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Eureka Machines/The Virginmarys/The Empty Page – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. 14th December 2024

Eureka Machines/The Virginmarys/The Empty Page – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. 14th December 2024

It must be Christmas time, The Eureka Machines are having a shindig at The Brudenell, and you’re all invited!

Yes, Chris Catalyst may well be everyone’s go-to sidekick these days, whether he’s playing with The Sisters Of Mercy, Ugly Kid Joe or even a Nameless Ghoul in Ghost, you may well have seen him play without even realising it. But the Leeds based singer/songwriter has his own “funny little band” called The Eureka Machines, and every now and then they come back to remind everyone how good they are. This is one of those times. 

Late additions to the bill are Manchester alt punks The Empty Page and they have the grand job of opening proceedings tonight. Ex Obsessive Compulsive duo Kel and Giz are back with an impressive new album entitled ‘Imploding’ and it’s nice to catch them live for the first time in many years. 

With hypnotic, effect-ridden guitars, throbbing goth bass and Siouxsie Sioux/PJ Harvey vocals the 3-piece band deliver an energetic set that veers from Sonic Youth/The Smiths style indie floor fillers such as ‘You’re Tame’ to energetic, punky blasts of noise like ‘Dry Ice’. 

There’s a punk poetry element to Kel’s lyrics and delivery, matched with Giz’s clever guitar lines it makes for an exciting live experience. 

This is the first time I’ve seen The Virginmarys perform as a two piece and I was wondering how the dynamic shift would work in a live setting.

With the duo stage front, drummer Danny Dolan grips his sticks tight and haunches over his kit, like a boxer waiting to throw the first punch, his eyes focused on his partner in crime Ally Dickaty, waiting for the signal to count in the opening barrage of beats and riffs that make up ‘You’re A Killer’. The pair are mesmerising to watch and the sound that emanates from a single guitar, a voice and a drum kit is as full and intense as any rock show I have seen. 

‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ follows. Rawer, yet just as powerful as the album version. Danny pounds seven shades of shit from his kit while Ally spits diatribes with the guttural rage usually reserved for the likes of Slipknot (who incidentally are playing a short walk from the venue tonight). Two songs in and The Virginmarys are sounding freaking intense. 

Tonight, they play pretty much the whole of their new album ‘The House Beyond The Fires’ which is a pretty brave move. There’s no between-song banter, Ally preferring to let the music do the talking, and the highlights are plentiful. Singles ‘Northwest Coast’ and ‘When The Lights Go Down’ shine brightly, but it’s the newer album tracks which really show an intensity to their live performance.

The sound in The Brudenell is usually spot on and it plays in The Virginmarys favour. Ally’s guitar sounds amazing, crystal clear in the opening strains of the likes of ‘White Knuckle Riding’ and when the distortion and effects kick in on the likes of ‘Dance To The City’, it sounds massive.

There are just two older tracks played tonight, the emotive ‘Look Out For My Brother’ and a killer ‘Just A Ride’ which close the set. The song choice just shows the belief Ally and Danny have in the new material.

Fresh off a European tour and with the new songs bedded in, the Virginmarys are a tight live unit with a fistful of killer tunes that pack a punch and they are a force to be reckoned with. 

“Anyone want….a biscuit?” asks Chris Catalyst mid-way through the Eureka Machines triumphant headline set, before happily handing over a box of Family Circle to a more than obliging front row. It’s a bit of a northern ‘in joke’, but Eureka Machines and a certain amount of their fanbase like a good cup of tea and a biscuit. Maybe Eureka Machines are the Rich Tea of the rock n’ roll world? It’s safe, it’s familiar, you know what you’re going to get with a Rich Tea, and when you have one for the first time in a while you forget how bloody good they are…that’s a Eureka Machines show right there! 

Enough of the analogies, Chris Catalyst and his band don’t play shows very often these days, which is a shame because his self-proclaimed “silly little band”are actually very bloody good, and they have some top tunes in their arsenal.

They’ve not played a show for 12 months, but it may as well be 12 hours. Tight, comfortable and energetic, it’s like they’ve never been away. Obligatory black suits and white ties, obligatory between-song banter from Chris Catalyst and obligatory power pop filled set list. 

