A Friday at the end of July, to be precise, the 24th of July 2009 in Berlin. The big city in summer is always a bit of a thing. Stuffy, too hot, but somehow also relaxed, because it’s summer, and you have to enjoy it. So it happened that we arrived at Wild at Heart just before 10 PM, not only to welcome a good friend but also to be greeted by the band's driver. We had arranged our spots on the guest list with him. So we went to the box office together, I dutifully wrote my name on the guest list, and just like that, the stamp was on my wrist. The bassist of MOUTHGUARD also greeted me right away. He still remembered my face. I had been there last year as well. After we had stocked up on drinks, we went back outside the club to get in the mood for the evening. Around 10:45 PM, the first band of the night started. They were THE RUCKERS from Berlin. The guys play solid streetpunk / Oi of the old school. The band had also brought a good number of fans, and so it got quite crowded in front of the stage. The band knew how to please, and even though this type of streetpunk / Oi is played by several bands in a similar way, THE RUCKERS are among the better ones and are definitely worth a concert. So it was no surprise that while the band was giving it their all at Wild at Heart, the spots outside were almost completely empty. The people from MOUTHGUARD were also watching the band. They seemed to enjoy it. After about 40 minutes, the Berliners were done. The Australians were slowly getting ready to take the stage. When MOUTHGUARD started, Wild at Heart was quite empty, but that changed after the first three songs. The club filled up again. I estimate that about 150 people were present. It was fuller than last year when MOUTHGUARD had their premiere at Wild at Heart. Compared to 2008, the band's songs came across much faster and more powerfully. While they played more of a mix of hardcore punk and Oi in 2008, the hardcore factor was now significantly higher. Similarities to Discipline or Toxpack were unmistakable. The band put in a lot of effort, and the audience thanked them with applause and even a dance or two. MOUTHGUARD presented themselves at Wild at Heart as a solid and powerful Oi band with a rough hardcore edge, leaving a very good impression. I’m already looking forward to the next gig of the Australians, as all good things come in threes.
This article was automatically translated by AI.