Econochrist – Live at Störtebeker, Hafenstraße, Hamburg, July 6,1993, A.D.

Описание: Econochrist was a political hardcore punk band active in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They moved from Arkansas to Oakland to become a major presence in the punk music scene there. The group was composed of singer Ben Sizemore, aka Ben Econochrist, drummer Markley Hart, guitarist Jon Sumrall, and bassist Mike Scott (Ex Christ on Parade).

I roadied for them and was right under this camera in Hamburg. We ran into Sheer Terror a block away that afternoon before the show (they wanted to know if there was anywhere good to eat in that town - like "a good fuckin' PIZZAPIE," and that's what that "SHUT UP, PUNK" joke was about at around the 34 minute mark. A little trivia for everyone: the guy who fixes the drums and hugs the bass player at the beginning is Todd Kramer, who used to play drums with bassist Mike in Christ On Parade, in case you find that sort of thing interesting. I do. And Todd was legendary.

I still love this band and those times. Been listening to them a lot lately. With all the epic nightmare shit going on in the world of Covid-19, it reminds me of how we all felt when this country was threatening us with prison time for not signing up to join the Gulf War back then, when so many of us were "18 And Free," like the song says. That song was about our buddy Sledge, who named the band, and signed up with the Army to pay for college and wound up in Desert Storm instead. Fucked him all up, but he's better now. Funny, Jon (guitar) texted me the other night when they announced that Trump caught the Covid. He was so happy, and we fuckin' LAAAAUUUUGHED and laaaaughed...!!! Good times, great tunes, and this is actually one of the BEST videos ever to capture them at their peak, in it's entirety, and only a few short weeks before they broke up. Bass player stayed in Germany when we all got on the plane in Amsterdam to head back to Oakland.

This is one video that should always remain available for fans, both old and new. A great band with a great message and a solid stage presence, who always felt vital and still do almost 30 years later. Also, it's good for me, cuz I filmed it and honestly? I can't remember doing it! Glad it came out this good. I was always busy trying to sell merch, shoot video, take pictures, and still watch the band because they were just electrifying every single night, all while actually trying to mind the business on the stage since that was my job. On this night, we had help from Todd, who I mentioned, and the guy with the long pony tail and soul patch, Jens, who was our driver on that tour. So I was free to film and fuck around in the back. I'm sure that is entirely too much information (!!!) but I felt like making it personal, the way they always did, in my eyes, at least.

Econochrist were a band that was somehow the opposite of the sum of it's parts, in a way. They were completely separate of those parts when they took the stage. They transcended their own personalities and became a ferocious fist in the face of all the heinous things the world was throwing at us, and they fucking killed it every night.

I was always wholly impressed with them night after night, and year after year. And even now, near the end of the insane decade that has been 2020, I can watch this and know that I'm not the only one who could use more of it in his life. The friends, the music, and the catharsis of it all coming off of the stage and making the walls sweat. It still runs deep.

Now I'll shut up and give you the tracklist. Enjoy:

00:00 Stupid American Intro
01:15 Withdrawal
03:15 Woops
04:16 18 And Free
05:56 Another Lie
10:47 One Sided Story
13:55 Behind Vanity
17:53 Invertebrate
21:03 Bled Dry
26:46 Tunnelvision
29:45 Words Alone
33:28 "SHUT UP, PUNK!" (Sheer Terror joke)
33:39 Purge
37:43 Your Duty
39:50 Passed On
43:37 Epidemic
45:56 Petty Ways
50:40 At A Loss
54:48 Any Questions?
58:30 Camouflage