Kicking off with ‘Champion The Underdog’ we have a set filled with ridiculously catchy tunes that could give any stadium-filling band a run for their money. ‘Pop Star’ is played early, ‘Being Good Is Ok, But Being Better’s Better’ and ‘Affluenza’ are proper earworms and ‘Wish You Were Her’ is an emotional highlight. Even a cover of The Bangles ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’ is perfection in their hands.

The good news is they have a new album recorded and a new single in the (virtual) shops, and they play that single tonight. ‘Back In The Back Of Beyond’ is typical EM fodder and bodes well for the new album in the new year.

They don’t do encores, but ‘Zero Hero’ rounds up a killer set from one of the country’s best kept secrets. Funny little band? Let’s give the Eureka Machines the credit they deserve. 

Author: Ben Hughes

Thronk – ‘Aggressively Dissapointing’ (Self Release)

Thronk – ‘Aggressively Dissapointing’ (Self Release)

The debut EP from DIY punk chancers, Thronk, is here! ‘Aggressively Disappointing’ brings you six anthems of raw, unfiltered, enthusiastic Newport punk rock..

No nonsense, minimal pfaf – full-blooded punk rock with an aggressive hardcore edge Thronk aren’t messing about. Singing songs about being Shit at your job figures and with a simple chant of the title you get the message this is easy to sing along to after a bottle of mad dog followed by 15 pints of Fosters and a Jager chaser with every pint.

Modern life might get depressing so why not turn up the stereo and get lost in some punk rock Thronk do and it works for them and what harm can it possibly do? The topics are gritty every day life in South East Wales and why a Bombay Hot Pot is fire whilst Freddo Bars costing as much as ten regal king size – the world has indeed gone mad and Thronk are here to address it.

‘Brownies On Crack’ has a cowbell and a grunt on the rhythm guitar with plenty of wellie on the riff and some well placed “woo-ohs” on the chorus. ‘Since Fucking When?’ isn’t messing about and delivers a swift kick to the testicles before scuttling off – sweet.

‘Inbetweeners’ is a headscratcher but I totally agree with the sentiment ‘Fuck Off Burnley’ is the mantra and everyone can agree with that, shirley? even full-kit wankers. Like the mighty Wonk Unit these boys have a song about Horses and this one is a banger to wrap up proceedings. Again it’s short and sweet much like the rest of this EP so it wont take you long to whip through it and press repeat so you can finish your can of Tennents super. So be good play nice and pop over to their Bandcamp ahead of the new year release and pick up a copy.

Buy Here

Author: Dom Daley

Carol Hodge – ‘Effortless Insecurity’ (Self Release)

Carol Hodge – ‘Effortless Insecurity’ (Self Release)

‘Manoeuvres’ is a signal of intent with an explosion of styles from the strong melodies you expect from Hodge mixed with a heavy pounding groove. That’s an opener with intent.

Seconds out round two is a jarring piano riff mixed with a clashing guitar as Carol has a lush melody mixed with something you’d hear from someone like Sparks. With a fantastic production, this sounds huge. this album weaves and bobs like a peak fitness boxer but with a cheeky wink there’s a horseshoe in the glove adding a bit of oomph! to proceedings sure the keys and wailing guitar breaks lean into um, the dreaded p-word territory (prog) arch I’ve said it. However, it’s not standing on a shroom with one leg cocked tooting on a clarinet prog but progressive all the same. However ‘I’ll Do The Begging’ is a reprieve with a lush melody and a swooning multi-layered vocal that draws you in in a good way.

‘Small Crumbs’ is a throbbing bass line and heavy guitar lick. With a big chorus. We’re four songs deep and four very different offerings but there is a really nice flow to these songs. Carol loves a strong melody but is as comfortable taking it down n dirty or swooning with the angels.

Queen of fitting in is Hodge at her best in storytelling and balladeering mode. There is no stone unturned here Carol’s strength lies in her personal confessions and relatable worldly lyrics that touch many of us, covering topics such as Neurodiversity, Insecure Attachment, Self-doubt/Self-worth, and the Autistic Spectrum. This is her heaviest and strongest album to date no doubt about that and the strength is in the lyrics and being comfortable in her skin and head and that’s like a superpower here.

