A Punk Rock Birthday Bash where the musical celebrations wowed the whole crowd
On a sweltering Saturday evening, we headed to Great Portland Street, London in our summerwear for a trio of bands put on by Human Punk at the 229 Venue. An early start and finish were scheduled. Exactly what’s needed for a Punk Rock Birthday Bash, with plenty of musicians in attendance to hear Guitar Gangsters, Split Dogs and of course the UK Subs, as we celebrated the legendary Mr Charlie Harper’s 82nd trip around the sun!
I’d only seen the first support band live once before – that was the fantastic Guitar Gangsters, who have been around since I was a kid. Phil, Pete and Ed had their usual set up for guitars and vocals and got us fully primed for Split Dogs and the UK Subs. Their set was a good length, with thirteen tracks including ‘Tarantino’s Son’, ‘Fortune Favours The Brave’, ‘That’s When The Razor Cuts’ and ‘Undefeated’, all performed with high octane energy and lots of windmilling on the bass guitar.
For those who love Guitar Gangsters, Tony Smith at Sounds of the Suburbs Record Store has their latest 2022 album ‘Fortune Favours The Brave’ in stock, as well as a large selection of UK Subs LPs and 7” singles. It’s well worth checking these out (and much more!) whilst there for a live music matinee! The 229 had the usual merchandise stands and plenty to choose from for the bands playing.
Next up, Split Dogs, a band I’d never seen before, and I found their set was full of really punchy rock and metal. Mega powerful drums, and a guitar that makes their own numbers distinctive. Both Harry on lead and Mil on guitar belt out the lyrics audibly, with raucous, gravelly vocals. Their set was meant to be sixteen songs in length and I’m sure we didn’t hear all of it due to time constraints!
Upping the ante from Guitar Gangsters, Split Dogs’ performance had lots of glitz and glam, with plenty of movement from Harry, who was like a jaguar hunting around the stage in striking metallic turquoise, really shaking tail with grinding snarling teeth behind a gleaming smile to the audience. Predictably, the floor in front of the stage got much fuller during their set, but thankfully not too cramped as it was the first day of a heatwave.
The temperature was pleasant despite the audience build-up – it’s been hotter there in winter gigs – so well done to the 229 and Kenny Stevenson and the Stage Management team. Split Dogs numbers included ‘Tear Down’, ‘Prison Bitch’, and ‘Monster Truck’, plus new single (out this week!) ‘Be Somebody’ and ‘Born Too Loose’, both from their forthcoming third album ‘Nice ‘N’ Rough’ which drops in September. Look out for a review here in Punktuation! Magazine.
By the time the UK Subs came on, the remaining audience members had trundled in from the local pubs, and everyone was primed, fuelled and ready for their opening number ‘Emotional Blackmail’, and a really long set full of favourite numbers, save for ‘Teenage’. I expect that was intentional, as Charlie Harper singing “I wanna be teenage” doesn’t exactly sound like someone still embracing punk rock on their 82nd, especially when he’s kicking ass on stage and revving up the audience after all these years! New guitarist Abe Inglis brought his fresh-faced energy to the show, on an instrument that Charlie said was “cheap, but sounded far better than an expensive guitar!”
From ‘Rockers’, the seldom-played ‘TV Blues’, ‘Time and Matter’ segueing into ‘Bitter And Twisted’ to ‘Tomorrows Girls’, ‘You Don’t Belong‘, ‘Warhead’ and ‘Stranglehold’, the UK Subs totally delivered as expected. After the main set, bass maestro Alvin Gibbs performed a couple of songs, ‘Drag Me Down’ and ‘Living Dead‘ while Charlie took a well-earned break, before the frontman returned to the stage to wrap up with ‘C.I.D.’. Take a bow guys!
For sure, it was incredible to see the UK Subs with support from Split Dogs and Guitar Gangsters, with Charlie Harper still up there givin’ it full on, the whole audience roaring with fists raised, and shouting chants of appreciation after favourite numbers and for an encore. Kudos to UK Subs‘ energetic drummer Stefan Häublein for dancing down the front in with the crowd before playing on the stage!
I was lucky to meet Charlie afterwards and wish him a Happy Birthday! As the venue emptied, it was easier to spot musicians from other bands I’ve seen, heading backstage for birthday celebrations. Thanks again to Human Punk for another top evening!
Main Photo Credit / All Photos: PETER MCDONNELL
Al Videos: RUTH RAE
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