Tanju Boerue’s alter ego Tan LeRacoon and his vision of genrebreaking Rock n Roll is multilayered, complex and... unpredictable. Releases with titles longer than newer artists’ whole songs, they attest an anarchist fighting spirit, diversity as matter of course and the will to irritate. Shows, sometimes with a 9-headed band including a brass section or two drummers, bedazzled, more often thrilled, always moved between genres. Singles varied between funked up rock n roll, Max’s Kansas City meets Studio 54, but all nervous (She Said She’s Sad), pure metal (sic!) darkness (Mary The Rhino), to the extended version of I.G.S. (Instant Gratification Society), the last album’s secret weapon with its beautiful guitar work, glam rock stomp and riff, pop mayhem bass and strong story telling. Rolling Stone called the band one “to look out for”.

Touring the state-of the-art weirdo album “Funeral Parade Of Roses” in 2020 was cancelled and Tan reimagined a new live line up as a classic 4 piece rock n roll band, calling on old buddies with a background as historic as exciting in C3i, Kotzbrocken, Punkenstein, PSP, Clara Bow plus of course Tan’s own background of having been in Das Weeth Experience, Nikki Sudden’s band or Down By Law (NYC), collaborating with Ari Up of The Slits, or tourmanaging such diverse artists as Janelle Monáe, Agnes Obel, Rockers Hi-Fi or Kruder& Dorfmeister.

Naming the new outfit &Racoonery (file under ‘A’, it’s [and raccoonery]), „this new line up actually feels like a real band which I haven‘t really felt like since my New York years or with Das Weeth (Experience)“. The band focusses on the hi- energy songs from Tan’s body of work, on attitude and live mayhem, more experimental or quiet tunes are neglected. “Well, contemporary classic music is like a Bob Ross painting by numbers, everyone can do it and everyone does it”, explain Tan, “I don’t want to feel ashamed for my musical heritage”.
The new material is harder - something that was hinted at with the last single Mary The Rhino -, sometimes faster and cannot betray the fact that three of the band grew up with the original “punk” bands. Then again, Tan’s songwriting always was outernational with a strong hint of NY Rock n Roll attitude to begin with. Lyrics are still angry, but also discuss solutions to the problems.Live they blast, people dance, some just watch astonished. Arguably, Hamburg’s most intense live band.

All attempts of comparing (The Saints, Swell Maps, Mink DeVille, Nick Cave, Marc Bolan, Mac DeMarco, The Coral, press dropped all these names desperately!) are meant to fail. Tan guested on stage with eclectic Jazz artist Alabaster DePlume as well as heroes the late Sylvain Sylvain and Jerry Nolan. As first Indie/ “Punk” Act, Tan LeRacoon was signed to well respected Soul/Jazz Label Légère Recordings, a performance at Reeperbahn Festival filmed by ARTE television remains unbroadcast. Make of it what you wish. A new album is worked on, but live shows get the attention for now, with &Racoonery left open mouth and singing and dancing attendees.

Support: Clara Bow
The four charming girls travelled through space and time to reach the destination of being just the lighthearted band you’ve always been waiting for. The musical output of Clara Bow’s expeditions can be described as D.I.Y. for professionals mixed up to a simple but delicious cocktail of indie, new wave and punk.