Gig Review: Filthy Militia Coping Mechanism EP Launch At The Black Heart, Camden 12/2/22

I always enjoy an album or EP launch party. There’s something about them that always seems to add some extra excitement in the crowd and the bands seem to bring that little bit more to their performances. It’s a good time all around. On Saturday the 12th of February, London ska punks Filthy Militia had their launch night for their new EP Coping Mechanism, at the Black Heart in Camden. The band had also invited their long time friends Codename Colin, Easydread and Laurence Crow to play the show. It was set to be a great night.

After finishing work we hurried to the station and made our way to London. Whilst on our way we discovered our branch of the Northern line was closed so would have to find another route to Camden for the gig (thanks for the heads up, Paul). This unfortunately delayed us getting to the Black Heart on time, as well as making me have to hear a busker playing Wonderwall. When we made it into the venue Laurence Crow was already a good way through his set. This was billed as Laurence’s last acoustic show and he seemed to be doing his utmost to make sure that he and everyone in attendance was having the best possible time. From what I managed to catch it, was an enthusiastic and spirited performance. The perfect opener to get the crowd warmed up for the rest of the night.

Next up were Bedfordshire ska/reggae act Easydread. I love Easydread. They’re my local band but this was my first time seeing them in years. There was a time when it felt like I saw them every month. On this occasion they were playing as a seven piece, which included a four person brass section which sound amazing. The band decided to start their set a little early so they could attempt to squeeze an extra song in (spoiler: they unfortunately failed). As it had been so long since I’d seen Easydread, I had forgotten just how much I enjoy seeing them live. The first half of the set seemed to be mostly new songs that they all STILL yet to release – but all sound fantastic. They then finished their set with classics such as Crosshatch Line, Fyah and, of course, Scrotes. It was a great set and I really enjoyed seeing how giddy they all seemed to be playing together again. When a band has as much fun as Easydread did it’s hard for that energy not to find its way into the crowd.

Codename Colin are one of the bands I’ve seen the most amount of times since gigs started to come back. They’re a band we’ve needed as they always bring the party-fun-times to their shows. Despite being a man down and Snowy having to be a one person brass section, they had the same energy and enthusiasm as always. Leaning into the pop punk side of ska, the band get off to a blistering start, instantly getting the crowd on side for a sing-along. To my surprise they played Kelly’s Missing as their second song. This got plenty of fists in the air with that brilliant chorus calling out pay to play gigs. From then on, they stormed through their set, showcasing just how many really good songs they have in their repertoire. They did take the time out to play a brand new song that they are in the process of recording as well as their now traditional cover of I Just Can’t Get Enough which lead to a room sized circle pit. There was unfortunately a moment where frontman Charlie had to ask some of the crowd to calm down slightly as some were getting too rowdy. I felt like he dealt with it brilliantly and the rest of the set went off without a hitch. This was a rare chance to see Codename Colin play a longer set and they absolutely smashed it. Great stuff.

It was soon time for the evening’s main event, Filthy Militia. This moment had been a long time coming for the band. The process of writing songs, doing their Kickstarter funding, recording Coping Mechanism and then finally getting the EP released had been over a year in the making and the band were now about to play the set of their lives. Starting the set with Coping Mechanism’s opener Another Day got the next forty-five minutes or so off to a wild start. It was nice to see the venue so busy and so excited for the set and that excitement only escalated as it went on. As well as playing all of the songs from Coping Mechanism, the band also played tracks from their first EP, Innocent Until Proven Filthy, as well as, the rarely performed live, Jesus. I was fortunate enough to get the EP early because Frosty is a super babe and I’ve been listening to it on repeat ever since so it was really cool to see the songs performed live. All were performed excellently and are making fantastic additions to the Filthy Militia live experience. Filthy Militia are a band that also like to have a bit of fun when they play live. At one point they stopped playing a song (I can’t remember which) to play the theme tune to the classic CBBC cartoon Arthur which got a great reaction. The highlight of the set for me was when they played the awesome Differences from Coping Mechanism. It’s a song about people overcoming the things that set them apart to unite. It’s a wholesome and positive song that feels as needed as ever in the current societal climate and it was great to have a sing-along to it. Despite it being the most complicated sing-along in ska punk. It’s not a classic Codename Colin “whoa-oh” segment that’s fer sho! When a whole room sings along though, it’s a special moment and I can’t wait for the next time I get to experience it. The set was finished in epic fashion with Land Of The Dead. The band were joined on stage by Tom Crabb of Lead Shot Hazard to play guitar so that Frosty could get in the crowd to sing the song. This then ended up with Frosty getting lifted up by the crowd and surfed within a three metre radius of the microphone – that’s how long the cable was. It all turned into a chaotic mess but it was just wonderful to see. Frosty’s best friend Sleeman hopped on stage to lead the chanting finale of the song and in one of the sweetest moments in gig history (maybe) they pointed Frosty out and said ‘that’s my friend’ with so much pride. It was wonderful.

