A long-awaited ska-punk reunion finally takes place!
Two much-loved stalwarts of ska-punk are reunited at last! Lightyear and Slow Gherkin originally toured together about 25 years ago, during the late 90s/early 00s ska-punk boom. Back then, you could hardly move for Reel Big Fish copyists, but the two aforementioned bands always put their own spin on the genre, and although both bands are getting decidedly long in the tooth, songs as good as theirs simply don’t age. Oh, and they’ve recently recorded an ace split EP.
If openers The JB Conspiracy are really as bothered by the outside daylight as frontman Matt claims, then it certainly doesn’t stop them playing a superb set. “The cracks are starting to show, maybe it’s our age!” he quips; we respectfully disagree, sir, especially when the likes of ‘Captain We’re Sinking’ and ‘The Escape’ are played with this much verve and urgency. The four-man horn section even jumps into the crowd to start a pit during ‘Start Listening’, and they’re no less imposing when onstage, providing bold, brassy backup over a barrage of quality tunes. Excellent stuff.
This is Slow Gherkin’s first London gig in over two decades, and they’re clearly pleased to see us. Is the feeling mutual? The raucous sing-along to the “I don’t think enough, I think too much” refrain of the opening ‘How Now Lowbrow’ says it all. The Californians seemingly teeter on the edge of chaos throughout their set; a guitar cuts out, a mic cuts out, the horn section are squeezed precariously close to each other throughout. Are they bothered? Not at all – they soldier on with the good nature and ease of a band who know they’re among friends tonight.
New song ‘Backyard’ (from the EP) goes down a storm, the pit explodes for ‘Trapped Like Rats In Myers Flats’, and an utterly joyous finale of ‘Shed Some Skin’ sees said horn section swell to seven-strong (with help from the other bands)! A glorious display, and one that we’d love to see again in the not-too-distant future.
Lightyear have never taken themselves too seriously, bless them, and tonight their recipe is clearly two parts great songs to one part madcap antics. As amusing as the conga around a human pyramid (during a pause in the evergreen ‘Blindside’) is, you can’t help but wonder if they could have squeezed a couple more old favourites into their set, but realistically, at a Lightyear gig, you know what to expect by now.
Frontman Chas is his usual amiable self, making the New Cross Inn feel more like a gathering of friends than just another gig, and a closing brace of ‘Positive Outlook’ and ‘A Pack Of Dogs’ ends the night in fine style – and prompts a stage invasion to boot. It’s been nearly 25 years since their debut album ‘Call Of The Weasel Clan’, and tonight they’ve reminded us why they’re still so loved after all this time.
Cheers to Be Sharp Promotions for having us along, and for putting it all together! Ska-punk’s time in the spotlight may have passed, but this evening has proved the genre remains in rude health.
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
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I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
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