As the band themselves would sing it: "this is rock n' roll"!
Yes, for the umpteenth time, the Supersuckers are still going! Cynics might say that’s because the veteran Seattle rock n’ roll trio have no plan B in life, but please direct any such folks to the band’s new single, ‘Maybe I’m Just Messin’ With You’. It’s vintage ‘Suckers, and why should the band call it a day when they’re still on such fine form? Tonight, they’re making their first visit to the New Cross Inn, and the place is increasingly packed with folks eager to see what happens when these north-west Americans meet south-east London’s finest venue.
As he declares ‘Honey And Chrome’ an “ass-kicker”, Master Bizarre’s vocalist is probably hoping for more than the polite applause that follows. It’s not long gone 7pm and the crowd is still fairly static, but the band don’t take it to heart, and play with all the verve of a headline band. Those riffs consistently hit the sweet spot between Sunset Strip swagger and grunge grittiness, and overall, they can chalk up tonight as a victory.
However, if you like your punk and rock n’ roll played (mostly) fast as hell and filthy as a chimney sweep convention, then Flash House are truly the men for you. Their main vocalist/guitarist sounds like he gargles with gravel, damn near roaring himself hoarse on the likes of ‘Domestic Hiss’ and ‘No Solution’, and boy does their bassist look the part with his instrument slung almost at knee level.
Just about everything they play is despatched at hardcore-level speed and ferocity, and ultimately they take the crown tonight in terms of intensity alone. We were kind of late to the Flash House party – their ace debut album ‘Brown Sauce’ is nearly eight years old. Don’t be like us. Wise up to them now.
How do you follow a set like that? Well, how about blasting through fourteen songs in twenty-odd minutes, in a manner that would make a certain quartet of surname-sharing New York punk legends proud? The members of Chinese Junk have previous experience in The Griswalds and Random Heroes, and perhaps unsurprisingly, their songwriting skills have become pretty damn sharp – how else could a song called ‘Amnesia’ be this memorable? Self-styled as ‘pound shop rock’, you either get it or you don’t, but judging from the sea of grins, the New Cross Inn is fully – and rightfully – on board with them.
“We’re the pot of gold at the end of the rock n roll rainbow!” That’s Supersuckers singer/bassist Eddie Spaghetti, who – with quotes like that – really ought to consider doing a spoken word tour. He’s actually a very down-to-earth, friendly and funny guy, later congratulating us on our “impeccable taste”, and therein probably lies the secret as to why his band have survived for so long.
Well, that, and the songs, obviously An opening salvo of ‘Pretty Fucked Up’, ‘All Of The Time’ and ‘The Evil Powers Of Rock N’ Roll’ kick-starts a rock n’ roll party par excellence, with band and crowd increasingly feeding off each other’s energy and enthusiasm. It’s all great stuff, but when the Supersuckers really cut loose, as they do on a turbocharged ‘I Want The Drugs’, it’s just GLORIOUS. They were previously a quartet, but with all due respect to their previous two guitarists, the old days are not missed as Marty Chandler coolly and effortlessly rips through the squalling solo of ‘Born With A Tail’.
Predictable? Maybe so, but predictably great, not least considering all too many bands of their age are phoning it in. Ultimately, for the duration of their set – and for a good while afterwards – the Supersuckers make us feel like they’re the only band, and that punk-infused rock n’ roll is the only music, that matters. What more could you ask for? Please don’t make us wait too long for that new record, guys.
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
Follow Supersuckers on Their Socials:
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Album review: ‘The Halloween Album’ by The Goldstars
In need of some spooky tunes? The Goldstars serve up a tasty Halloween treat with their first release in 20 years! ‘The Halloween Album’ has
Meryl Streek, London 100 Club, 8th Oct 2026
Tonight is a cause for celebration on two counts. It’s not just that self-described ‘one-man punk band’ Meryl Streek is on the eve of releasing
EP review: Gorilla Tremors release ‘Gospel According To…’ and preach their rock ‘n’ roll message to the punk congregation.
Gorilla Tremors are wild garage punk rockers who cannot be caged, and prove it with a new 6-track EP! ‘Gospel According To…’ is about the
EP review: Aftrshocks – ‘Get Loud’
Young Dundee trio Aftrshocks properly grabbed my attention on the Rebellion Introducing Stage this summer, and they delivered one of those sets that reminds you
Album review: Slow Faction – ‘Return To The Windmill’
Alright, in terms of ‘I was there’ punk moments, the recent South London Punk Collective all-dayer wasn’t quite up there with the Sex Pistols at
Album review: Crapsons – ‘Sunshine On Keith’
There comes a point in every punk rocker’s life when staying out until four in the morning looking for rebellion stops being as attractive as
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.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
