Hardcore punk. Two words that strike fear into the Daily Mail readers across the land. I, on the other hand, read Ferret Felchers Monthly and have no such prejudices. Another Sunday gig (damn, damn, damn...) but, like all the rest, this one was well worth prising my lazy ass off the sofa for. First up were Aussie locals The Scare (they're from Oz but now live in Birmingham...the mad fools) who delivered a punk blues kick to the groin and much needed enrichment to the soul. Kiss Reid (Kiss? Really?), lead vocal Scare delivers a powerful mix of Jagger at his best and a possessed preacherman, strutting the stage with aplomb (ha...first ouevre, now aplomb! There is such a word isn't there...yes...well if not, there is now). Reminded me of (ciminally underrated Birmingham legends) Coptor in places. This is a very good thing.
Headliners, Gallows, have already attracted a fair bit of press for their incendiary live shows...but would they live up to the hype? Well, in a word, YES. I'm sure I saw lead vocalist Frank paw the ground like a bull before the set started, a clear indication of things to come. And come they did. On spotting the metal barriers designed to keep us, the crowd, off the stage he shouted "I'm not fucking having this" and leapt over them. A circle gathered around the new stage on the 'dancefloor' and he launched into one of the most powerful sets I've ever witnessed. Describing it is difficult, but I imagine it's a little like being caught up inside a tropical storm. He 'owned' every inch of the venue, whilst still delivering vocals that you could actually understand (not a prerequisite of a good punk gig, but impressive none the less). The songs have a lot more to them than first meets the ear too and, whilst they're 'hardcore' to the bone, there's a strong enough melody to win over a much wider audience. Suffice to say I moshed to the best of my ability (despite promising myself to remain a suitable distance from the madness) and had a bloody fantastic time (as did Mrs Baron which, considering she hated Selfish Cunt - a similarly provocative performer, was a major surprise). Frank, by the way, is a bloody lovely bloke too. Intelligent, passionate and as REAL as they get. Full marks for the NIN / Trent Reznor jokes (you had to be there) and for gobbing on the ceiling then catching it back in his mouth as it did what gravity dictates. What a night. Legends in the making.
Headliners, Gallows, have already attracted a fair bit of press for their incendiary live shows...but would they live up to the hype? Well, in a word, YES. I'm sure I saw lead vocalist Frank paw the ground like a bull before the set started, a clear indication of things to come. And come they did. On spotting the metal barriers designed to keep us, the crowd, off the stage he shouted "I'm not fucking having this" and leapt over them. A circle gathered around the new stage on the 'dancefloor' and he launched into one of the most powerful sets I've ever witnessed. Describing it is difficult, but I imagine it's a little like being caught up inside a tropical storm. He 'owned' every inch of the venue, whilst still delivering vocals that you could actually understand (not a prerequisite of a good punk gig, but impressive none the less). The songs have a lot more to them than first meets the ear too and, whilst they're 'hardcore' to the bone, there's a strong enough melody to win over a much wider audience. Suffice to say I moshed to the best of my ability (despite promising myself to remain a suitable distance from the madness) and had a bloody fantastic time (as did Mrs Baron which, considering she hated Selfish Cunt - a similarly provocative performer, was a major surprise). Frank, by the way, is a bloody lovely bloke too. Intelligent, passionate and as REAL as they get. Full marks for the NIN / Trent Reznor jokes (you had to be there) and for gobbing on the ceiling then catching it back in his mouth as it did what gravity dictates. What a night. Legends in the making.
3 comments:
Gallows' demo has just been re-released as a 7" by Holy Roar, a label run by a couple of friends of mine.
Should you be interested.
Cheers Russ, I'll have to get hold of a copy. I think they had some at the gig early on in the evening but they were snapped up by the time I'd made my way to the merch table. Have you seen them 'in the flesh' yet? Interested to hear what you think...
I haven't seen them, no. I've not been overwhelmed by any of the odd bits and bobs I've heard by them, so I'm waiting for this 7" to arrive for a more thorough appraisal.
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