Here are my top ten gigs of 2014.
10. Imperial Leisure/Anti Vigilante – Camden Underworld
This gig was my first one of the year and turned into a bit
of a bitter/sweet evening for me. The sweetness was that Imperial Leisure and
Anti Vigilante were both brilliant on that nice. Anti Vigilantes skacore
thunder got the Underworld moving before Imperial Leisures brand of altska took
the party to a whole new level that only they can. The bitterness of the
evening was that this turned out to be the last time I ever got to see Anti
Vigilante as they decided to call it a day. A massive loss to the UK’s
underground ska scene.
9. Masked Intruder – Fighting Cocks
The Fighting Cocks in Kingston played host to one of the
funniest gigs of the year. Being supported by the excellent folk punk Sam Russo
and hardcore punks Throwing Stuff those pop punk criminals Masked Intruder
entertained a packed crowd. With Officer Bradford in tow they entertained the
room with their songs about breaking the law and girls. Playing a mixture of
songs from both of their full length albums as well as an excellent Linoleum
cover they had the room singing and dancing with massive grins on their face
the whole way through their set.
8. Ducking Punches - Brixton Windmill
This turned out to be one of the best surprises of the year.
Norwich’s Ducking Punches being supported by River Jumpers, Wank For Peace and
Other Half. This was my first time at the Windmill in Brixton, whenever I go to
a new place I always get a bit wary about what it would it be like, what’s the
atmosphere going to be like? All was well as all four bands put on a great
night of brilliant and varied punk rock. It really won’t be long until both
Ducking Punches and River Jumpers are playing shows at much bigger venues,
incredible talents.
7. Less Than Jake/Reel Big Fish – Shepherds Bush Empire
Ska punk colossuses Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish on tour
together? With Zebrahead? This of course was going to be one hell of a show. I’m
a massive fan of all three bands so when tickets went on sale I got mine as
quickly as possible. I’ve seen all three bands multiple times over the past few
years and never get bored of watching them play. Less Than Jake and Reel Big
Fish have been going for over twenty years now and it’s a testament to them
that people still keep going back and having the best nights at their gigs.
6. The Smith Street Band – Our Black Heart
It wouldn’t be a top ten of 2014 list without The Smith
Street band making an appearance. At the end of a long European tour with
Restorations and Astpai they decided to play one last headline show at Our
Black Heart in Camden before heading home to Australia. Being supported by
their friends in Caves and Great Cynics this was one of the hottest tickets in
town. Caves started the show of great and Great Cynics continued with some
great indie punk but The Smith Street Band blew the roof of the place. Everyone
was covered in sweat as we sung along as loud as we could throughout the set.
The biggest sing along was of course saved for the closer Young Drunk, where
Wil Wagner gave his microphone as they sung so loudly.
5. Jesse James – The Borderline
This was a gig I never ever expected to happen, Jesse James
back together playing a headline gig. The ball got started after it was announced
they would be playing at Slam Dunk Festival and after their set they announced
a single headline show at The Borderline, I couldn’t get my ticket quick enough!
Being supported by the excellent Vanilla Pod (who celebrate twenty years as a
band next year) it was a night full of nostalgia as I danced and sang along to
one of the my all time favourite bands. That was a night I know that I’ll
remember for a long long time.
4. ONSIND – Urban Bar
ONSIND are without a doubt the best band in the UK for me.
Being supported by The Fairweather Band, Losing Sleep and the amazing Erica
Freas of RVIVR, ONSIND had a whole room of sweaty punks in the palm of their
hands singing along to their political anthems with them. I’m not sure that there
are many better songwriters than this two Pity Me gentlemen, they can write
some great hooks with some seriously catchy lyrics that will also make you
think. Whether the song is about the government, mental health or gender
equality ONSIND always have something important to say. An extra special moment
for me was when Erica joined Nathan and Daniel on stage to sing their cover of
Starships by Nicky Minaj. This was the song that got me into both ONSIND and RVIVR
and never expected to get the chance to see it live, so that was a fantastic
treat.
3. Against Me! – Electric Ballroom
Against Me are without a doubt the best punk band in the
world right now. This gig was always going to be a special night but I was
still in awe of just how special the night would become. After the fantastic
Billy The Kid opened the show with a little help from Frank Turner Against Me
took to the stage and the energy levels of the whole room went right up to
eleven. Tearing through songs from their entire discography they had the crowd
in the palm of their hands for the entire set. Before the encore a massive sing
along of Sink Florida Sink gave me goose bumps. I said when I reviewed the gig
that this night made me so proud to be a part of the punk scene in the UK. By
now we all know that Against Me are a band with a difference, in most music
scenes there would be a bit of attention and the words acceptance would be
thrown about a lot. In our punk scene there never was any need to accept the
difference, it was what it was – they are still the best band in the world.
2. Slam Dunk Festival – Hatfield University
When the organisers of Slam Dunk festival began to start announcing
the bands that would be gracing the stages I was blown away. By the time they
finished announcing everyone I counted seventeen that I wanted to see. Among
the highlights were Less Than Jake, The Skints, Gnarwolves, a rare appearance
from Capdown, the returning Fandangle and of course a reunited Jesse James. I’ve
never fan girled more at a line up. Fandangle opened the day up the best way
possible, getting a huge skank pit going (not bad for a early opener), I was
then sent down memory lane by Jesse James and continued to be entertained by
The Skints, MC Lars, Gnarwolves, Zebrahead, The Ataris and of course the
legendary Less Than Jake. There were so many great moments throughout the day
but the one that always sticks out most to me came and the end of Zebraheads
set. I’d gone to the festival with a few friends, two of which were my great
friends Smurf and Scouse. I hadn’t seen them much all year so was great to see
them regardless of what we were doing. After finding them in the middle of the
mosh pit we danced through the set of a band we had bonded over when we first
met. When Zebrahead finished their set they played Whitney Houstons I Will
Always Love You, the three of us just had a massive hug together. Moments like
that confirmed that I will be friends with those boys for a very long time.
1. The Menzingers – Electric Ballroom
Those close to me know that I’ve not had the easiest of
years and the result of that has been some mental health issues, one of which
being anxiety. On the day of what already promised to be one of the gigs of
year, The Menzingers at the Electric Ballroom with The Smith Street Band and
The Holy Mess I was really struggling with my anxieties, so much so that I
nearly stayed at home that night. I forced myself to go though and was treated
to an amazing night. The show was opened by one of my finds of the year – The Holy
Mess. This trio play some great fists in the air punk rock and should be on
everyone’s radars. Up next was a band I can’t seem to shut up about – The Smith
Street Band. This would be my first time seeing them on a stage of this size
and they easily surpassed all of my already high expectations. During the set
Wil made a comment about how being on stage is the only time of the day when he
really feels right. This really resonated with me, as soon as I had arrived at
the Electric Ballroom that night all my feeling of anxiousness had disappeared,
I knew that this was a place where I felt right. Up next came The Menzingers,
one of the most popular punk bands on the planet. Every single time I see The
Menzingers I know it’s going to be an epic performance, and this was no
different. I’ve said in the past the crowd are as big a part of a Menzingers
set as the band themselves. On this night the crowd were phenomenal. Shouting
along to songs from all four of their albums, the crowd danced, moshed, surfed
and fist pumped all night long. It won’t be long until The Menzingers are
rubbing shoulders with the biggest bands in music, not just our little world of
punk.
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