‘Temporary Interlude’ is a heaving beast as it is the sound of someone on a charger leading the fight and flying the flag for being different and embracing that difference such a captivating array of sounds a real headfuck but it works so well.

The bravery of this album is immense and Carol should draw strength from the fact that she’s pretty bloody good at this songwriting and delivering lark making it look like a piece of piss. The album then grinds to a juddering halt with the beautiful ‘Ever Reliable Pain’ to put a softer full stop on proceedings creating a superb atmosphere on a rollercoaster of a record. Be proud of this Ms Hodge its chuffin excellent, you are one talented songwriter. Buy It!

Buy Here

Autor: Dom Daley

UK Subs – The Globe, Cardiff. 15.12.24.

UK Subs – The Globe, Cardiff. 15.12.24.

I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than in The Globe Cardiff on a Sunday night just before Christmas to witness my umpteenth UK Subs show and as it turned out the final show to feature Stephen Straughan on guitar who bowed out on the morning after this final show of 2024.

Shame that because I thought Stephen was a great fit for the Subs and the last seven years might have flown by but he’s been a big integral part of the sound in his time and always a beaming smile to Charlies left, he will be missed but this is the UK Subs after all. anyway, the clock is ticking towards ten PM and Charlie leads the troops onto the stage for a blistering hour and some. It’s a set of classic Subs with the odd one or two deep cuts thrown in for good measure.

Having not long read Alvin’s third and final episode of his autobiography it certainly gave new insight into the band over recent years and much respect for the magnificently talented four stringer who delivers the solid thick rhythm this band thrives on and drives the songs onwards and upwards. I know it’s a cliche to say it but fuck me how does Charlie find the motivation to keep getting up and delivering the goods time after time at his age. He should have his trotters up enjoying doing a crossword or two and eating a mince pie in front of the TV at this time of year not sleeping around the UK in a van plying his trade to men and women who also should know better but continue to throw themselves around on a beer-soaked dancefloor but that’s what this music and this band does to you, God bless em.

Starting the set with an uptempo and rock solid ‘Rockers’ There’s no time for mucking about and straight into the business of the UK Subs who in 2024 are a lean operation, the chaos might never be that far away and Charlie might miss the odd lyric but when they’re on it they are a force to be reckoned with and when Stephen opened up the riff for ‘Kicks’ it just got even messier on the dancefloor. ‘Police State’, ‘Emotional Blackmail’ and ‘Rat Race’ sounded like the band was in a hurry and the Globe were appreciating what they were being served early on in this set. It was a band warming up and setting a blaze with a fury and verve that bands twice their size and half their age would do well to keep up with.

The setlist was a wonderful romp through a pretty spectacular catalogue spanning several lineups (obviously) and sounding as fresh as the day they were released an epic rendition of ‘Time And Matter’ alongside classics like ‘Down On The Farm’ (you know the Guns n Roses cover they do). There is also time to knock out ‘Kill Me’ from their last studio album ‘Reverse Engineering’ sitting in very nicely, its songs like this and ‘Quintessentials’ ‘Bitter And Twisted’ that I love hearing as much as the must-plays like ‘Warhead’ and ‘Live In A Car’.

After about a dozen songs its breaks off and classic after classic from ‘Limo Life’ through ‘Scum Of The Earth’ and ‘Barbies Dead’ the band are tight and really giving it some welly. Maybe slimming down their relentless touring schedule has made them a hungrier beast so when they do reconviene for these short bursts their batteries are fully charged and every second counts or that’s what it feels like tonight.

Charlie looks genuinely blown away by the rapturous reaction the band is getting from a very busy Sunday night in Cardiff. To be fair to the Subs they’ve always hit South Wales over the decades and that’s reason enough to bring me all this way and when they’re this good it’ll continue to be so.

Theres a quick encore to change the batteries and Charlie to put on his Santa hat before returning to the stage to lead the troops through a party favourite, potty-mouthed romp through ‘Hey Santa’ followed by the classics of ‘CID’ ‘Live In A Car’ and finally winding down with a blistering ‘Endangered Species’ and we were done. there are going to be some sore bodies in the morning but it’ll all be worth it when they remember how they got so sore thrashing around to the magnificent UK Subs.

