into a one minute banger. I somewhat, at this point, was a bit reluctant still if this would turn into an enjoyable set.
In hindsight that maybe was also because i was expecting the band to look different. In real they simply looked … real. Aged according to life.
And eg. for Nicki life included being locked away for a considerable amount of time related to speed found on him.
And sure thing they finished off with American Band:
And the lot chimed in, even in small numbers. Their set was well received, the applause increased song by song actually. And though it turned out a niche show somewhat the turnout was largely experts.
Good one for a Sunday, a friendly ride home thanks to a mate and a feeling of somewhat having seen two bands of value.
The record has been in circulation for a while though the official release was only end of September. As such the record release party was set for 02.10., which meant next day would be a public holiday and thus nobody should have had an excuse for not showing up.
RECORD RELEASE DAY!
In the end downstairs at the Hafenklang turned out as a space too large for the party, above beauty was celebrated by less than 100 people i guess, a bit of a downturn.
First on Last Line Of Defense, who jumped in for Suck who could not make it due to their singer being ill. It was an easy and obvious choice, as they share home and people with Yard Bomb.
Last Line Of Defense (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
On average i am not a big fan of their songs, too often they sound just odd to my ears without being able to pin-point exactly what offends me. The best moment came at the end when they grabbed a 2nd singer from their circle of friends and gave us what i believe was a great cover version … check it your for yerself:
As ever don’t get offended by my mu-sick-al tastes and receptors, check them out on your own. For me not the best start into the proceedings.
Next on the Razors, who a couple of days ago had just played on the river Elbe on the MS Hedi, now back on-shore and a stone throw away from the Elbe. They had been invited specifically for this occasion by Yard Bomb and sure wanted to give cudos to their great seminal effort of a first record release.
Razors (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
For the Razors it was a bit of a 40 year comeback, their first 7″ (out in October 1979) was recorded at the old Hafenklang Studios, right here at this location. Some say it was the first DIY Punk 7″ by a German band – some doubt it. I am not sure about the statement but that does not matter – here is “Madhouse Meeting” from their 1982 12″ on Konneckschen.
They had shorted and speeded up their set and almost matched up with the so much younger Hardcore bands. For the encore, as ever “Because you’re young” they got members of the Hamburg City Punk Rock Singers on stage and gave a nice sing-a-long finish.
Razors with Choir (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
Next stop for the Razors will be “Burn down the Baum 13.0” on 30.12.2019 at the Knust, with Sixteen Again (finest Buzzcocks covers from Hamburg) and Knock Off (finest Oi! from London).
Then it was time for Yard Bomb and what i thought another speedy run down of their songs (they can play 14 songs in 21 minutes). But this time round it was a bit more mellow, they took more time to … twist again:
For me they are the hottest shit currently, specifically in that little genre of CA Hardcore 1980s build. Perfect speed, great and very capable guitar work, solid back line and a singer so full of energy. Relentless energy.
Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
For this occasion they even re-worked their hit “Turning up Milhouse” into a longer version with a a groovy extra minute, see yerself…
They got a good reception but given that it was only like 1/3 packed it was not bodies flying everywhere and people jumping up and down. I guess upstairs that would have been a much easier thing and, in hindsight, a better place for the party.
Yard Bomb (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
They also played some covers as encores and got their old drummer back up for that occasion. And with that encore even the slowest brain would realize where they pull the mu-sick-al ideas from.
Great set to celebrate a great record. Let’s hope they put some touring behind it in order to sell it off quickly. They deserve to be seen so much wider than just Wedel or Hamburg, can someone please put them into a bus to support a larger US band?
The invisible naked man watching Yard Bomb ( pic by Fab)
But Yard Bomb did not finish off the party, late in the night we got something extra. Rolf, who has some Finland connections, was to surprise the lot with some Finish Country Death Metal Banjo or whatever mu-sick-al cupboard you would like to pass onto them.
They actually claim: “Dark Bottle is doombilly, psych-country, alt-punk and krautstoner at the same time.” There you go!
