SLPC + BBQ + Bank Holiday = a winning combination!
Well, we were looking forward to a long weekend of doing very little, and then the South London Punk Collective ruined our plans by assembling this beast of an all-dayer. Eight quality bands, plus a free barbecue, for only a tenner? Realistically, how could we NOT haul arse south of the river to our old haunt, the Brixton Windmill pub – especially with the added bonus of no work tomorrow?
The Cheap Heathens face the unenviable task of kicking things off shortly after 3pm, but they waste no time. The trio are a perfect example of how the best punk rock combines memorable hooks with the love of making a good old racket, and the likes of ‘Suburbia’ and ‘People Like Us’ are a welcome treat for the early birds.
Solus are probably the most unorthodox band of the day, but are no less compelling for it. A trio based around agitated, Jaz Coleman-esque vocals, drums and the kind of fuzzed-up bass that would surely have Lemmy (RIP) nodding in approval, they play with the kind of intensity that louder, bigger bands would kill for, and the mid-set brace of ‘Obsidian’ and ‘Haunted’ emerges as a highlight. Superb.
Pity Bucha Effect having to start their set at the same time as the barbecue out back, but more fool those who are too busy stuffing their faces, as they miss out on some great punk rock anthems played with plenty of enthusiasm and a very British sense of humour. Songs like ‘Dew Drop’ and ‘Tommy Hates Cheese’ are delivered with a knowing wink, but it’s ‘345 To Peckham’ that unites the small (but devoted) crowd around these local heroes.
It’s impossible to take your eyes off Shit Stirrers’ vocalist as he balances precariously on the monitors for much of his band’s set. Equal parts hardcore punk and crossover thrash, the likes of ‘We See You’ and ‘Cut Off My Nose’ absolutely slay today (just as they did when we saw them with Deaf Devils last month), and a closing cover of Judas Priest’s ‘Breaking The Law’ is a welcome bonus. A small pit kicks off during their set, and rightly so.
Slow Faction draw just about everyone back in from the outside smoking area, and with good reason. Their set is bursting with melodic punk anthems that recall the leading lights of ‘77 and today they infuse songs likes ‘Antifascist’ and ‘Under Heavy Manners’ with the energy of a band half their ages. They play with the ease and humour of a band that know they’re among friends, and a shout-out is especially due to bassist Charlie; ‘virtuoso’ doesn’t go far enough to describe the man’s skills!
Unfortunately, our post-barbecue slump coincides with The Backstreet Abortions’ set; a shame, as they go straight for the jugular on the opening ‘Thomas The Wank Engine & The Fat Controller’, and don’t let up in pace or intensity throughout their set. Their vocalist is someone for whom the word ‘mercurial’ is pretty much tailor-made, and that spidery riff of ‘Poor Little Rich Boy’ hits the spot dead centre. They probably sound even better to someone who isn’t feeling weighed down by a stomach full of burger and pasta salad; we make a mental note to try to catch them again in the near future.
Romanian street punk veterans Scandal play raw, they play fast, and they don’t let the occasional monitor issue faze them at all (kudos!). You get the feeling that their bassist is the one who keeps the band anchored as their vocalist and guitarist lurch around the stage, and they inject a welcome touch of ska to proceedings on ‘Broken Down Dreams’. The quartet are – at times – reminiscent of Rancid in their ability to write earworm tunes, and they certainly play with all the passion and frenzy of Tim Armstrong’s crew in their prime. Great stuff.
It’s been well over two decades since we last saw headliners Sick On The Bus, and we’re pleased to discover that (a) they still sound like an unholy union between Motörhead and the Anti-Nowhere League, and (b) they still play like they’re being chased by fire. They may sing about not giving a shit, but they’re not fooling us; it takes dedication and no end of practise to craft songs like ‘Shit Machine’ and ‘Go To Hell’, and then spit them out with this much devil-may-care attitude. The closing ‘We Are Sick On The Bus’ is a great manifesto, and an equally great way to finish a day of quality punk rock.
Cheers to South London Punk Collective for having us, and for putting together such a great bill in the first place! Keep up with their future gigs via the link below.
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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