This is my final ‘best of 2015’ list and I've saved what I think is the most important until last. For me, it's the most important because I believe that what makes a good band great is their live performance. If a band can make me feel something when I see them live then I'm pretty much a fan for life. Here are my top ten gigs of 2015.
10. NOFX/Alkaline Trio/Lagwagon/Capdown
at Brixton Academy 5/7/15
I can't ever remember going to a gig that had this much star
power. Co-headlined by NOFX and Alkaline Trio, with special guests Lagwagon and,
on this show of the tour, legendary UK skacore act Capdown the line up was
special enough but then you had to throw in the fact that NOFX played the
entirety of their classic album Punk In Drublic and Alkaline Trio played From
Here To Infirmary from beginning to end, things I never thought I'd get the
opportunity to see.
9. Teenage
Bottlerocket/Wonk Unit at The Underworld 9/8/15
This was my second time seeing Teenage Bottlerocket and the
first time I'd got to see them headline a show. I enjoyed them in a support
slot at a Dropkick Murphys show in 2013 but having the opportunity to see them
headline their own show proved to me why they are the best pop punk band on the
planet. Their set was full of so much fun and energy and their enthusiasm for
the music spilled into the crowd. This was a feel good punk rock show if ever
there was one. The thing that stood out the most to me throughout the set was
Teenage Bottlerocket drummer Brandon Carlisle's performance, I don't think I've
ever seen a drummer put so much into a set and to see the enjoyment he got from
drumming was something special. Sadly this was the last time I would had the
pleasure of seeing Brandon drum live as he sadly passed away in November. This
performance will stay in my head for a long time. Wonk Unit also played the
best set I've ever seen them play.
8. Frank
Turner/Ducking Punches at The Waterfront 26/8/15
I was incredibly lucky to get tickets to this gig which was
a warm up show for Frank Turner's solo headline shows at the Reading and Leeds
Festival. I'd been wanting to see Frank play a solo set for many years as I'd
only ever seen him play live with his band, The Sleeping Souls, and him being
supported by Dan Allen of Ducking Punches playing a home town show made it feel
like a very special evening. Playing a selection of songs from Dance Before You
Sleep and upcoming new full length Fizzy Brain, Dan was joined by various
members of Ducking Punches throughout the set. I love Ducking Punches and this
set was an absolute delight. Frank Turner had some work to do to top Dan's set
but he somehow managed it. If I'm being 100% honest I've fallen a bit out of
love with Frank’s music over the past couple of years but I will always love
his live performances. I love how much of himself he puts into a performance
every single time he plays, whether it is with or without his band. My
overriding memories of the set are him playing Once We Were Anarchists, the
song that turned me into a Frank Turner fan, and a cover of Meat Loafs Bat Out
Of Hell, which was just amusing.
7. [spunge]/Whitmore/Phinius
Gage at the Garage 26/9/15
A big part of my decision to include this gig on my list is
for very personal reasons. Regular Colin's Punk Rock World readers will know
that [spunge] were my gateway band into underground punk rock music, a reason
to be excited for the gig alone. But what made this gig extra special for me
was that I got to take the woman that I love to see the band that changed my
life. I can't imagine I'll ever get that opportunity again. The whole gig
filled The Garage with a feeling of nostalgia as [spunge] plus supports
Whitmore and Phinius Gage came together and put on a fantastic show throughout.
Whitmore were fantastic, I'd forgotten just how much I liked Whitmore back in
the day but it was of course [spunge] who were the highlight of the night. I've
seen them so many times throughout the past few years but they never fail to
get me smiling, dancing and singing along.
6. Frenzal Rhomb/Mike
TV/Direct Hit/Maladroit at The Underworld 30/4/15
Australian punk heroes Frenzal Rhomb played a show in the
UK! It had been 11 years since they had been over here and I never expected it
to happen again. The Underworld put on an amazing line up of punk rock with
French band Maladroit, Americans Direct Hit and the UK's own Mike TV. Mike TV
and Direct Hit are two of my favourite bands in the world and both played
brilliant sets and I could have gone home a very happy man before Frenzal had
even played a note. Then Frenzal Rhomb took to the stage and I was amazed by
just how good they were. They played songs from their entire discography,
whipping the crowd into a frenzy in the process. The Underworld crowd were so
thankful for Frenzal Rhomb returning to our shores and the band seemed just as
thankful for the crowd for showing up. As I looked around the room it was clear
that everyone was having the best night, on stage and on the floor.
5. The
Movielife/Gnarwolves/Apologies, I Have None at The Electric Ballroom 18/6/15
Much like with Frenzal Rhomb, I never ever expected to get
the chance to see The Movielife live. The band reunited earlier in the year for
a few shows in the USA before announcing a short tour of the UK. This got a lot
of people very excited and then I think they showed a stroke of genius in
booking Gnarwolves and Apologies, I Have None as their support - two of the
biggest bands in the UK scene. Gosh I was excited for this show! First up were
AIHN who played a fantastic set full of excellent sing-alongs. Then it was
Gnarwolves with what was my favourite set I've seen them play. They always play
hard and fast and get a great reaction. A lot of times at Gnarwolves shows the
crowd go crazy with ridiculous stage dives that put me off getting to close to
the front but this didn't happen at The Electric Ballroom and I was very
thankful. Then it was time for Long Island legends The Movielife. The Ballroom
was full of nostalgia as the five-piece played through their back catalogue of
songs. I hadn't listened to The Movielife for a while and had forgotten just
how many fantastic songs they had. To finally hear them live was amazing.
