A sold-out Thursday in Cologne proves that you don’t need a big stage to create an unforgettable night - just 130 punks, warm beer showers and a band that never lost its edge
A sticky floor, fogged-up windows and the unmistakable smell of beer in the air. That was the setting for a sold-out Thursday night on 12th February at Sonic Ballroom in Cologne. With a capacity of barely 130 people, this venue is legendary far beyond the city limits for its uncompromising punk spirit. Tight, loud and gloriously unpolished.
Formed in 1994 out of a school band, Knochenfabrik have long been an integral part of the German punk scene. The current line-up: Claus Lüer, Hasan Onay (on board since 1996) and Achim Lauber – has built a reputation not through spectacle, but through attitude, sharp lyrics and relentless energy.
So why choose such a small club instead of a larger venue? Probably because they simply felt like it. And, as so often, those are the shows that end up meaning the most.
The timing added an extra twist: it was carnival season in Cologne. Anyone familiar with the city knows what that means – collective madness. Shows at Sonic Ballroom traditionally start late, which isn’t ideal on a Thursday. But punk was never designed around comfort.
Support with Heart and History
Opening the evening were Sex Piemels 77 from Alsdorf. I’d seen them only weeks earlier supporting Rumkicks in Aachen, and they left a solid impression back then – energetic, authentic and clearly in love with the genre. Their set was a high-speed journey through punk history: classics like ‘Alternative Ulster’, ‘Havana Affair’, ‘Viva La Revolution’, ‘Basket Case’ and ‘Too Drunk To Fuck’ were delivered with raw enthusiasm. A tribute approach, yes — but played with conviction rather than nostalgia.
Sadly, they will disband this summer. Your one final chance to see Sex Piemels 77 live will be at the Pit Rock Festival in Alsdorf (Germany) on 30 May 2026, together with Buster Shuffle, Peter and the Test Tube Babies and many more. From the first chords, the crowd – many seemingly straight from carnival festivities – was in full motion. Pogoing erupted early. Beer cups flew. Lyrics were shouted back at the stage with fierce commitment. This was not going to be a quiet night!
No Breathing Space
After a short changeover, Knochenfabrik hit the stage and from that moment on, there was no holding back. More than 30 songs thundered through the compact club, most barely scratching the two-minute mark. ‘Nur Mut’, ‘Du bist so anders’, ‘Obdachlos & trotzdem sexy’ and ‘Kontoauszugdruckerautomat’ followed in rapid succession – raw, direct and without frills.
Between songs, Claus Lüer delivered longer spoken interludes. Sometimes funny, sometimes unexpectedly thoughtful, always marked by that dry, slightly laconic humour that has become part of the band’s identity. These brief pauses were the only seconds the audience could catch its breath before the next wave of bodies surged forward.
The Moment Everyone Waited For
The penultimate highlight came with ‘Filmriss’, arguably the band’s best-known track — especially since its cover version by Danger Dan of Antilopen Gang introduced it to an even wider audience. For this song, Markus — singer of Sex Piemels 77 — was invited back on stage to share vocals. The room exploded. Arms raised, voices cracked, beer rained down. It felt less like a concert and more like collective catharsis.
Soon after, ‘Frau Schmitt’ closed the night — sweaty, loud and utterly triumphant.
When the Lights Came On
At some point, I had to give up on protecting my camera. Between flying elbows and broken glass on the floor, it simply became too risky. The phone had to do. The pictures aren’t perfect — they’re blurred, close, chaotic. But they capture the essence of the night better than any polished promo shot could.
When the lights came up, the floor was sticky, the air exhausted and my T-shirt completely soaked. Friday morning was going to hurt. But that’s exactly why we go to shows like this. No distance. No rockstar attitude. Just three musicians who clearly wanted to be right there in that tiny club. Maybe it was the intimacy of the venue. Maybe the carnival madness outside. Either way, the evening felt raw, unfiltered and slightly defiant.
Sometimes, 130 people are all you need to turn an ordinary Thursday into something unforgettable.
Main Photo Credit / All Photos And Videos: FLORIAN REITH
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I’m Florian “Flo” Reith, based in Düsseldorf, Germany. Since 2009, I’ve been living for live music – over 1000 shows, 200+ cities, 30+ countries. The camera was there from the very beginning: I tried to capture every gig I went to. Over time, things became more professional and more structured and somewhere along the way, I discovered writing too. I love supporting new and unknown bands. Whether it’s behind the merch stand, working as a roadie, helping organize shows, or sometimes co-promoting them myself – I’m always down to jump in where I’m needed. But let’s be honest: my favourite place will always be the pit – front row, dust, sweat, and pure mosh pit chaos!
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