Gig review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

Kissin’ Dynamite have over a decade’s worth of albums to their name, but the young Germans have managed to pass me by until I became aware their last album ‘Ecstasy’ was receiving rave reviews. Yet this sole UK date of a European tour attracted a very healthy crowd to the Underworld, on the back of a support slot for Powerwolf where it appears they won a large number of fans.

Their high energy stage show was apparent from the very start, singer Hannes Braun leading the chorus of ‘I’ve Got The Fire’ as his white shirt dripped with sweat within seconds, and to prove that was not a one off, ‘Somebody’s Gotta Do It’ with Jim Muller, one of two solid guitarists introducing it with a talk box,  and  ‘Love Me Hate Me’ were both just as catchy.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

Bassist Steffen Haile was sporting a ‘bring back stadium rock’ t-shirt and the way Hannes commanded the audience, hands outstretched and constantly exhorting crowd participation, confirmed this ambition.

Sporting backcombed fair hair that called to mind Total Eclipse-era Bonnie Tyler, the singer has  a somewhat glammy image but his band mates were more conventionally long haired and black clad with a bit of guyliner the only concessions to flamboyance.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

Likewise their music covers a number of bases, pitched somewhere in a Bermuda triangle between the new wave of melodic rock, German power metal – with Edguy the most obvious comparison – and the hard rock crunch of fellow countrymen like Bonfire and Pink Cream 69.

‘DNA’ was at the heavier end of their spectrum, as was ‘Ecstasy’ when  Exit Eden singer Anna Brunner came on to duet – as Hannes said, inverting the  tradition that this format is more usually associated with ballads. She stayed on for ‘Sleaze Deluxe’  which I thought was a stronger tune.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

There was then a break as they wheeled a grand piano onto this most cramped of stages from which Hannes accompanied  by brother Ande on acoustic guitar played a lush ballad ‘Heart Of Stone’.  ‘Sex Is War’ handily combined in the one song combined two of the most familiar metallic themes, and ‘Six Feet Under’ had a lighter feel with even some European folk influences in the mix.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

There was more theatricality as a giant throne was brought on stage for Hannes to sit in, sporting  regal robes and hamming it up in Mercurial (or is it Lambertian?) fashion prior to ‘I Will Be King’. It all added to a conundrum I have never  been able to solve, which is why teutonic  bands always seem to have such a sense of cheesy fun which is utterly at odds with the stereotype of the serious-minded  German.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

The first encore ‘You’re Not Alone’ was a massive and instantly catchy anthem and though ‘Flying Colours’ was less impressive the crowd were chanting along with the ‘who-oahs’. The crowning glory, praise be, was Hannes and two of his bandmates emulating the greatest German metallers of them all, The Scorpions, with a human pyramid.

It’s hard for a new band in this day and age to progress to stadium status, but after coming late to this particular party my first sight of Kissin’ Dynamite left little doubt that they have the charisma to be playing far bigger shows than this.

KISSIN' DYNAMITE- Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

Review and photos by Andy Nathan


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply