At some point in my youth. The memory is shrouded in a gray veil, but it is there. Definitely! It happened in Berlin-Neukölln. Stäffi, the singer of Die Phils, invited me to a party at his shared apartment. There was also supposed to be a concert in the basement. So I set off. After a long search, I found Stäffi's place in the dark Neukölln. A large shared apartment with many cheerful people welcomed me, and in the big basement, which was accessed by a steep, bone-breaking staircase, the aforementioned concert was to take place. And who played there? Exactly, Fro-Tee Slips. Late in the evening, the band took the stage and delivered an energetic fun punk set. The lyrics were hardly understandable, the music was clattering, but the atmosphere was good, making it an all-around great evening.
Now my youth days are a bit behind me, but the FRO-TEE SLIPS are still around, as are Die Phils, and with “Starschnitt Troopers,” their new album is now out. It is the fourth album. The band has been around for 21 years, and the small “1” on the cover hints at a second part. Those are good ambitions when you only release an album every five years. The title “Starschnitt Troopers” humorously references what used to exist, namely the great “Bravo - Starschnitt.” Does that still exist? A nice play on words, especially since there’s also the film “Starship Troopers.” Creating multiple allusions with little effort. Someone knows a thing or two about humor.
The band was formed during the heyday of fun punk. That the band was heavily influenced by this era is proven at the latest by song number three, titled “Starschnitt Trooper,” which vividly illustrates how rock star fantasies were lived out in front of the mirror during puberty and will certainly continue to be lived out by younger generations. The theme and humor also remind one of the song “Das ist Rock´n´Roll” by Die Ärzte. Not a bad reference. In the song before that, it goes forward in a fast punk rock pogo manner, with the lovely refrain “Das Leben der Anderen werd ich nie verstehen.” I completely understand! It continues just as well. With “Gute Jungs,” the band talks about the time one is supposed to spend in state educational institutions. When you think about it, not much has changed. Colorful hair, beer in hand, joint on the school desk, and holes in the pants—those are the ingredients that still lead outsiders to conclude a broken youth. Funny that the guys are still making music and not just living their everyday lives like you, Mr. and Mrs. Mustermann?
Thus, the CD continues cheerfully, humorously, and intelligently. Wordplay meets reality.
FRO-TEE-SLIPS are no longer a fun punk band in the classic sense, but they still let those roots shine through strongly. The songs have a kick and should not be missing at any pogo party. It doesn’t matter that the band has gotten older, because what they deliver on “Starschnitt Troopers” is not embarrassing but authentic. Bands like Zaunpfahl better watch out, because what this combo from Flensburg delivers here is a fresh, catchy, and exhilarating record!
