We've seen many a band go crazy onstage, but not quite like this!
Well, we’re halfway through the year, and our thirst for quality punk n’ roll hasn’t diminished (and hopefully never will), so cheers to Safe As Milk Promotions for putting together this ace bill at an equally ace venue. One of the USA’s most electrifying live bands, plus sterling British support? In case you couldn’t tell, we’re happy to be here.
There are only a handful of folks present as Chinese Junk kick off; what’s a band to do? Well, maybe go for it with all guns blazing? That’s exactly what Ben Nuthink and co do, ripping through the likes of ‘Bad Habit’ and ‘Your Family Are Robots’ with barely a pause for breath and a very British sense of self-deprecation (it’s ’pound shop rock’, apparently). So the closing ‘Return To Poundland’ has a mini-riff reminiscent of the Ramones’ ‘Pinhead’. Why the hell not? They play a first class set, and the grins and applause from the steadily-growing crowd say it all.
Leeds trio Nervous Twitch are playing with a stand-in drummer, but you wouldn’t know, such a great job does he do. Their spirited mix of glorious 60s girl group melodies and fuzzed up punk rock sounds addictive enough on record, but live, it’s even better; delivered with an extra touch of urgency and no little confidence, with vocalist/bassist Erin jumping down to greet us all for a finale of ‘Wild Man’. Like so many of the best punk bands, they come across as a gang in the best sense of the word; one that you’d love to join. There are no weak links tonight, but the mid set brace of ‘I’d Like To Think You Know Me Better Than That’ and ‘Knitting With Anger’ really hits the spot dead centre.
“People don’t want to see the guy next door on stage; they want to see a being from another planet.” Those are the words of Lemmy (RIP), and he’d clearly approve of headliners The Schizophonics – in particular singer/guitarist Pat, who is an absolute force of nature. Channelling equal parts James Brown and Iggy Pop, he’s a music photographer’s worst nightmare, and rarely do we see someone so committed to making a rock n’ roll gig such a night to remember.
Somersaulting across the stage with guitar still in place? Check. Soloing away one-handed whilst teetering precariously at the edge of the stage? Check. Tossing the mic stand into the crowd, then jumping in to turn the place into an increasingly sweaty rock n’ roll choir? Oh yes, and plenty more besides. Full credit to drummer Lety and bassist Sarah for holding down the rhythm; talk about being in the eye of the hurricane. Amazingly, nothing gets broken and no-one gets hurt, such is the connection between band and crowd.
Oh, and the tunes are excellent too; in particular, a ferocious ‘Dirt Dog’ and a thunderous ‘The One I Want’ simply can’t fail tonight, when combined with this level of showmanship. Quite simply, if you love punk and rock n’ roll, and believe that a disregard for the rules is intrinsic to both genres, then you owe it to yourself to experience The Schizophonics live. You can thank us – and more importantly, them – later.
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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