The “crowd” by now was a mere 30 people but they all enjoyed the surprise of something completely different. Sure it was late and sure the day off next day had lured some folks into booze – and on booze this was indeed a fun thing to watch. And that fun the audience provided back to the stage.
Dark Bottle (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 02.10.2019)
But Dark Bottle (from sunny Tampereen kaupunki) had a wee bit more: The songs had meanings and besides the uptempo stuff it also has surprisingly good lyrics. Go and check them out, it may be worth it!
Great and late evening, though not really a record release party per se. It missed the feeling of “packed” and “everybody going nuts” but as said the Yard Bomb 12″ gets that across for a start. Go and score it! Now!
It took the Descendents and the Mighty Mighty BossTones 21 fucking years to come back to Hamburg … and it took the mighty D.I. 25 years to be back at Hamburg shores, a place that in the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s was full of D.I. devotees.
So when the news came around that they hit Europe the Hafenklang was sold out quickly: It was a Friday evening in Summer, they paired with Poison Idea on their farewell stint and had with Yard Bomb the hardest and corest local support that you could wish for. People came from far and also near – the Hamburg lot was in full contingent and even Bremen showed up in force.
The unpleasant support the support slot was for Causes from Hanover, they had to lure 200+ people drinking and chatting outside the Hafenklang into the main room and in front of the stage.
They did not succeed. I gave it a try, as i am always keen to see new bands. But they just did not touch my soul with their rather dark punk. They also looked a wee bit static on the stage, so i had to let go for another beer and another chat. But by all means, make up your own mind and check them out.
With a swift changeover it was time for Yard Bomb, currently for me the hottest hard core unit on the local circuit. And they kicked of like this:
Their drummer was absent with leave, so their old drummer filled in after leaving 5 years ago to give them the opportunity to excel on the same stage as D.I. and Poison Idea.
They had a rooster of 14 songs prepared and from the kick off it felt that they wanted to shove it up the audience ears with no fills and no frills: Net they clocked in at 21:05 for the 14 songs, that is a near perfect 80 seconds per song on average (and allowed for 10 seconds between songs).
Their visual on stage is still a nice spread: Rolf yells, moans and groans and has every muscle full of relentless energy, Benny smiles and hammers the bass and Sven has his guitar strapped high and generates both knife sharp chords and a chaotic swirl. And all of that backed by solid drumming (though sometimes you could make out that they most likely did not have too many hours in rehearsal together).
I loved the energy, i loved the mu-sick-al Blitzkrieg and the take no prisoners attitude. At times i even had the feeling they would overtake themselves but i saw a couple of smiles on the stage so they looked all happy with the effort.
They have a veritable hit (one of my top 10 songs by a Hamburg band) and that one sounded in a speed up trash’n’burn version like this:
Sing-a-long to this beauty:
Milhouse will be a better man
Next 40 years from now
Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck around
Everything is turning up
On Milhouse right now
Will be a better man
The next 40 years
Will be a better man
Don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't fuck
Don't curse
Milhouse!
If you ask me for my humble opinion (and that comes with 40 years of listening to that genre called widely Punk or Hardcore Punk or even Hardcore) that is perfect song that you would think came out of California or Washington DC say 1983 – but not out of Hamburg, in the year 2014 resp. 2019. Kudos Yard Bomb – you got me!
That Poison Idea finally say farewell in contrast was less than a surprise. Too many in’s and out’s, too many health and other problems. And sure losses like the passing of Pig Champion But Jerry kept things together like on this final tour, where a last minute change had to be done to guitars.
Poison Idea (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 19.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
What the audience got was nevertheless a great showcase of the wide variety of the Poison Idea output (that actually stretches from 1983 to 2016 and still puts #recordcollectorsarepretentiousarseholes to a stunning test in getting a complete collection).
And how did it sound? It sounded quite well:
The strength of the set to me was that for more than half of the songs the audience carried the band forward with all the singing, dancing and energy – one final time both Poison Idea and Hamburg where indeed united in their loved for hard & cheap.
