HiFi Spitfires + Chaos 8 at Wild At Heart in Berlin, Germany on 12 July 2024.
I have been looking forward to seeing HiFi Spitfires again in Europe since this tour was announced, having followed them on their 3 Northern Italy dates in February. With the added bonus of them playing alongside Chaos 8, this is a tour not to be missed. For those who don’t know, HFS is the band featuring Stephen Straughan, guitarist with the UK Subs, and Chaos 8 is the band featuring his wife Beki on vocals.
Unfortunately, the majority of the dates of the tour clash with other things that I have in the diary, including playing with my own band in the UK. However, I identify 3 dates that I am able to attend in Munich, Hamburg and Berlin, so I make my travel plans. A few days before the gig, the Munich date is pulled, and I am able to cancel my hotel room although not my train tickets. A few days later, I set off for the gig in Hamburg with a very early start to arrive in time at Brussels airport for my flight. At the airport, I check in on Facebook saying that I am on my way to Hamburg for the gig as I wait for my gate to be announced. Within minutes, I receive messages from members of both bands advising me that the Hamburg gig had been cancelled even before the bands had left the UK. How I missed this, I do not know, but there are worse places to be stuck in without a gig than Hamburg.
The next day I get a train from Hamburg to Berlin and finally have the opportunity to see these 2 fantastic bands play together at a brilliant venue, Wild At Heart. I catch a drink and a chat with the 2 bands before the show and then head into the WAH where it turns out that I know the guy running the bar this evening.
There’s a reasonable audience fin or the show and everyone is enthusiastic and friendly. The sound is pretty good for a small pub/club, although the lighting conditions make photos a bit difficult (hence the ones below being in B&W). Chaos 8 smash it, with Beki’s mesmerising stage presence meaning that you can hardly take your eyes of her. A powerful set as can be seen from the video that I posted on my Facebook page.
HiFi Spitfires are headlining tonight (the bands alternate headline spots on the tour) since Steve knows the venue from playing here previously. Another brilliant performance showcasing tracks from their new album, “Off The Radar” which features one of my photos of Steve on the front cover. 🙂 Definitely worth checking the album out if you like old school (77) style guitar punk rock with hooks.
So, 3rd time lucky and despite the disappointment of only getting to the one gig, it’s well worth the travelling and great fun in the presence of 2 brilliant bands. Looking forward to seeing Chaos 8 at Rebellion next month and I will see Steve with the Subs again soon.
