The evening started on a low note. A crushing, last-minute defeat for Liverpool against Crystal Palace, combined with the heavens opening into a proper biblical deluge, had me reckoning on a low turnout. Honestly, I really didn't feel like playing.
Dragging myself to The Skerries at 7 PM, I found the members of 77 Spears (travelling from Chorley) and Two Tonne Machete (from Warrington / Mold) milling about. In the spirit of DIY punk camaraderie, we, Spam Javelin, volunteered to go on first. The logic was simple: give the travelling bands a better chance of playing to a decent audience later on.
Imagine my shock, then, when we opened proceedings to a full house! The atmosphere inside was already thick, and we did our utmost best to thicken it with some Farage-baiting. I reckon I lost a good half stone through sweat—the walls and floors were literally dripping with condensation. We had a great time, a great laugh, and made some new friends in the process.
Next up were Two Tonne Machete. I've been giving them a lot of airtime on my radio show, but seeing them live was a different experience entirely. This North Wales feminist punk band are a powerful force. Like their recordings, they delivered a sonic tidal wave that blasted through the condensation. It's a brutal, beautiful sound, often compared to the energy of Idles mixed with the intensity of Amyl And The Sniffers, yet they certainly have their own stamp... and stamp on you they do! TTM are absolutely worth your pound notes and effort should they swing by your town.
Closing the show were 77 Spears. These Chorley boys are hard to pin down. While rooted in the punk genre, they blend elements ranging (and raging) from classic American hardcore (my personal favourite style) to intense noise-nik sounds. They describe their music as '80s style hardcore punk with bits of noise, melody and psych', delivering 'hardcore with hooks.' Frontman Tom provided leaps and bounds of energy, making for a thrilling, cathartic finale.
It was a wholly entertaining, sweat-soaked evening that perfectly highlighted the enduring spirit of the UK's grassroots punk scene. I’m already looking forward to opening for Prey and Thumbsucker here again in a couple of weeks.
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