Gig Review: Fishstock 2022 at The Exchange, Bristol 26/3/22

Fishstock 2021 in September was without a doubt one of my favourite days of last year. The annual event, put on by the wonderful Chris Fishlock to celebrate his birthday, brings in such a wonderfully diverse bunch of bands to play together at The Exchange in Bristol and is a wholesome punk rock time. In 2022, the event would be moving back to its normal spot at the end of March as there were no government restrictions in place. The weekend also happened to coincide with Emma’s birthday weekend and we couldn’t think of a better place to spend the weekend.

We arrived on the Friday so that we could be well rested before a long day of great bands. We did some wandering around in the day, before hitting up Seitans Corner for some delicious vegan food. Highly recommend that restaurant. The next morning we did some more wandering around before meeting up with our friends Matt and Charlotte for a drink and some food. We went to a place called OMM Burger and Emma and I both had the satay ‘chicken’ burgers – we both agreed that it was the best burger we had ever eaten. And that’s enough food talk, we also saw bands on this trip…

When we got to the Exchange it was nice to see some familiar faces already hanging around. It’s a great feeling to arrive at a venue in a different part of the country and see friends, it makes you feel at ease instantly. We hung out, talking and catching up and before we knew it the first band of the day was on – Foxy Acetylene. Foxy Acetylene are a Bristol based four-piece who combine hardcore, thrash and metal music. This was really a great way to get the long day started. It was like an explosion from the very beginning and the band, and their three vocalists, didn’t relent for a second. It reminded me of at the previous Fishstock in September of how Redeemon started the day and this felt similar. A great way to blow out the cobwebs ahead of what was going to be a great day.

 

Next we made our way downstairs to the basement to see Chris Egan. I recognised Chris from seeing their band TIE Fighter Pilot at The Exchange a few years ago. I really enjoyed that set and really enjoyed seeing Chris perform solo. Sat on a stool with an electric guitar, Chris’s solo music was much grungier and moodier than what I had expected but they managed to captivate everyone in the room with a great performance which really showed off their guitar playing skills.

Making our way back up the stairs, I was particularly keen to catch the next act, Buds. I’ve been wanting to catch the Hampshire band for a while now and missed their Luton and London shows on their recent tour with Okay, Bye due to work. I, like everyone else watching in The Exchange, came away from their set with a new favourite pop punk band. As I watched their set I found my eyes transfixed on the stage. I was utterly blown away by just what a watchable band Buds are. The energy in both of the band’s guitarists and their bass player was something to behold. I often find that I spend a lot of time watching one particular member of a band but my eyes were drawn to things going on all over the stage and it was great. It wasn’t just a whole bundle of energy buzzing around though, there was some really tight musicianship and some superb vocals, screams and harmonies going on as well. Buds are great.

Heading back downstairs, next it was time for some acoustic folk from All In Vain. All In Vain was a name Emma recognised from reviewing their 2017 EP, Hits From The Void. Performing as a two piece, Ash singing and playing banjo as well as having some bells attached to one foot and a kick drum on the other was joined by a gentlemen whose name I don’t know playing acoustic guitar. I recall the majority of the songs that I watched were on the slower side but I couldn’t help but be impressed with the skill that the pair played their instruments with. It had been a long time since I’d watched a folk act and I found All In Vain to be a refreshing change.

Returning to the main room, it was time to see an act that the whole UK DIY scene seems to have been talking about. Sniff is the new project from Bobby Funk guitarist Alex Smith. It’s more of a garage pop punk sound than Bobby Funk’s usual hardcore. When I entered the room I was expecting to see a full band setting up but instead Alex was sat on stage with a screen and a projector armed with what was essentially a powerpoint presentation. From there we were treated to a one person show featuring many of the songs that Sniff have already released as Alex sang along to the backing track whilst the projector displayed the lyrics on screen. I fear I’m not doing any justice to just how brilliant this set was. The songs were all great and Alex’s performance was top class. Really engaging and a lot of fun. Without sounding too wanky, this felt like punk rock as a performance art and my goodness it was so enjoyable. There’s good reason why so many people are talking about Sniff.

Following Sniff we made our way back to the basement for Petty Treason. Petty Treason is the new project from Sara Harrington who readers might know from their time playing trumpet for Faintest Idea. Petty Treason is an acoustic pop punk act that I adored. The songs were great and Sara really let their personality shine through with a charming performance. I had no idea that Sara was so skilled in working a crowd, with some engaging and entertaining banter between some wonderfully crafted songs. The set included some rad songs and some sad songs – they were all great songs.

Local favourites Boom Boom Racoon were next on stage in the main room. This was the first band of the day that I’d seen before, having seen the Racoons a number of times at New Cross Inn over the years. I have to say that this was the best I’ve ever seen them. I’m struggling to explain why this was exactly, it might be a hometown thing. Playing a set consisting of mainly songs from their latest album, Songs From The Before Times…, this was my first time hearing a lot of the tracks live. It’s great to see a band progress and Boom Boom Racoon are definitely doing that and then some. This three-piece are a lot of fun to listen to but also have some very important messages in their music that should not be ignored. I’m looking forward to catching them again at Level Up Festival in July.

Specialist Subject supergroup Cosmit were next on down in the basement. When we arrived downstairs the room was already pretty full so it was tricky to get a decent view of the low stage. Cosmit play an energetic garage punk style with great vocals and harmonies. I hadn’t really listened to Cosmit before but, based on this set, I’m definitely inspired to listen to them more. From the view that I did have I could see the band jumping around and having a delightful time. I believe this was only their fourth gig as a band and I look forward to many more.

