The New York hardcore legends are back in town!
Originality schmoriginality. Yes, it’s always nice when a band adds a fresh new twist to a tried-and-tested sound, but ultimately that doesn’t count for much if the songs don’t hit the mark. None of tonight’s bands are particularly pushing the hardcore envelope, but it’s hard to complain when they all serve up a rapid succession of raw, unfiltered street-core bangers, and it’s heartening to see that headliners Madball can still pull a decent-sized crowd after nearly four decades together.
“This one’s for the punks and skins!” That’s the vocalist of Affray, just before they kick things off with a rabid ‘Trust Fund Killer’. It’s still early days for the London quartet, but they’ve got no end of punk rock rage to get off their chests; lining up Maggie Thatcher, the police and ticket inspectors (among others) for a lyrical firing squad. Rightfully brimming with confidence, yet clearly grateful to be part of such a strong bill, they’re ones to watch, and their ‘Making A Racket’ (you don’t say!) EP is definitely worth a listen..
Ever wake up in the morning feeling like shit? Need a musical kick up the arse to get you going? King Street’s recent debut album, ‘War Scrolls’, certainly does it for me, and the band are justifiably proud of it. The pit opens up like a sinkhole as the band roar and stomp like a hardcore Godzilla on the title track, and when those crunching breakdowns kick in, things get seriously evil.
It’s all quality stuff, but a furious one-two of ‘Iron Will’ and ‘Reaper Collects’ (the former featuring a guest appearance from Fatty of Ninebar fame) proves the highlight, surely giving the Dome’s foundations a severe testing. Essential.
Jawless’s vocalist deserves kudos for her tireless encouragement for us to keep the pit going. Her band can’t quite match King Street for sheer brute force, but on songs like ‘Reborn’ and ‘Until Every Cage Is Empty’, they inject a welcome twist of crossover thrash into their sound. They’re an inclusive bunch, giving shout outs to vegans and fellow Latin Americans, and good on them for insisting on a women-only pit mid-set.
Quite rightly, the end of their set is greeted by calls for one more song, and they give us two; ‘Police Bastard’ and a grin-worthy cover of the Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight For Your Right’ (featuring Charlie from Clobber on guest vocals). Great in their own right, and a fine warm up for the headliners too.
Madball helped to shape the New York Hardcore sound back in the day, so they’ve damn well earned their right to stick to their formula, and although their set is low on surprises, it’s high on NYHC thrills. An opening salvo of ‘Heavenhell’, ‘Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop’ and ‘Hold It Down’ whips the crowd into one big bouncing, flailing, slam-dancing mess; take that, that and that. These are songs born of struggle, that’s for sure, but in the live setting, they sure make a good soundtrack to going crazy and having fun.
Even though Madball are fairly regular visitors to these shores, there’s a real sense of occasion in the air; these guys have always delivered the goods live, after all, and what’s a band to do in such a situation other than push the energy levels through the roof? We’re in awe of how vocalist Freddy simply cannot stand still, leading us through a full-tilt ‘Lockdown’ and a groovesome ‘Look My Way’ like some kind of demented preacher (albeit one with ants in his pants).
The stream of stagedivers becomes a flood for the closing ‘100%’ and ‘Doc Marten Stomp’, and no sooner has Freddy left the stage than he’s surrounded by sweaty well-wishers. There’s been no end of love and respect from the crowd towards his band, and with a set as intense as tonight’s, it’s safe to say Madball have repaid us in full. Apparently, there’s new music on the way – please don’t make us wait too long, guys.
Main Photo Credit: 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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