Life is full of moments that at the time don’t seem that
important but in truth can change your world forever. One moment that really
changed my life forever was the first time I heard Tewkesbury ska punks
[Spunge]. They’re music really grabbed me, it was like nothing I had ever heard
before even though their music (in the nicest possible way) wasn’t reinventing
the wheel so to speak I just fell in love. Because of [Spunge] my eyes were
opened to a whole world of underground music that I never knew existed before.
In a roundabout way I found myself through [Spunge]. They really did change my
life for the better forever. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing them live
for the fifth time at the Garage in London. Here’s how it went.
Due to Friday night shows starting stupidly early on a Friday
night and me not being able to get out of work early I missed the opening act
of the night so the first band I saw were the main support act Dead Frequency
from the Midlands. Dead Frequency are a band I had never heard of before and I slightly
ashamed to say when they were setting up before their set I instantly assumed I
wouldn’t like them. Front man Matti has massive bright red and black hair and
straight away I dismissed them and thought they were trying too hard. Then they
began to play and instantaneously they had me smiling. Yes, the whole band was
trying hard but in the best way possible. Dead Frequency were clearly aware
that a big job as the support band is to get the crowd warmed up for the
headliner and they certainly did that. For a band that has only been together
for the best part of a year they were a well oiled machine when it came to
performing. The music was fantastic fun as well, the songs were well written
and extremely catchy and the musicianship was superb. Dead Frequency are a fun
pop punk band with a huge amount of potential, if you get the chance to see them
live I suggest you do so.
Next up it was time for [Spunge]. These fine gentlemen are
now in their twentieth year together, a brilliant achievement for any band let
alone one from the underground scene. Opening up with the song Some Suck Some
Rock the garage became a sea of people skanking and singing in delight. Like I
said before [Spunge] can never be accused of reinventing the wheel with their
music but my god they are fun. After twenty years together the band
effortlessly keeps the crowd thoroughly entertained with a mixture of old
songs, covers and some brand new songs from their forthcoming album. Brand new
songs can always be a bit hit or miss when played to a crowd thats never heard
them before but they all went down famously with the Garage crowd. At times I
even found myself trying to sing along with them despite not knowing the words,
that’s how insanely catchy they were. Of course the older songs were the ones
that got the biggest reactions, I forget just how many great songs [Spunge]
have in their catalogue until I see them live. I always think that the sign of
a great band is the ability to make a song go to a new level of excellence when
they play it live, [Spunge] do that with every single song. [Spunge] are all
about having good times and good times a plenty were had by everyone at the
Garage, this was one of the nicest crowds I had been part of in a while,
everyone looked out for everyone else in the pit, high fives and hugs were
happening everywhere. I think everyone in the garage that night made a new
friend even if it was just for one evening. God I love [Spunge], here is hoping
for another twenty years!
Check out [Spunge] here: https://www.facebook.com/spungeuk
Check out Dead Frequency here: https://deadfrequency.bandcamp.com/album/desire-for-fire
Now listening to So It Goes by Slow Science
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