4. Masked
Intruder/Murderburgers/Waco at The Borderline 17/5/15
This show was really, really fun. I assume that everyone who
is reading this blog will know who Masked Intruder are by now so I won't go
into detail about their criminal gimmick. I, like many other punks, are not
normally into a gimmicky type punk band but Masked Intruder just do it so
perfectly. Not only do they write some of the best sugary sweet pop punk but they
also play it perfectly. Sometimes on record the songs can be a little too poppy
for my tastes but when I see and hear them live they are just fantastic. Their
set included girls dancing on stage and Officer Bradford dancing with the crowd
and then stripping off to a thong on stage. Only at a Masked Intruder show will
you see a grown man pretending to be a policemen strip down to his underwear!
To add to the fun Masked Intruder were joined by The Murderburgers and Waco.
The Murderburgers were the perfect band for this tour being the UK's best pop
punk band. I'm always amazed by Fraser’s ability to sing and play guitar as
fast as he does. Waco really amazed me during their opening set. Their own
brand of punk rock & roll really caught my attention and I immediately went
and checked out their brilliant debut EP Sundown.
3. Red City
Radio/Harker/Burnt Tapes at The Brixton Windmill 17/7/15
This show felt like a proper punk rock show. At the tiny
Windmill pub in Brixton, Red City Radio, Harker and The Burnt Tapes played one
of the sweatiest gigs I have ever been to. Starting were London-based Greek
punks The Burnt Tapes. The Burnt Tapes are one of my favourite newer bands in
the UK scene and I'm predicting big things for them in 2016. Obviously
influenced by bands like Red City Radio they play, loud, melodic, gruff punk
brilliantly and are always a real treat to watch. Brighton's Harker were next.
What always impresses me with Harker when I see them is how much more intensity
comes out of their live shows than their recordings. To me this shows a band
that really care about what they’re playing and who play each set like it could
be their last. Harker have just released a brand new EP titled A Lifetime Apart
on Paper + Plastick Records and No Panic! Records and it's fantastic. They’re
another band with a big year ahead of them. Red City Radio must be one of the
hardest working bands in the world. This year the Oklahoman band managed to get
to England on three separate occasions and wowed crowds every time. There's
always is a feeling of positivity swirling around Red City Radio's music and
this feeling is amped up when they play live. Garrett Dale is incredible as a
front man, really getting the crowd going crazy. When I watch him it's like
watching a preacher address his congregation (a room full of sweaty and often
drunk punks) who lap up every word he says.
2. The Smith Street
Band/Muncie Girls/Shit Present at The Lexington 1/8/15
I've lost count of the amount of times I've said that The
Smith Street Band are the most uplifting and basically therapeutic band I've
ever seen. This gig was at the beginning of their European tour that finished
with their debut shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals (they were fantastic at
Reading). Despite being jetlagged the Aussie boys put on a superb set playing
songs from all of their amazing albums. Ably supported by Muncie Girls and Shit
Present the whole event was a joyous occasion. This was one of Shit Present’s
first London shows and it was great to see Iona Cairns (bassist of Great
Cynics) show off some of her own material. Their debut album that came out
later in the year was extremely well received and this show gave a taste of how
good they are. They also played a cover of The Ergs classic Pray For Rain, which
I loved. Exeter's Muncie Girls have been one of the best punk bands in the
scene for a number of years now. Every time I see them I'm amazed at how much
they seem to have improved. Everything about them now shows what a great band
they are with confidence, skill and fantastic songs. Muncie Girls debut album
finally comes out next year and I'm really excited for it.
1. Random Hand/Sonic
Boom Six/River Jumpers/Faintest Idea at Camden Underworld 13/9/15
There was no other show that could go at the top of this
list. Random Hand’s final ever show (for now hopefully) at their home-from-home
the Camden Underworld. This show was always going to be a massive and emotional
party before the support acts were announced but when the support bands were
announced it was clear that this would be the most unmissable show of the
entire year. Long-time friends of Random Hand Sonic Boom Six as well as River Jumpers and
Faintest Idea ensured that this night would be crazy. Faintest Idea started
things off with a set showing why many people are expecting the Kings Lynn ska
punks to take up Random Hands mantle of the country's premier ska band. Next up
it was Brighton melodic pop punks the River Jumpers who played with a great
amount of enthusiasm but felt slightly out of place at a ska punk show. That
said I still loved everything about their set. Since frontman Nick put down his
guitar the whole of River Jumpers’ stage presence has improved and they are a
much more entertaining live band. It was great to see Sonic Boom Six playing
this show and it seemed only right that they did considering the history both
bands have together. Because of this The Boom played a mostly old-school set,
which the crowd at the Underworld went bananas for. Sonic Boom Six are one of
the most respected bands from the ska punk world. Their long awaited new album
will finally come out next year, without a doubt it will be a banger. Finally
it was time for Random Hand. This was probably the best I've ever seen them
play, unsurprisingly they put everything that possibly had into the set and the
entire Underworld responded in the same way by jumping, skanking, moshing and
stage diving constantly throughout the set. The set was a long run and they
seemingly played everything from the entirety of their impressive discography.
It's clear how much Robin, Joe, Dan and Sean love being Random Hand and it's a
massive shame that they felt it was time to stop. They went out on top and with
a massive bang, including a huge stage invasion for the final track - the
classic Scum Triumphant. Random Hand will never, ever be forgotten.
No comments:
Post a Comment