Live report AGNOSTIC FRONT, MURPHY’S LAW & VIOLENT WAY, Gruenspan, Hamburg – November 14th, 2024

Time for some hardcore tonight. Two hardcore veterans and one rather new band have embarked on a European tour with a stop at Gruenspan, Hamburg tonight. NY hardcore flagship Agnostic Front along with Murphy’s Law and Violent Way are on the schedule and it’s the guys from Buffalo, NY who open this hardcore driven night.

Violent Way enter the stage at 8pm and it is OI punk that fills the hall. In the beginning not many fans find their way to the front of the room. The majority is still hanging around the bar with a beer, a scenario that changes during the set as the very authentic streetpunk unfolds its embedded energy during their show. More and more people answer frontman Nick Terlecky’s question “How do we feel?” with “good” and even “great”. And finally, when he asks everyone to take a step forward, the ice is broken.

Violent Way delivered 30 minutes of explosive Oi-punk, setting the right vibe for the next two bands waiting in the starting blocks.

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Next on stage are true hardcore veterans from NYC. Murphy’s Law is one of the most influential bands from the east coast. The band formed in 1983 and after releasing a couple of landmark longplayers, things got a bit silent in the new century after putting out “The Party’s Over”.

Today the band is back on stage. Driven by founding member Jimmy Drescher, who enters the stage with a bottle of beer, the group gets a very warm welcome at the beginning of their 45-minute set. From the first moment of their show, fans are excited to see the band back on stage and the same goes for the quartet on stage. It is an immediate party atmosphere that fills the room and it turns out to be some kind of real party. A kid who is having fun in the middle of the pit is asked to come on stage and it turns out that it’s his birthday, at least he says so. A loud “Happy Birthday” chant is the logical consequence and the party is officially underway.

Movement in front of the stage, fans taking a quick round on stage and slamming pogo fun make the temperature in the room rise. Even a “chicken fight” can be witnessed as two fans take their buddies on the shoulders for a fun fight.

Murphy’s Law delivered. As one of the most influential bands in the genre, the spirit is present tonight and regardless of age, these guys enjoyed their show from start to finish and one question remains. Why is it not allowed to drink beer from a bottle on stage?

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Introducing Agnostic Front is like bringing sand to the beach. The NYC hardcore pioneers have been around since 1982 with numerous releases and classics in their book of achievements. Most of this genre hymns are expected to be played live today and the fans will not be disappointed.

After a 30 minutes break the stage is ready for the NYC hardcore pioneers and founding member Vinnie Stigma is the first to enter the stage. Right away the circle pits start and what follows are 70 minutes of powerful and energy-laden hardcore. Jumping around and having fun is the motto of the evening. There is no minute to stand still while songs like the thrilling “Old New York” make the foundation of Gruenspan shake.

Agnostic Front play tight and are spot on but it is the overwhelming energy their music unleashes that is the true highlight of the evening. A show like this is like a 70-minute workout that leaves you feeling every muscle in your body.

Vinnie Stigma, Roger Miret and bandmates are one with their fans. Not having a stage pit, being in constant contact with the crowd and leaving the stage to take a photo with the fans after playing “For My Family” is something the band cares about and their fans appreciate it. There is literally no distance between the stage and the floor.

There isn’t too much crowd surfing tonight, although one of the guys makes his way from the stage almost to the sound desk during the mighty “Peace” while we go back in time with “Friend or Fue”.

Expected on the setlist is “Crucified”, the Iron Cross cover, and fans go wild as the first notes are played. Starting with “Crucified” the stage also gets more crowded as the guys from Violent Way join the band for this hardcore anthem and also Murphy’s Law are on stage as the riffs of “Gotta Go” are hammered into the room. The latter is also supported by the fans who shout/sing the chorus part loudly.

The role of the screaming front man goes to Vinnie Stigma who sings “Pauly the Dog” and the following “Power”. Slowly but surely the end of the show is approaching and as the first notes of “Blitzkrieg Bop” fill the room we reach the finale of the evening.

Agnostic Front played an electrifying show that was appreciated by everyone from the front row to the back of the hall. These guys have great songs and the power they still generate is remarkable. Not to forget the two other bands we could witness on stage, as they both added their share to a very memorable night of hardcore at Gruenspan.