
It’s been a while, but the Wonk Express was always going to show up at destination Swansea at some point, seeing as it’s been about eight years since their last visit, but it’s not like Alex hasn’t been busy conquering the world one town at a time.
The mighty Wonk Unit are a force for good, weaving their brand of Punk Rock into people’s ears, and it’s been a considerable length of time since I first clapped eyes on Alex and his band reciting poetry at one of the mighty Slugfest gatherings many many moons ago. With more than a handful of albums later, Wonk tonight are joined by Ed Wonk depping in on drums for I believe his debut performance however, it’s fair to say you’d never have guessed from his stellar performance behind the kit.
Now I’m aware my intro is almost as much waffle as Alex is capable of between the songs and tonight he’s joined by Vezzy, who’d obviously done her homework on tonights host city and rightfully informed anyone in doubt that the City was named after the birthplace of the majestic beast that is a Swan. Ok she might be ill informed or looking on the wrong website there but it fits into the world of Wonk perfectly with her hidden behind a stack of PA speakers almost obscuring Alex Wonks long standing partner in crime Pwosion on the bass but with the stand in drummer in situ we were off to an impressive start with ‘Day Job Wanker’ quickly followed by (when I say Quickly followed what I mean is ages between songs as Alex tries to coordinate the PA mix in his in ear foldbacks its the new album opening two tracks that burst out of the PA ‘Rapidly Declining Dignity’ and ‘Now That I’ve Grown Up’ then ‘Luxury Flats’ in fact the albums opening five songs spill out tight as a nats chuff to be fair and Alex’s praise for Eds performance is justified as he holds the engine room tempo and power perfectly well and sounds like has always sat in.
We get the awesome ‘Awful Jeans’ and an explanation for ‘Silly Voices’ before Alex enquires about any attendees who might have asked for the guest list, but pfew, nobody holds their hand up, not even I. Its a tight set as we steam into a middle section of absolute stone cold bangers like ‘Lewisham’ and ‘Go Easy’ and the evening progresses swimmingly they even stray from the tight setlist due to Ed not apparently knowing much outside of the list but it was thrown out the window momenterrily or rather Alex took his readers off to get involved with the mic in his paw and before we knew it the night was quickly racing to an end and the clock ticked past eleven the time when gigs used to end, and its a signing off with the quite brilliant ‘Kings Road Sporting Heroes’ followed by ‘Rambo’ and we are done.
The return to Wales’ premier rock n roll city is done, and Wonk Unit had delivered an epic set of top material from all corners of their repertoire,e and by the looks of it, Alex had thoroughly enjoyed himself as well, and hopefully it won’t be another seven or eight years before we get a return from one of the finest the UK punk scene has to offer. Wonk Unit came, saw and conquered. We left sweaty and smiling, having been thoroughly entertained again. Let’s all get wonked again sometime; that was honkingly good, you mad crazy bastards.
Recent Comments