I said in my review of the EP that Coping Mechanism was Filthy Militia taking things up a step. This set proved that they are no longer show openers and could easily find themselves in positions much higher up any ska punk bill and I’ve no doubt they’ll soon be headlining shows on regular occasions. It was a lovely night.

This review was written by Colin Clark. Photos also by Colin.

Album Review: Coping Mechanism by Filthy Militia

London ska punks Filthy Militia release their second EP, Coping Mechanism, on the 4th of February with the help of Pookout Records. After a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, the band went into the studio with Oz Craggs at Hidden Track Studios to record five new songs. Because I’m a very special boy, guitarist and lead singer Frosty sent me an early copy. Here are my thoughts.

Coping Mechanism begins with Another Day. The song starts off with a great drum beat before some brass comes in. This gets the EP off to an energetic start. Then the music stops and some upstrokes alongside Frosty’s vocals start – and he’s almost rapping. This is a new thing and I like it. When the chorus comes in I get some strong Call Me Malcolm vibes which isn’t too surprising given that Filthy Militia are fans of the band and Craggs is also their producer. If you enjoy Malcolm then you’ll also enjoy this. The second track is Differences. This song is pure joy contained in four minutes and thirty seven seconds of music and singing. The track is about how everyone is different but that’s what makes each person special and how we should embrace those differences rather than arguing about them. The horns at the beginning put a smile on my face immediately, like I said – they are pure joy. The opening verse keeps things quiet until the chorus comes in and the tempo is raised. The band are definitely embracing the punk part of the ska punk genre more so than they did on their debut EP. It’s also fantastic to hear the band using gang vocals more – they really give the song a fuller sound.

Beatdown sees Filthy Militia slow things down and enter the world of dub. I’ve never heard the band go down this musical path before and it’s nice to see them spreading their musical wings and showing a bit more variety. The track is about coming together and fighting back against the people that try and hold you down. The more restrained nature of the song really drives home the message that the track is spreading. The penultimate song on Coping Mechanism is Land Of The Dead. Picking the tempo back up, Filthy Militia return to their ska punk sound but also add in some gypsy influence. I’ve seen this song live and it certainly has some Gogol Bordello influence to it. It is a very welcome addition to the band’s live set. The final section of the song features a huge chanting section that builds and builds and is a whole lot of fun! The final song on the EP is Don’t You Look Back. The band made and released a lockdown video for the track last year that you should definitely check out. It’s here. This was the perfect choice to bridge the band’s first EP, Innocent Until Proven Filthy, and Coping Mechanism. The track has more of the ska pop sound that can be found on Until Proven but also has the up tempo edge that the band have brought in for this EP. Don’t You Look Back is about chasing your dreams and not worrying about things that have happened previously. A nice positive message to end a nice positive EP.

On Coping Mechanism, Filthy Militia have really stepped things up another level. I really enjoyed Innocent Until Proven Filthy but Coping Mechanism showcases a band who have spent the last few years growing and improving as a band. I expect this EP will earn the band a lot more fans and propel them on to even bigger and better things.

Filthy Militia are hosting an EP launch show at The Black Heart in Camden on Saturday the 12th of February, make sure you get a ticket and pop along.

Check out Coping Mechanism when it is released on 4th of February and, in the meantime, you can find their previous releases on Bandcamp here.

Like Filthy Militia on Facebook here.

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Gig Review: Andy B And The World "The First One Album Launch" at New Cross Inn, 6/11/21

You all must know about Andy B And The World by now, right? The project started by former Fandangle and New Riot bass player Andy Baker, where he travelled the world meeting up with musicians to put together a huge album featuring over 170 different people? If you don’t know it yet then I highly suggest checking out Andy’s YouTube page and learning all about the project and then reading our review of their 2021 debut album The First One here.

For obvious reasons that I’m bored of explaining, the launch party for the album was delayed until November the 6th, put on by our friends Be Sharp Promotions at the New Cross Inn. The day soon came around and I was excited. Not just to hear some amazing songs but to see how Andy B And The World would work in a live setting. But before that we had four awesome support acts to watch.

First up was Filthy Militia. Before the gig I was trying to remember the last time I saw Filthy Militia live and I worked out it was actually Halloween 2019, so this was well overdue. The five piece took to the stage and started with Little Sister, the final song from their debut EP Innocent Until Proven Filthy. The rest of the set was then comprised of songs from their upcoming new EP, Coping Mechanism, which is due to be released in the early part of 2022 on Pookout Records. I was seriously impressed with these songs and felt that they really showed a great amount of progress from the band. Mixing ska, punk, reggae and even a bit of dub together so seamlessly, it was really great to see. There was a moment in the set where the band’s frontman, guitarist and all around friendly giant announced that this was the cheesy part of the opening band’s set where they encourage the crowd to participate in a sing along. We expected some easy “whoa-ohs” or some “la-las” but no, Frosty taught us an entire chorus to sing along to. Filthy Militia were the perfect start for the night and I’m looking forward to seeing them again at the end of the month, back at NXI for Frosty’s birthday gig.