Back up stairs it was time for rave punks Killdren. Early in their set they mentioned that a big part of the reason that they exist is Chris Fishlock. The story goes that after Chris heard one of their songs he wanted to book them, so they wrote more songs. This was my first proper exposure to Killdren and I was immediately taken aback by their energy. Jumping around to their electronic tracks, this was an engrossing performance by the duo. It was clear to see just why the band are so highly thought of. We only stayed around for a bit of their set as we were getting hungry and wanted a bit of a rest but I’ll definitely be sure to catch them again in the future.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing Animal Byproducts for ages now. My friends Mark and Sarah have been raving about them and I’ve always enjoyed everything I’ve heard from the band. It seemed my eagerness to see the band was shared by a lot more people as the Exchange basement soon filled up with folk keen for a sing and a dance. I think the best way of explaining the band is as a scrappy indie punk band with a trumpet. This was another in a string of super impressive sets at Fishstock from bands I hadn’t seen before. This was just a super fun and endearing set. It’s obvious why they are so well loved. Hopefully they’ll be back down south, hopefully London, sooner rather than later. Definitely not a band to be sleeping on.

Next we journeyed back upstairs for something completely different. Two-piece doom punks Monolithian had already started slaying the stage when we arrived into the room. This is far from my usual taste in music but I did instantly find myself nodding my head along to the music. I found the dark tone of the music and the whole aura around the songs to be slightly hypnotic though. It was oddly relaxing, which I’m not entirely sure is what they were going for, but that’s what I felt at the time. Speaking to a friend afterwards, they said the exact same thing so I’m glad it wasn’t just me!

We made sure we went back down to the basement nice and early for our friends in Triple Sundae’s set. As the band were finishing setting up, there was a nice moment when an older gentleman dragged a stool from the back of the room to the front of the stage so they could sit and get the best possible view. I didn’t see them do this for any other band on the day so I assume that Trip Sun were their favourite of the day. The man has fine taste. Of all the bands I’ve seen since gigs returned last autumn, I have to say that Triple Sundae seem the most reinvigorated after the break. A lot of bands seem to have picked up from where they left off but Trip Sun seem to be taking things to a higher level than they ever have before. There’s a renewed enthusiasm that comes across whenever I see them play live. Squashed into the small basement stage – there wasn’t even enough room for guitarist Mike to do one of his trademark jumps – the band once again put everything into their set. They worked through everyone’s favourites from Peace Of Mind and Glow to great reactions from the crowd and we were treated to a new one which was just amazing. The set finished with the phenomenal Indecisive that is still stuck in my head today, as I’m writing this, and probably is also today when you’re reading this too.

2 Sick Monkeys were the penultimate band in the Exchange main room. They are a band I’m aware of but have never seen before and not really checked out so I wasn’t really sure what to expect from them. As we entered the room the band had already started playing. They were a two-piece with a bass guitar and drums with both members adding vocals. What I found quite interesting was how the previous main room band, Monolithian, also had just a bass and drums but how different each band managed to sound. 2 Sick Monkeys had more of a melodic sound to them and somehow fell between the psychobilly and garage punk venn diagram. We watched around half of their set before heading outside for some air and a drink.

Next we made our way back down to the basement for the final band on that stage – Fifty First State. Unfortunately we made our way down a little too late and the room was absolutely jam packed and we couldn’t get in. Because of this we made our way back upstairs to hang out in the bar before The Menstrual Cramps started the final set of the day.

I’d not listened to The Menstrual Cramps before this gig and didn’t know what to expect. I knew this was their first gig in two years and that were really highly thought of in the Bristol punk community, as well as in the riot grrrl scene however. I also discovered that this would be the band’s new guitar player and bassist’s first gig for the band. As the band got ready, the main room at the Exchange began to fill up and it looked as if there was some folk who showed up especially to see the band. When they did get started there was a feeling of excitement in the air – this band are loved in these parts. The band’s front person Emilia was a bundle of charisma and energy and it was impossible to take my eyes off of them. The subject matter of their songs is usually quite serious and heavy, such as politics, abortion and rape, but they approach and perform them in a fun manner. I think that this is often the best way to get a message across in music, make the music as fun and as catchy as possible. What impressed me most about the set was how tight the band were despite it being the first show for half of them. It makes we wonder just how good they could get after they’ve played more gigs together. The original-line up for Fishstock had a couple of more established acts from the UK punk scene set to finish the night. Sadly they had to pull out and it was left to The Menstrual Cramps to finish the day. After a long day, at this point this was the fourteenth band I’d seen on the day and I was shattered, The Menstrual Cramps managed to revitalise me and it felt like such a big occasion when they played. I definitely left the set as a new fan of The Menstrual Cramps.

Fishstock 2022 was another unbelievable day. You’ve just read how much I enjoyed the bands that had played all day. I loved how diverse the line-up was and there was something for everyone. But the thing that I really took away from the day was just an amazing positive feeling by being surrounded by lovely, likeminded people all day. Regular readers will know that our usual scene is down in South London at the New Cross Inn but to be able to travel to Bristol and experience a different punk community is a very special thing. There was nothing but lovely people gathered at The Exchange, all coming together because they love and believe in the bands that played. Speaking with Chris before we left, he mentioned that next year would be the tenth Fishstock and I’m already very excited to see what they pull off for it. You can bet that we’ll be back.

This review was written by Colin Clark. Photos by Emma Prew.