Poison Idea (Hafenklang, Hamburg, 19.07.2019 (c) gehkacken.de)
Jerry smiled a couple of times and thanked people for coming out. I’d like to reply that this was the minimum to do, they have been around for me almost all the time (and stock 18 record in my collection) and some of their output is definitely stuff that i will carry into the elderly home (once the rest of the collection is auctioned off to pay the fees).
Thanks Jerry for all the years of effort!
By now it was quite late (10 minutes to midnight) and there was still the headliner to come back on us after 25 years.
And this is how D.I. came back:
They came back as a 4 piece (though i heard rumors they would come with two guitars, did not get to check out more detail) and with a lineup that has been together now since 2003 (so for a while, though it is Casey who has been around ever since and that is since 1981).
Their strength sure is their early output until 1988 – for us over here the stuff was just like honey: Sweet. Sticky. And of quality. Little did we know over here about the many line up changes, there must have been like 20 different line-ups with Casey being the only constant.
But what it always had was a quality O.C. Hardcore sound. That cool blend of various bits of Rock, Punk, Surf and all of that neatly given some speed (in both senses).
Those with an eye for the more historic side of Punk Rock sure know that Casey was the original drummer for the Adolescents and as such he took great pleasure in the design of both the Yard Bomb debut 12″ and the matching T-Shirt. He even took it on stage and used it to deliver praise for the late Steve Soto (and that was echoed from the audience with some For Steve! returns).
And his old Adolescents classic (actually, again for those versatile in Punk Rock History, a Detours song by Messrs Royer and Agnew) was his own ode to his old mate Steve – here is Amoeba, 2019 Version by D.I.:
To no surprise the audience went ape shit. Loads of dancing, loads of singing and across the board very bright smiles not only in front of the stage but also to the back of a fully packed Hafenklang.
The most smiles actually came from the stage: Joey Tatar on drums not only does every trick in the drummer book with his sticks (and then some more not in any book), he also pulls faces left, right and center. Once you fixed your eyes on him you could not let go – it was utmost fun!
D.I. – The Drummer (utmost fun and pulling faces galor (c) gehkacken.de 2019)
They came back more than once and they gave the audience everything and a wee bit more. As one of me mates noted it is not custom for US bands to come back for an encore – but coming back three times and late into the night, that is just class.
With all that fun, all that joy there where also toned down moments, moments where Casey (a heroin victim himself) praised those who made a step away from drugs (and never returned to them) and he was also careful enough to explain that “Richard hung himself” is actually not a fun song but a hard truth. As such he urged people to take care of those around him. Well done Casey, well done.
Casey’s own issues with drugs have been in the news, up to and including not so fun family moments that made the press. His advise offered in an interview was simple: “My advice… hard drugs will ruin you and your music, unless you live in Amsterdam. Then you will write good music, but die young.”
They played until 01:00 and they left behind a still full, fully sweaty and extraordinary happy Hafenklang. On top they also had class manners, thanking each audience member that came forward for a chat.
I resorted back to the bar for beer, to the merch for two Yard Bomb 12″ (that i have to picture below in color … because of the cover, sure thing) and a Poison Idea T-Shirt for me love. And more beer. And more chats.
I can only urge you to get this beauty upon real release (that’ll be 27.09.2019) or attend the record release party at the Hafenklang on 02.10. (with the mighty Razors and Suck). Make sure you buy like me an extra one to make it a gift. Try to convince someone outside of Hamburg of Yard Bomb! Mine will go south and i am looking forward for the feedback…
… and with a broad smile i finally took off home, yet again through empty streets on my short stroll uphill and home.
Whilst i was on the way to bed, the docks yonder still kept working on the cruise ship – i wonder when that finally will be done with the makeover.
Thanks for Hafenklang for setting this up and thanks to lot and the bands for making it a very worthwhile entertainment. Farewell to Poison Idea, hello to Yard Bomb and dear D.I. – be back soon!
