We loved this unforgettable celebration which went off like a firework!
An album launch gig is always a reason for a damned good party, and Ska-Punk-Rockers Bar Stool Preachers have clearly put a lot of thought into making this one their most exciting yet! ‘Party Eternal!‘ is their fourth studio album, and there’s huge excitement about which songs we’re going to hear live at Islington’s The Garage venue in London tonight.
Blacklit skeletons are arranged in various poses around the stage area – I can tell the band are going to have fun with these as they tour around the country this autumn – and a brilliantly designed yellow backdrop with stunning black graphics hangs at the rear.
Desperate Measures NZ arrive fresh from the recording studio. Led by intrepid frontman Eugene Butcher, the London rockers entertain the early birds with a short set of career-spanning tunes. Opening with one of my favourites, ‘Scars and Memories’, I’m singing along from the start. Desperate Measures may not appeal to the Ska crowd, but their energy is infectious and I can see plenty of heads bobbing along. They bravely premiere a brand new number – ‘The Flames Of The Street’ – which guitarist Calle and drummer James later tell me had only been fully played through the day before! Dedicated to all the skaters, punks and those who dared to be different, it’s a good one, and I’m impressed by Phil’s kicking bass lines:
There’s also a sing along rendition of their last single, a cover of UK Subs’ ‘Limo Life’, which has the older Punks in the room grinning as they shout out the chorus. It’s a rocking start to the Party Eternal, and the gathering audience are eager for more music!
Bite Me Bambi are originally from Orange County, California, yet these lively Ska-Pop-Punk folks have a strong fan base here in the UK, especially after two blistering Rebellion Festival performances this year and last. Vocalist Tahlena fronts the band, and never stops moving; this stage isn’t small but it barely seems to contain her! Being an international band, it’s not always possible to get everyone together, so tonight Bar Stool Preachers‘ keyboard ace Alex Hay has stepped in for Mike – doing exhausting double duty on opening night – and doing it very well!
The rest of the band tonight are also the UK-based crew. Guitarist Charlie Gabriel (Hertfordshire Ska band Codename Colin’s frontman) pulls his usual poses as he plays some mean riffs and solos, and bassist Chris dominates stage left, next to sax supremo Josh, while drummer Jay keeps the beat pulsing at the back. Immediately from the start, ‘Too Many People’ has the crowd skanking along, and Tahlena asks how many in the audience are musicians? Then, how many are female, queer and others in the minority in the music buisiness? She gets a huge cheer when she insists on more equal representation!
‘Do The Damned’ and ‘Bad Boyfriend’ get a huge reception from the crowd, Tahlena seeming to connect with all of us at once, as these songs strike a universal chord. Bite Me Bambi bring their set to an incendiary close with ‘Hot Lava’, and have more than done their job of warming up the crowd for our headliners!
Party animals Bar Stool Preachers have planned an explosive start! Flashing batons are handed out to many in the crowd to wave, the show opens with vibrant club music blasting from the PA, dazzling lights swing all across the stage and the audience, and pillars of smoke surge from the twin jets down the front – BSP know how to get a party started! Opener ‘Sick World’ from ‘Party Eternal!‘ goes off like a firework and the floor starts bouncing. Guitarist Ebonnie Greene lends her voice beautifully to the shared lead vocals.
“Nah nah nah nah nah” and we’re into the first single released from the new album, frontman T.J. McFaull encouraging us all to sing along and shout out “Oh my God!” at the appropriate times, which we gleefully do! Older numbers ‘Choose My Friends’ and ‘Doorstep’ keep the frenzy burning, T.J. hopping onto the barrier to lean into the crowd, as he likes to do.
Always unconventional, guitarist Tom Gibbs has spent much of the set wearing a Halloween mask, and leading the dancing! I’m relieved he’s his usual cool self when he takes it off, and it certainly makes for a better photo 😉 I decide to risk my camera and head into the mosh pit to snap a few shots and to jump and sing along when I hear Alex Hay play the opening keyboard notes of ‘Call Me On The Way Home’. It’s lively in there and some blokes are getting a bit rowdy, but I protect myself and my equipment, and the circle opens up for those who want to fling themselves around. The main set ends with ‘All The Broken Hearts’, and my friend Stuart joins me down the front to sing along with the chorus.
Almost as soon as the band goes off the stage, to yells of approval, the chant “Bar Stool Preachers” starts to echo around the venue. It’s not long before the band are back to round off the evening with a triple whammy of first ever single ‘One Fool Down’, the traditional ‘Bar Stool Preacher’ and close the show with new number ‘This Is Goodbye’, a rousing Celtic ode to getting older after living your best life. With a final blast from the smoke jets and a a wave from the band, it’s a phenomenal way to round the night off! I must also give hard-working bassist Bungle a special mention, as he did his usual sterling job of running the busy BSP merch stall, as well as giving it 100% on stage 💚
The next day in Bristol, drummer Alex Smith tells me it was scary and exciting in equal measure putting on this launch show, trying different things, but his grin tells me he’s stoked with how it went down. I also ask lead vocalist T.J. how he feels about the tremendous support Bar Stool Preachers have had with this DIY album launch, without record label behind them? He say s he’s blown away, as their original target was smashed and doubled by the fans who got behind the crowdfunder. We agree that if you put your trust in people, and support them, they’ll support you. The BSP community certainly does, as one of the friendliest and most encouraging fan groups out there! T.J. is grateful that the band has some money to spend on extras, such as the stunning tour backdrop, and can put on their best shows yet.
Catch BSP live at one of their remaining ‘Party Eternal!‘ tour dates:
TICKETS
- 30 October 2026 – Club Academy, Manchester
- 31 October 2026 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
- 6 November 2026 – The Hairy Dog, Derby
- 7 November 2026 – O2 Academy 2, Liverpool
- 8 November 2026 – Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool
- 13 November 2026 – Digital, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 14 November 2026 – La Belle Angèle, Edinburgh
- 15 November 2026 – The Corporation, Sheffield
- 27 March 2027 – The Robin, Bilston
- 17 April 2027 – Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
Main Photo Credit / All Live Photos: RUTH RAE
(Please contact me for additional & hi-res originals)
All Videos: RUTH RAE
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