Never give up gents and whilst there are some big creepers to fill on guitar these songs need to be sung. Have a break and see you in 2025. Oh, and good luck Stephen and thanks for your seven years as a UK Sub its been a blast.

Author: Dom Daley

BLACK SPIDERS – NEW ALBUM & VIDEO

BLACK SPIDERS – NEW ALBUM & VIDEO

BLACK SPIDERS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ‘CVRSES’ DUE FEBRUARY 28TH, 2025 ON THE DARK RIDERS LABEL VIA CARGO DISTRIBUTION.

PRE-ORDER ‘CVRSES’ HERE:

UK TOUR DATES CONFIRMED FOR APRIL 2025

www.blackspidersband.com

Nothing is ever easy for Black Spiders, never straightforward, there’s always a plethora of circumstances, bad luck and karma. Their last album, released in 2023, was titled ‘Can’t Die, Won’t Die’ and here we are at the dawn of 2025 and they’re still not fucking dead. Back with a brand-new album of high-voltage smashers, the Sheffield righteous rockers are set to release new album ‘Cvrses’ this coming February 28th on Dark Riders via Cargo Distribution.

Featuring twelve new tracks of exactly the kind of soaring rock ‘n roll action we’ve all come to expect, love and demand from Black Spiders, their intentions are the same now as they were from the very moment they started back in 2008 – be true to yourself, no compromise. 

“Stick to that formula and everything will be alright is what we hope and then with a little bit of luck life might surprise you,” says guitarist and singer Pete Spiby. “It’s our fifth album, from the point of view of myself and Irwin. It’s our best. Our statement of intent has not changed from day one.”

Recorded once again at Axis Studios in Doncaster with producer Matt Ellis behind the wheel, ‘Cvrses’ is, and of course all bands say this, very possibly their best album yet. It successfully distils everything that is thrilling and life-affirming about Black Spiders unique brand of thumping heaviness. Massive riffs, massive hooks, massive beats. It’s all massive.

Today listeners can get a taste of just how rockin’ the new Black Spiders songs are with their rousing new single ‘Out Of Order’. The band are in such rude health that this tune is not even on the album, but it’s by no means an offcut, instead ‘Out Of Order’ shows us all exactly where Black Spiders are at right now; maximum amped-up rock ‘n roll with a fun video to boot.  

“We wanted to give people a vibe of where the new album may be heading and have some fun with the video. We didn’t really have any budget, so we took inspiration from many places and paid homage to the old ‘United States of Whatever’ (Sifl & Olly version) single by Liam Lynch,” says Pete. “The song itself is a rant against God. For when things go wrong or not the way you planned and giving us such a shitty life.”

“As long as that drive is in the tank, we will keep going, because that’s what we need to do,” summarises Pete and Cvrses to anyone that tries to stop them.

Catch Black Spiders live in 2025 at the following dates:

19/04 Birmingham – Asylum

20/04 Derby – Hairy Dog

21/04 Manchester – Rebellion

22/04 Exeter – Cavern

23/04 London – Signature Brew

24/04 Newcastle – Newgate Social

25/04 Sheffield – Corporation

26/04 Crumlin – The Patriot

27/04 Leeds – Key Club

The Damned – Beacons theatre, Bristol 12.12.24

The Damned – Beacons theatre, Bristol 12.12.24

Without wanting to read spoilers about potential set lists it was always a no brainier for fans of the early 80s albums to work out it would be Black album and Strawberries heavy set from this lineup of the band that people have been clamouring for donkey’s years. We’ve been lucky enough to have had the original line up actually complex a run of very successful shows that in my humble opinion were bloody fantastic and where the band seemed to enjoy it as much as us fans.

The band have pretty much gone from strength to strength over the last decade or so and has turned in some very special evenings from the roundhouse to captain’s birthday party to the Royal Albert Hall and the magnificent palladium spectacle but when Pinch decided to walk away I did start to wonder what would become of this band I’ve followed since being a young man and low and behold it didn’t actually crumble to Shit.

