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So what?! I've truly seen and experienced a lot within the past 25 years, what's up to music performances. But I rarely ever had a whole bunch of half invalids, who still develop such a thunderstorm up there on stage, that the earth almost collides with the Venus. And it includes a singer, who holds on tight on his beloved beer bottle, as it this is the last straw before sinking with the Titanic for almost 90 minutes. 
Apart from that the slogan once again is: rescue yourself as good and fast as you can. Otherwise you get lynched without mercy by the front rows in the audiance. This here is punk in it's purest form, very british indeed with a scottish touch, but despite all that, they come from beautiful Vancouver in Canada. It's rather the roots of singer Paul McKenzie, which go back to Scotland somewhere in the past. But not that you think now, the bandname comes from Paul's surname. That's definately not the case. To get it right and for the average information, I shall explain, that McKenzie is a well known Whiskey destiller in Scotland, producing the cheapest Scotch, you can purchase in this region. And that's the actuall godfather for the band's name.

This weird clan is going now since 1992, having 6 studioalbums and one live record out so far. Though the pseudo scots have never managed to escape the underground status. The result has been: 6 times having toured throughout the US, and 5 times in Europe, whereby they reached a broughter audiance by touring with Rancid, Shane MacGowan, Flogging Molly, The Bay City Rollers, The Briefs and many other's. The year 2003
has been the highlight so far. The band played more than 30 sold out shows in North America. 
However, when The Real McKenzies are on a solotour in Europe they are still playing in club atmospheres with a crowd of aprox. 200 fans.
Here in Munich the prayer is happening within the Free & Easy Festival weeks at the Backstage area, which means - to repeat myself : no entrance fee, late stage times, increased drinking and pure party mood, and tonight - with brilliant weather.

Just to mention the two supportacts, whereby Munich's 'Gumbabies' start off at 8. 30 p.m. 

This lot is going for 6 years now including a minialbum with the suitable title 'How Can I Win', and the just released full album 'This Is Plastic'.
Yeah well, I think, with punk music it ain't that usual thing. It's not enough, just to play your instruments to the right music style, like it is in pop or rock music. With Punk it's different. You've got to spread a certain aura in each way. And if you don't have this aura, you are not plausible towards fans. Because only splashing around with pints of beer and jumping into the (not yet in the front) audiance ain't enough really to be a real punk ambassador. In my point of view, the Gumbabies are a young,new hardrock band, who dudle along their stuff, - no more no less....at least until now.
http://www.myspace.com/thegumbabies


The second act with the rather unusual name ‚Spika In Süzz’ are a little more punky, but to be honest, I can't win a lot outta them either.

The speciality within this band is their frontwoman Resal with, who is trying to be the focus of this show rather with her penetrating voice, than with her appearance which is everything else but not sexy. Of course that one again is not the point, but as we all know, the eye always eats some bit of the cake, as we say so. However, they got one CD out yet, just for a final information.  
Anyway, delivering a good performance is a different story, sorry boys and girls. But there are still miles missing 'till the peak of the Nanga Parbat.
Also what's up to the generell motoric, there is not much coming across. And it needs quite a few fans, like on the picture shown above, who already slightly drunk, take care for some amusement. There's not much more to say about it... Whoever is still interesting in Spika In Süzz, go to:
http://www.spika-in-snuezz.de/

And then finally The Real McKenzies limping on stage in the truest sense of the word, to start destroying the Backstage Club with an acoustic 
rather melodic prologue.

Like mentioned above, the expression invalids is still mildly described. Two of the eight kilt wearing toyboys are forced to play the show placed on seats, as they are not able to handle it in a standing position. The backpiper, who is named Matthew James 'MacNasty' Hawley, was spooted on croucs backstage and another one had his arm in a bandage. Both got rid of their utensils just seconds before the show. And I'm sure, they got them back straight after again. I mean, the sitting guys are accepted, but croucs and bandage - no not really, - don't you think so....?!
Exept frontman Paul McKenzie, who is only leaning to his beer bottle, which first contains Munich's most popular lager - Augustiner, but then changing over to a King Ludwig dark... And that one is a little stronger what's up to the alcohol %. 
But all of these buddies are handling their jobs very well, though some of the McKenzies have surely reached their 40s already, when not even 50...
never mind...

But despite some physical handycaps, up there and right now, the andromeda galaxy is exploding in it's ionic singular pieces, load up the club so incredibly up, that most of the - gone wild punk freaks seem like electrified spongebobs. A picture report from the front becomes impossible, and there is only the escape to the back left, or better up to the gallery, which turns out to be a very wise move. To get it straight, the McKenzies waste themselves completely, battering their 100% pure punk music outta themselves onto the crowd. Every song is 2 minutes long (the usual lenght for punktracks) And one after the other played pearl increases the thunderstorm. 

Punk is not sophisticated and undemanding. No it is actually very simple, but it is a life philosophy. You don't just play and listen to punk, you live it, never mind, whether it's with a iroqua hairstyla or a kilt or whatsoever. And as long as there are bands like the UK Subs, The Exploited, Toy Dolls, the Sex Pistols (again), or like our Real McKenzies are around, this original punk will stay alive, though it's only living in the underground. And let's face it, compared to a true punk show with all it's different faces, a Heavy Metal gig still seems like a church choir's concert. In our case here, good old Nessie gives us steam in every (ear) channel, although the highlands are situated in Vancouver... But who cares....

http://www.realmckenzies.com/