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Before the venue, not much was happening before the show started. People were drinking their first beers and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Shortly before the start, I made my way into the hall. But something was off about the venue. It felt smaller and more cramped. No, I wasn't already drunk before the show; that came later. The hall was indeed smaller because S.O. 36 had moved the stage further forward. This, in turn, meant that ticket sales were not going well. A shame for the bands, a shame for S.O. 36.
The Pokes took the stage on time and presented their folk-punk quite solidly. On CD, the band sounds pretty good, but live, they left something to be desired. Overall, the band seemed too polished to authentically deliver pub-infused folk-punk. The audience present watched the band with interest. Some moved to the back of the club to chat in peace. I expected more from the band.
Kaltfront was already a different caliber. The band was founded in Dresden in 1986. After a breakup and reunion, they are now playing some concerts again. The audience was noticeably more interested during Kaltfront's set. With their rugged, sometimes very avant-garde German punk, the band provided a clear break from The Pokes. They were also better. Lyrically, Kaltfront was as rugged as the music. Comparisons to the old Einstürzende Neubauten and Abwärts can certainly be drawn. This doesn't hit the nail on the head but goes in the right direction. If you took away the music, the band would fit very well into the EBM scene. Their clothing, hairstyles, and stage presence strongly reminded one of the dark, sometimes ambivalent music genre. Among the many reunions of old bands, Kaltfront stands out positively.
Now it was up to The Real McKennzies to finally turn the evening into a party. While the band was on stage plugging in their instruments, singer Paul calmly stood at the merchandise table chatting. When the band started, Paul quietly stepped onto the stage. As the first sounds rang out, the calm was over. The band went full throttle from the very first second. The sound was perfect, and both the band and the audience were fired up. The band energized the audience. The audience energized the band. The atmosphere was fantastic. The hall was boiling, and everyone was having fun. The band has become musically even better. The songs were played with significantly more pressure than at the last concert at S.O. 36. The timing was really good. The band seemed very fresh. The Real McKennzies offered a set of classics and songs from their new album. Especially the new songs stood out due to their speed and pressure. The box of Beck's that the band had placed on stage at the beginning of the gig was empty by the end. Some was drunk by the band, some by the audience. It was a really great party, carried by the incredibly good performance of the Canadians. The Real McKennzies are on tour in Germany for a few more days, including at the FORCE ATTACK festival. This is a band you shouldn't miss!