From the minute the band strode onto the vast stage and looked at each other as to who was going to count them in for the one-two of ‘Love Song’ quickly chased out by ‘Machine Gun Etiquette’ the bar was set pretty bloody high. To follow it up with the magnificent ‘Wait For The Blackout’ was simply majestic. How bloody good and proper did it sound hearing those Rat rolls on the toms? I almost raised a smile.

For the next half a dozen songs it was flip-flopping between ‘The Black Album’ and ‘Strawberries’ and hearing roaring versions of ‘Lively Arts’, ‘Gun Fury’ and a welcome return of ‘Stranger On The Town’ This was turning into one of those special nights where the band sounded fantastic and looked like they were really enjoying what they were delivering. Those chaotic shows of the late 80s and 90s seem like a lifetime away (they were) Vanian not turning up and a revolving door of band members, Hell, I even chuckled about when there were about 54 Damned bass players on stage at once in Cardiff but this is an altogether different beast, one that’s focussed and delivering the goods big time.

‘Beware Of The Clown’ was greeted like an old friend and sat very nicely in the set, Hell I even enjoyed tonight’s rendition of ‘Eloise’ something I never thought I’d say. I loved hearing ‘Life Goes On’ and ‘Ignite’ and was fascinated with the interplay between Rat and Captain – now I couldn’t work out if the looks Rat gave Captain were ones of fondness, acceptance, and concentration or he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. It was also funny when Captain told his story of Nirvana stealing the intro for ‘Life Goes On’ a song they wrote back in the day… cough cough interrupted by Rat correcting the Captain about who wrote it to which the Captain did correct himself and say Rat wrote the intro but it all seemed in good banter and when Rat went stage centre he seemed genuinely moved at the rapturous applause he received. it was ‘Neat Neat Neat’ before the band took a well-deserved break before returning for an epic run through ‘Curtain Call’ which included a masterclass from Rat to bring it to a conclusion.

‘New Rose’ signalled another exit stage left before a seasonal ‘Sanity Clause’ made way for the finale of ‘Smash It Up’ and we were done. I will never tire of seeing the Damned, regardless of how under-prepared or who is in the band its nights like this that make them so special. they always had the X Factor above any band I’ve ever seen I absolutely love them and what they do. It is however something special that this line up have decided to give these songs the respect they deserve and it warms the cockles of my heart to see them absolutely smash a UK tour of decent-sized venues. From The Roundhouse to the Palladium and the original lineup in Hammersmith to the Royal Albert Hall and Finsbury Park this was as good as I’ve ever seen them and the vast array of songs they have in a peerless repertoire is simply stunning. I’m sure Captain would agree they never got the commercial success they absolutely deserved for what they do, but I know, and everyone else who’s seen them on this run will testify that there is no better band on their day than The Damned – long live The Damned. Ninety minutes of absolute joy from a band who are turning back the clock and getting better with age so on that note same again next year please chaps, thank you kindly. Bloody Brilliant!

Author: Dom Daley

Deathtraps – ‘The Lust For Likes EP2’ (Spirit Of Disaster Records)

Deathtraps – ‘The Lust For Likes EP2’ (Spirit Of Disaster Records)

Newport’s finest are back swinging with their second helping of a trio of six-track releases. Rather than pump out an LP in these times of media saturation the band decided to go for the slow burn of three six-track EPs dripped into the ether over a twelve-month period which is a pretty good idea in this play today gone-tomorrow culture of entertainment and the slow carpet bombing approach has a longer lasting effect and I like that idea and having eighteen tracks in three instalments is like a double albums worth of Fraser’s gruff vocals whispering into your ear and who doesn’t want that?

Opening with the spirited ‘Private Vietnam,’ the band sticks to what they are good at and grinds out a mid-paced rifftastic punk’ n roll sing-a-long. Lasting a couple of minutes it’s everything Deathtraps do well in a bite-sized offering. ‘Your Time Is Gonna Come’ is a more measured song with a confident tempo and a punch on the pre-chorus. The band slip through the gears with the tracks being around the two minutes mark meaning there isn’t time to bloat out intros or extended solos, it’s cut the crap and keep it lean. ‘I Want Fun’ is like the Dead Boys if they were from the industrial South Wales wasteland with a very nice chug on the verse and a minimalistic solo that does the job on the EPs highlight and one of the best songs the band have penned to date.