Next up were NXI favourites Lead Shot Hazard, who were back at the Inn for the first time since September 2019. I would guess that this is the longest they’ve not played the venue since they formed. That was also the last time I saw the band which, again, is too long. Something I’ve noticed a lot with all the bands I’ve seen since gigs have come back is just how happy every band looks to have had the opportunity to play live again. The joy on the bands’ faces is such a lovely thing to see. The six piece had been down in Hastings the evening before supporting Call Me Malcolm and 3dBs Down at The Pig so it was no surprise by how tight they were. I’m always super impressed with how good Lead Shot Hazard’s horn section is whenever I see them. They add so much to the band’s live show whether they are blasting out some killer horn riffs or dancing on the stage or – at times – in the crowd. The band know how to have a lot of fun, this is showcased no more than when they play a cover of New Found Glory’s My Friends Over You. During the song it had me thinking, gosh I’m getting old. The ska bands I grew up with covered 80s songs. These days the current crop of ska bands are covering songs that I loved when they were first released 15–20 years ago. The band finished with my favourite song off of their latest album Fires To Find Our Friends, Between Hell And High Water. The chorus of “we light fires to find our friends” felt even more apt after not being able to see so many of my favourite people for so long.

Following Lead Shot Hazard were Roshambo. Roshambo are a new skacore band with a load of familiar faces in the band. The six piece feature members of The Junk, Faintest Idea, Ducking Punches, The JB Conspiracy, Blag and Where’s Babylon? – this is a skacore super group. With the group of people that was gathered on the stage there’s no surprise that Roshambo were incredibly tight, you would’ve never known that this was only the band’s second ever show. Lead by the incredible dual vocals of Jake and Tom, energy filled the room as soon as they started their set. I love bands that have two lead singers especially when they work as in-sync as these two gentlemen. The two voices come together wonderfully. So far, Roshambo have only released two singles to the world but somehow each song of the set felt like a familiar friend and kept me transfixed to the stage. They had the whole room invested in the performance which is so impressive given the newness of the band. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a new ska band who have caught me like Roshambo did in this set and I’m already desperate to see them some more. Hopefully their commitments with their other bands won’t prevent them from playing a lot more in the future. If you’re not on the Roshambo train yet, it’s time to get on board.

The penultimate band of the evening was Cartoon Violence, a much more established band in the UK ska scene. This was my first time seeing the Welsh two-tone act and I didn’t really know what to expect. What I encountered was a super energetic band that wrote brilliant ska pop songs. It didn’t take long for the band to get New Cross moving and having a great big knees up. The band tore through their set, trying to squeeze as many songs as possible into their time slot. This resulted in a fast and free flowing set that barely gave the audience a chance to stop. The band’s lead singer and keyboard player in particular stood out to me. He was (in the kindest possible way) a maniac behind the keys. I have no idea how he managed to play his keyboard properly whilst singing and dancing frantically. The gentleman is a seriously talented individual. I don’t know much about the band’s music to really talk about what they played but it certainly put a big smile on my face throughout the set and was a wonderful choice to finish warming the crowd up for Andy B And The World.

My questions about how Andy B And The World would work in a live setting were about to be answered. Basically, Andy had put together a band for the night, all of whom I assume took part in the album in some way, and then they also had some special guest singers lined up to sing the songs that they sang on on the album. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before they started the set, but the band would be playing The First One from start to finish. This meant that they started the set with the awesome Black & Blue. I believe this was also the first song that Andy B released to the world from this project. The gig immediately became a party with so much joyous dancing and singing along immediately. Andy took the lead vocal duties for the first couple of songs as unfortunately the person who was scheduled to sing the songs couldn’t make the gig due to illness. Bass player Sam also took some vocals duties to help Andy out as his voice was sore due to all the practising and talking to so many friends at the gig. Among the guest vocalists who were in attendance were Al from [Spunge], Andy’s former Fandangle and New Riot band mate Tommy, Aaron from Make It Better Later, Dick Narnia and Sash from Cartoon Violence. I did worry if the constant guests joining the stage would ruin the flow of the set but it worked really well. It seemed extremely well thought out. Which is not surprising given that Andy B organised an album with a million people on – he’s a logistics genius! There were some breaks from The First One. First being the band covering Frank Turner’s Recovery just because Andy really likes singing the song and the second being a song from the next Andy B album where they were joined by Jake and Tom of Roshambo for a track that sounds amazing. Something I really enjoyed about The First One is the variety of sounds on the album. I guess that’s what will happen when you have that many different people working on a project. This variety worked so well in a live setting as well. The set had something for everyone and left everyone feeling with such a warm and joyful feeling. I don’t know how often Andy B And The World will be able to play gigs but if you get the chance to see them I seriously suggest that you take it. It’s a big and ambitious project that’s come together amazingly. I can’t wait for The Second One.

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Merry Christmas From Filthy Militia!

Our good pals in Filthy Militia have released a video for their new song Jesus. The band went along to Hermitage Works Studio to record the track. (Sound by S. Evans and N. Ridley, Vision by J. Clay)


Check out Filthy Militia here and Hermitage Works Studio here.