Reviewer Alex braved four full-on hardcore bands in South London, risking pint and limb..
It’s at gigs like tonight’s that you have to give kudos to the crowd for taking things to a whole new level. Maybe it’s the unseasonably warm weather, maybe it’s the fact that it’s Friday night, most likely it’s the quality of tonight’s bill; whatever the truth, it’s rare to see a crowd quite as enthusiastic and up for it as they are this evening. The New Cross Inn is sold out, so let’s go!
Power Failure’s vocalist brings a whole lotta Rollins to the table, pacing the floor and roaring his lyrics into bystanders’ faces, whilst his band back him up with iron-clad blast beats and breakdowns. Whether denouncing far-right thugs on ‘Patriot Games’ or the influence of mass media on ‘Public Interest’, this is one of the most intense opening sets we’ve seen at the Inn, and the small-but-wild pit is proof of a job done, and done well.
If it’s truly teeth-rattling breakdowns that you’re after, though, Trading Hands are more than up to the task. Seriously, at one point, their guitarist punches himself in the head, so committed is he to the heavy hardcore/powerviolence cause. There’s more to them than sheer bludgeon, though; some of those riffs aren’t half – dare we say it – catchy, with the likes of ‘Tick Til Tuesday’ and ‘Piss Kick’ lingering long in our minds. They weren’t exactly shrinking violets when we saw them here with GEL here last year, but now Trading Hands have become a real force to be reckoned with, and if they’re new to you, now would be a great time to say hello.
It’s safe to say that we’re all feeling pretty stoked right now, so it’s all the more life-affirming to see the Inn utterly EXPLODE for Stiff Meds’ all-too-brief set. Limbs go flying, stagedivers go flying, I take half a pint of IPA to the face (bonus!). Of all tonight’s bands, they look like they’re having the most fun, and if you go see them, you’ll most likely have a blast too, just like we did. They could be the ideal hardcore party band, but there’s nothing frivolous about mini-anthems like ‘State Of Decay’ and ‘Hand Me Down Hate’, all despatched at breakneck speed and intensity. Stiff Meds – just what the doctor ordered. (Yeah, I know.)
Headliners Spy keep the momentum up in fine style, and make this hardcore business look all too easy. The Californian quintet are clearly delighted at the mayhem unfolding in front of them, as they rip through the thrashy ‘Afraid Of Everything’ and the glorious bouncy ‘Bootlicker’ like a band possessed. Last year’s ‘Satisfaction’ LP is given a good airing, but don’t let that title fool you – these guys are aiming for greater things, and sets this fierce are an indication that they’re well on their way. Here’s hoping for their swift return.
We file out into the wonderfully cool night (a sold-out New Cross Inn is quite the sweatbox) with grins on our faces – after all, what better way to start the weekend than a hardcore gig of this calibre? Cheers to all involved, and here’s to the next one!
Main Photo Credit / 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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