They’ve got their collective ‘Eye On You’ which is born in the riffage of Rocket From The Crypt and whips up a maelstrom in its hypnotic chorus another excellent song. With all paths leading to ‘Repeat’ to close off the second EP and a very nice piece of work indeed. Dethtraps have mastered their art and craft songs that improve on every release. Enjoy this one for the foreseeable and it’ll prepare you for EP3 which should be along in next to no time just remember the name – Deathfuckintraps! Ave it!

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Author: Dom Daley

Headswim – ‘Despite Yourself’ (Sony/Trapped Animal)

Headswim – ‘Despite Yourself’ (Sony/Trapped Animal)

Formed in Essex in 1989 by brothers Daniel and Tom Glendining, Headswim released their debut album ‘Flood’ in 1994. Following the death of their brother Matthew after a long battle with leukaemia, the band went on hiatus and re-emerged in 1987 with their sophomore album ‘Despite Yourself’. 

Veering away from the grunge sound of their debut, ‘Despite Yourself’ was a reflective album, exploring themes of death and spirituality, taking the band in a more alternative rock direction.

Now, almost 20 years down the line, Trapped Animal reissue this stunning body of work, with 7 bonus tracks, on vinyl for the very first time.

Headswim were a band I was certainly aware of at the time.‘Tourniquet’ was a top 30 single and saw the band appear on mainstream UK shows such as TOTP and TFI Friday, but maybe it was the Radiohead comparisons that put me off purchasing the album at the time. My bad, as ‘Despite Yourself’ has much broader influences than Thom Yorke’s crew, but that said, it certainly is not an easy listen.

The mid 90’s was such a rich breeding ground for rock music, a time when alternative was mainstream, and music had a dark edginess to it. Given the lyrical themes, ‘Despite Yourself’ fits the musical landscape perfectly.

Lead single ‘Tourniquet’ opens proceedings. It is the perfect mid 90’s alt rock single. The falsetto vocals and the moody backing builds to an abrasive chorus that owes as much to Soundgarden and U2 as it does Radiohead. 

‘Hype’ comes on like a grungy U2, Dan’s vocals certainly have a Bono feel to them here.

The acoustic led ’Clinging To The Wreckage’ is emotive and heartfelt. Dan pouring his heart on his sleeve and not for the last time during the course of this album.

It’s no surprise that the radio friendly ‘Better Made’, with its soaring strings and uplifting chorus was a single, it’s rich and instantly gratifying. Elsewhere, ‘Old Angel Midnight’ sounds like something off The Cult’s self-titled ‘94 album, which makes sense. The acoustic led, stripped-back ‘Holy Ghost’ is simple and full of harmony. It builds with strings and keys that just help to accentuate the beautiful feel of the song. 

As a whole ‘Despite Yourself’ is a deep album that keeps giving the more you scratch beneath the surface. The soaring vocals and instrumentation give an ethereal feel and the abrasive guitars add punch. The trip-hop beats of ‘Wishing I Was Naive’ and ‘Moving On’ are the only thing that ages the album, yet as a whole it sounds pretty fresh in 2024.

The Radiohead comparisons are realised on the bonus tracks rescued from the Sony archives. The haunting ‘Last Subway Coma’ and the rockier, Soundgarden feel of ‘Plagued’ are certainly worth exploring more than once.

I was also surprised that I knew ‘No Ticket’ really well, is it a cover? A bit of digging and turns out it was previously available on ‘Summer Slam’, a compilation CD given away free with Kerrang! Remember, that was one of the only outlets for new music pre-streaming days for us music junkies. It’s the strongest of the bonus cuts for sure and should’ve been on the album. 

An alternative version of ‘Tourniquet’ with strings recorded at Abbey Road wraps the album up and adds even more cinematic soundscapes to a 90’s classic. 

1998 may seem like a lifetime ago, yet ‘Despite Yourself’ holds up well after all these years.

