Messed!Up
Just before Reeperbahn Festival in 2018, we got an email from Music Export Canada inviting us to their Meet the Canadians reception at the festival, and there was an attached Spotify playlist with the bands they represented at the festival – and one more band. Cleopatrick, from Cobourg about 100km east of Toronto, was on the line-up but not on the bill of Music Export Canada, but out of kindness (or for being a Canadian band) they were put on the playlist. That song was their most streamed song on Spotify, “Hometown”, and it caught my interest to the point that I skipped the Canadian playlist completely and started listening to their amazing EP the boys. At Reeperbahn Festival 2018, we met up with Ian and Luke for an interview and photo session, and ever since, we have covered all their gigs in Hamburg.
On the back of their second album FAKE MOON, a record showing off a whole new side of the band, they’re out touring Europe, and tonight they stopped off at Knust in Hamburg, their fourth gig in Hamburg since 2018.
Ian and Luke graced the stage at 9 pm, and people started to shout at the top of their voices. For some reason, Cleopatrick is very popular in Hamburg and have played sold-out venues ever since their first gig here eight years ago. While traditionally recognized for a minimalist setup, their live lineup featured two additional guitarists, enriching the band’s gritty and raw sound with greater depth and complexity. It makes sense to add live musicians, including a back vocalist, when you listen to the experimental and noisy parts of FAKE MOON, which has more layers of sounds to it.
Kicking off the show with “THE DRAKE”, one of their best songs off their debut album BUMMER that encapsulates the dirty rock genre the band is known for, brought the thunder and set the tone for a full-to-the-brim Knust. The crowd was alive within ten seconds, and from that point onwards, Cleopatrick didn’t let their grip go. Luke didn’t show any sign of the voice problem he’s had during the tour – they’ve had to cancel shows on the tour – but he kept the interaction with the fans in between songs to a minimum and barely engaged in any stage banter. Instead, the guitar and drums spoke volumes.
“GOOD GRIEF”, “GUTS”, and “HAMMER” fired up Knust to twelve on the Richter scale. The wall of sound produced by Gruntz’s guitar was immense, and loud-quiet-loud structures, creating dynamic shifts by building tension before explosive choruses, is a great technique to kick off riots. And the crowd responded suitably.
Now, I do have to say that I like their latest album because it’s different and a new direction for the band. When many bands play it safe, Cleopatrick challenge themselves and try out something different and more experimental. However, I’m also a massive fan of their early, blues rock-driven song, the sound that earned them comparisons to Royal Blood. There’s a difference between “Hometown” from the boys EP and “HAMMER” off FAKE MOON. I know, it’s not fair to compare completely different music, because it is, but my preference rests on the back of their original sound. It’s also what gets the moshpit going at Knust. Midset the play “bernard trigger” from the boys EP and that takes the room to another level.
The bursting point is reached by the end of the show. “sanjake”, their epic hit ‘hometown’, and ‘FAMILY VAN’ sum up the night push intensity and raise the energy levels to a peak, and when the band leaves, it’s like the rock heroes they’ve become in Hamburg. See you soon again, boys!
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Photographer: Sophie Dobschall
