Pennywise

Having missed all of CapDown’s set it was up to BoySetsFire to open up my evening. Mixing pummeling hardcore with slower, more emotional moments, BSF are a fearsome live band. With tracks that are at the same time aggressive, passionate and melodic, this is a band fast becoming one of the world’s leading hardcore lights. Powerful stuff.

In my opinion, “Keasbey Nights” is the greatest ska-punk album ever recorded and so tonight, Catch22 have a lot to live up to! Live, they were better than I ever dared to dream! With only 25 minutes worth of playing time, Catch22 knew they had to play fast but the speed at which they rocket through their tracks is breathtaking. And it works so well! Classic tracks such as “Keasbey Nights” and “Day In, Day Out” are mixed in with new material and they’re all given a pacey, up-beat punk rock makeover. Closing with “12341234”, Catch22 leave the stage triumphant. The crowd, however, are left gagging for breath having just indulged in some of the craziest skanking I have ever seen! Awesome stuff, and for me, Catch22 were easily the band of the night.

The Bouncing Souls are everything a punk band shouldn’t be. They’re all smiles, greased back hair, stupid dancing and sometimes you have to wonder why they didn’t just leave their music back in the 80s where it belongs. The word that springs to mind when watching their set is “cheesy”. However, due to some absurd twist of fate, it’s all SO cheesy that it becomes good! In fact, I loved each and every one of the 25 minutes that the Bouncing Souls were onstage. From opener “Go!”, through the likes of “Hopeless Romantic” and “ECFU”, it’s a fun-filled, sing-along romp through 11 slices of pure punk rock. I loved it.

I have to admit, before this show I wasn’t a fan of Sick Of It All. They struck me as being stuck in a rut, constantly playing the same dated style of hardcore throughout their entire career. However, tonight I realised just why they’ve stuck to their formula; because it works! In the middle of a circle pit, surrounded by thousands of other punks with Lou and the gang all hurling themselves around onstage, it all makes sense! The controlled anger SOIA vent onstage is an awesome power. For each song, the fury and the passion displayed by the 4 men is unbelievable and it spills over onto the audience, inciting them into a frenzy. And then, as soon as the song is over, the anger disperses and everyone’s happy again- such is the power of hardcore!

Snuff sound a lot better live than they do on record. Even songs taken from their average at best new release “Blue Gravy” become worthwhile. The brass section ensures another bout of skanking from the crowd and Snuff put on an extremely tight show. Highlight of the set is the sing-along anthem “Arsehole” and after over a decade of music, Snuff are still going strong.

Lagwagon are a joy to watch. As the tiny Joey Cape hurtles himself around the stage, fairy lights sparkle all over the speakers and we’re treated to some of the world’s most sublime pop-punk. The entire set is faultless and as “After You My Friend”, “Alien8” and “May 16th” fly by you can’t help but smile. There’s no more to say; Lagwagon are an awesome force live!

Pennywise arrive onstage to a heroes welcome. Everyone knows that the end of the show is near. In just 40 minutes we’re going to have another 365 day wait until Deconstruction 3 and without anyone actually saying it, the general consensus of the audience seemed to be “Let’s go crazy. For the last time, for these last 40 minutes, let’s just go crazy.” And that’s exactly what they did. As soon as the guitars kicked into life for the opening song, the crowd erupts. At the front, in the middle of one of the night’s many circle pits, it felt like the whole room was moving. And Pennywise don’t disappoint! With a live show honed over many years of gigging, it’s a tight set played with the passion and aggression of 4 men whose lives have been shaped for better and for worse by punk rock. Playing a set list that spans their entire career, the crowd loves it. It’s a nice moment when singer Jim invites two fans onstage to sing the opening to “Stand By Me” and you can feel the adrenaline flowing when Fletcher urges the hundreds of fans confined to the upstairs seating to storm the standing area. “How are a few security guards going to stop all of you crazy punks?” he asks. It’s a shame his call to arms wasn’t answered. Highlight of the set “Alien” sounds awesome live and we witness some handsome devil being carried around the pit hitting people over the head with an inflatable hammer (And no, of course that wasn’t me!!). It’s this friendly atmosphere that makes the show so special. “Bro Hymn” signals the end of the set and as people flood the stage, it’s moments like this that I’ll remember in years to come.