Hats off to Trapped Animal for the latest in their Headswim reissues, reacquainting those who were fans with the band, hopefully gaining some new ones along the way, and ultimately giving this lost 90’s classic the treatment it truly deserves. 

Buy Here

Author: Ben Hughes

The Chats/The Prize – The Marble Factory, Bristol 11.12.24

The Chats/The Prize – The Marble Factory, Bristol 11.12.24

Boy it’s cold, these guys n gal from down under must be feeling it as the UK recovers from the storms and its just pre Christmas cold we have to deal with. Which to be fair is fine by me, on entering the Marble Factory its like entering the set of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre but this time its packed to the rafters as The Chats are here for two nights of flat out punk rock and this time they’ve brought fellow Australian power poppers the Prize along for the ride, and to be fair they put in an excellent shift as support with their Boys meets a lighter Ramones meets Thin Lizzy but with a tripple guitar attack.

They have half an hour and this five piece do their best to just fill their time with tunes and pretty bloody decent tunes at that.  lead vocals shared between drummer Nadine Muller and guitarist Carey Paterson who both do a sterling job weaving these nifty tunes to a very appreciative Marble Factory who dig what they do with impressive rapture which bodes well for the future of alternative punk rock n roll.

Hailing from Melbourne the band have been together since 2021 and it can only be a good thing playing to sold out audiences night after night who clearly like what they hear should see the band follow up their recent single with more music soon. Being unfamiliar with their song titles I throughly enjoyed what I heard and anyone who throws out a Boys melody or two is going to get a big thumbs up from me. Honest John Plain would certainly approve.

Enter The Chats with nothing to promote other than having a night out and playing some rapid party time punk rock, no records to promote, no festivals to push just doing it for shits and giggles. The Chats are ready to rock big time.

As they amble on stage Eamon lets the audience know the house rules of have a good time and look out for each other this ones called ‘Nambored’ the entire floor became a sweaty heaving swirling mess. By the time they steamed into the epic ‘6l GTR’ and then the epic ‘Emperor Of The Beach’ I feared they’d shot their bolt early and gone all in to quickly but fear not these boys are professionals.

The energy is relentless and you know that for the next hour they are going to give the set list a good seeing to and give nothing short of 100% wham bang thank you mam! we’re outta here. Tonight was no exception except to be fair I felt the songs weren’t so hurried tonight and they kicked back a fraction and not turning it into a whole we are Australias answer to Zeke now ave it! It wasn’t far behind but noticably more chilled.

Theres equal amounts of ‘High Risk Behaviour’ with the snotty ‘Stinker’ and ‘Drunk And Disorderly’ beign the glue in the middle of the set whilst ‘Get This In Ya’ ‘Nazi March’ is a belter. Of course ‘Smoko’ is present and played like its going outta fashion but tonight something happened and they had to stop it in the middle maybe there was a crowd safety concern because it went fuckin’ nuts when the bass riff kicked in or they just decided to go on Smoko mid tune.

‘The Price Of Smokes’ saw a complaint about JPS now being too expensive first world problems I guess. Eamon gives his fourstring a proper seeing to on ‘Struck By Lightening’ and its fair to say the band are tight as a soaking wet pack of Rizlas with Josh layign down some mighty fine licks on his guitar. For one hour these boys are untouchable and this was as good as I’ve seen them since they’ve been coming to Blighty a really excellent hour of non stop punk rock n roll that has boundless energy and never overstays their welcome theres even time to crucify Kiss’ ‘Rock N Roll All Nite’ in the best way possible before its brought to a crushing end with a wholesome bargain ‘Pub Feed’, and we’re done.

Like the best Bargain Bin Records tour package I absolutely appreciate touring for shits n giggles its the best way possible now get back down under, record a new record and head back over with Stiff Richards, COFFIN and Civic on one of those travelling revue tours that would be fuckin smashing lads until then this will more than do. Merry Fuckin Christmas all and get off Smoko and back to work.

Author: Dom Daley

Cock Sparrer/Dirtbox Disco/4Ft Fingers – Bristol, Marble Factory – 8th December 2024

Cock Sparrer/Dirtbox Disco/4Ft Fingers – Bristol, Marble Factory – 8th December 2024

“Brooksy, I got a feeling we’re not in south Wales anymore.”

