The Seattle crew pull out all the stops on the final night of their UK tour!
Truly, there are hard-touring bands, and then there are The Drowns. Not only do the Seattle quartet seem to be on a mission to become the Rebellion Festival house band (having recently played there for the fifth time in as many years), they’ve also decided to spend almost an entire month touring the UK, including dates in places that foreign bands rarely visit (Northwich, anyone?). Tonight is the final night of this jaunt, and after catching them play a blinder at the aforementioned Rebellion this year, our hopes are high.
Everyone Lies hit the ground running with ‘Stuck Inside My Head’; a great tune that sounds even better live. As shameless devotees of the late 90s/early 00s glory days of melodic skate punk, we’re always thrilled to discover bands breathing new life into the genre, and this Southampton trio do exactly that – with energy and charisma to burn. Tonight it’s the speedy, spidery guitar riff of the ultra-catchy ‘Ovaltine’ that impresses us the most, and following it up with a cover of Whitmore’s ‘On The Ceiling’ is a grin-worthy move for those of us of a certain vintage. Check out Everyone Lies‘ new EP, ‘Web of Lies’ – it’s superb stuff.
Next, we’re treated to a rare display of Clobbaoke*. The London quartet open with an explosive ‘Do Less’; perhaps a bit too explosive, as livewire frontman Charlie’s voice gives out during ‘Hardcore Hive Mind’. Luckily, there are plenty of UKHC family in attendance tonight, and the vocalists of Uptight, Jawless and Equals What? all take their turn to help out. You sense that most bands would have just given up and cut things short, but Clobber are not most bands, and as a small pit erupts for the breakdown of ‘God Loves Man Kills’, it’s clear that they’ll take this one in their stride – as they should.
By all accounts, this tour has been a successful one, but the headliners are not ready to rest on their laurels just yet, and rip into ‘Eternal Debate’ like men possessed. Even after such a punishing schedule, they’re clearly still as stoked to see us as we are to see them, and as the likes of ‘Blacked Out’ and ‘Ketamine & Cola’ fly by in a blur of sweat, tattoos and buzzsaw guitars, it rapidly becomes clear that The Drowns cannot fail tonight. In terms of prime-quality blue collar punk n’ roll played with maximum passion, this takes us right back to seeing Social Distortion at the Astoria (RIP) twenty-odd years ago – it was a triumphant return for Mike Ness’s crew, and should he be looking to pass the torch to a new generation, The Drowns are absolutely ready to take it.
Like at all the best shows, an hour or so’s worth of songs just flies in by in no time at all, but the band save one hell of a treat for the end. The ska-tinged ‘Them Rats’ – an anthem for our times, no less – is followed by a turbocharged cover of the Ramones’ shoulda-been-huge ‘Something To Believe In’; a personal favourite of mine, and is that a lump in my throat? It renders the closing ‘Black Lung’ almost surplus to requirements, but no-one’s complaining; this is a strong contender for Gig Of The Year, and more than ever before, The Drowns sound like a band to believe in. Rebellion again next year, guys? You’ll be welcomed with open arms.
*Yes, Clobber karaoke. Yes, I thought of that all by myself, and cheers, I’ll be here all night.
Top Photo: ALEX GOOSE
Additional The Drowns Photos ( taken the previous night at Reading Facebar, show by Future Transmissions): RUTH RAE
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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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