It’s been blowing a gale outside for what feels like forever now, so much so I half expect to not have to leave the house to travel across the River Severn tonight and instead arrive Dorothy style for my last gig of the year.

Nothing was going to stop me being here tonight though, not the wind and most certainly not the Bristol traffic and the persistent road closures around the venue situated on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Bristol city centre.

Unfortunately, it does mean I get to the venue just as Cheltenham punkers 4ft Fingers are delivering their final chords of the evening to rapturous applause, as those in early doors (and it was early doors at 6pm) appear to have enjoyed every minute of their set.

It was exactly a year ago to the night that I was in Aberdare watching Dirtbox Disco deliver a fabulous headline set to an appreciative yet drenched (I’m starting to see a pattern here) audience, tonight the crowd are thankfully mostly dry on the outside seemingly full of early festive cheer (and beer) ready for a good singalong and dance. Even Santa has made it down to the barrier, much to Spunk Volcano’s amusement.

“I remember 1987 you fucker, I had minus presents!” teases Spunk. “You were a very bad boy” replies Santa. “I’m always a very bad boy” cackles Spunk, as opener ‘Punk Rock N Porno’ sets the smut bar at just the right level for the band’s fast and furious set.

Mixing (g)oldies like ‘Tragic Roundabout’, ‘Buring’ and ‘I Dont Wanna Go Out With You’ with the anthemic ‘Unstoppable’ (“Cock Sparrer offered me a lot of money for this song, I turned them down” jokes Spunk) and the total filth of newie ‘Second Hand Sex Toys’, Spunk, Maff, Danny and Chris ensure that everyone goes home tonight with at least one of their choruses stuck in your head, with “you’re a dirty dirty, dirty dirty, bastard” being my particular earworm of choice tonight.

For many though it’ll always be set closer ‘My Life Is Shit’, and a decade or so on from it first making it into the Dirtbox set it’s still as relevant (and insanely catchy) today as it’s always been.

It’s fantastic to watch Dirtbox Disco playing to such an appreciative and substantial audience outside of Rebellion weekend, and long may it continue.

Cock Sparrer are now some fifty two years into their career, and if recent album ‘Hand On Heart’ is anything to go by we’ve never had it so good in terms of Sparrer activity. Returning to Bristol for the second time post lockdown, the Marble Factory (whilst colder than an east end villain’s abattoir) is a near perfect venue for Cock Sparrer to entertain their west country troops. The sound in this place is always spot on due to the building’s old stone construction and the volume at which Mick Beaufoy’s police siren guitar intro to ‘Riot Squad’ blasts out the PA is enough to immediately stop any potential crimes happening around the Redcliffe area of Bristol tonight.  The crowd, of course, promptly goes nuts and for the next 75 minutes we all (and I do mean ALL) sing our hearts out to banger after banger from the Sparrer back catalogue.

Having seen Sparrer back in April of this year deliver a double shift of sets, firstly in the shape of new tracks and deep cuts and then follow that with a headline set of greatest hits, what we have tonight set list wise is a mash up of the two with the opening trio of ‘Riot Squad’, ‘Watch Your Back’ and ‘Working’ quickly followed by ‘With My Hand On My Heart’ and ‘Mind Your Own Business’ from the band’s latest LP. New cuts ‘Take It On The Chin’ (guitarist Daryl Smith jokingly reassuring us all that “Spunk Volcano got his £10 for helping us write this one”) and ‘Here We Stand’ also get included, as does the magnificent ‘One By One’ from 2017’s ‘Forever’, but it’s during ‘Because You’re Young’ and ‘Take ‘Em All’ that we really get to hear the Bristol faithful in full voice, something that seems to genuinely take frontman Colin McFaull aback, and the smile on his face as the crowd can clearly be heard over the band says it all really.

With no time for the rigmarole of an encore tonight the band thunder through ‘England Belongs To Me’ and ‘We’re Coming Back’ to conclude proceedings, closing things out as only Cock Sparrer can by promising they will be coming back …soon. Lovely jubbly!!!

Author: Johnny Hayward