15/12/2022 The Quireboys @ Islington Academy

It's been an interesting year for The Quireboys - in fact, it's been so interesting that we now have two bands called 'The Quireboys'. In a shock move early in the year the band announced that they had fired their charismatic singer Spike! They then announced their intention to carry on - with no original members left, and guitarist Guy Griffin taking over vocal duties. When they booked a big show at The Forum in Kentish Town it was not only without Spike, but also  announced as 'Quireboys Orchestral' - in other words the band playing with an orchestra. This wasn't my idea of rock 'n' roll so I decided to vote with my feet. Apparently a lot of other people thought the same as the gig was not well attended - in spite of a lot of tickets being virtually given away in a desperate attempt to boost audience figures. According to phone video footage the show was noticeably lacking in atmosphere as well as crowd numbers....

Spike responded to his sacking by announcing that he was going to put his own 'Quireboys' together - including several former members - three of whom played on the band's classic debut album 'A Bit Of What You Fancy'. That album is widely considered to be their best, so Spike now appeared to be holding all the aces. Not only did he put together a whole new band consisting of actual ex-recording and touring members of the Quireboys, but he also announced they will be recording a new album and work has already started on writing the songs with original guitarist Guy Bailey. This news has been very enthusiastically received by the fans!

The other 'Quireboys' are still a good band I'm sure, but the Quireboys without Spike is like Motörhead without Lemmy or the Wildhearts without Ginger (another ex-Quireboy) or Whitesnake without David Coverdale. I'm sure most people buy Quireboys tickets because they want to see Spike do his thing - I know I do.

So, the venue is full - there are obviously a lot more people here than at the other 'Quireboys' gig in Kentish Town a few months ago. It seems nearly everyone is here. There is much anticipation from the crowd and the atmosphere is electric, but what will the night hold? It turns out things aren't quite as expected...

The fans are looking forward to seeing the return of original Quireboy Guy Bailey, but when the band take to the stage he is nowhere to be seen... This is ominous as Guy's health has not been great for a while. Spike is joined on stage by original Quireboy's bassist Nigel Mogg - who appeared on the band's first three albums. Also in Spike's new/old version of the Quireboys are original keyboard player Chris Johnstone and Rudy Richman on drums. However - neither of the guitarists on stage have ever played with the Quireboys before - although they will be familiar to some people...

Yes - that's Chris McCormack - Danny Wildheart's brother and ex-3 Colours Red guitarist. These days a music promoter and the man behind Camden Rocks Festival. He seemed to have retired as a musician a few years ago, so seeing him pop up tonight was certainly a surprise! On the other hand the Quireboys are known for originally being a Geordie band, and Chris is from that area so there is a certain serendipity here... It seems that he was actually as surprised as I was at being drafted in at the last minute. It was hoped that Guy Bailey would be playing in the band tonight, but it appears his health sadly wasn't up to it. 😟 The other guitarist in the band tonight is Alan MP from original Quireboys bassist Nigel Mogg's LA based band Juvenile Wrecks - also drafted in late in the day and having to learn the set from scratch in very little time!

However, with four actual Quireboys from the band's first couple of albums on stage together the sound isn't much different to how it was in those early days.

The setlist wasn't much (if any) different to how it was back when the band had only released two albums either, but to be honest it's the songs from the band's classic debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy that the fans want to hear the most. Most people would agree that it's their best collection of songs, although it's follow up Bitter Sweet & Twisted is good too. Tonight's set consists virtually entirely of songs from the band's first two albums, with the addition of the ever popular debut single 'Mayfair'.

Although original Quireboys guitarist and songwriter Guy Bailey isn't well enough to perform with the band tonight he is actually present. He has often popped up as a guest guitarist at shows since leaving the band - with Spike saying Guy "will always be a Quireboy". Tonight he is just brought onto the stage to make an appearance but not play - he has always remained a popular figure and is very warmly received by the crowd tonight. He doesn't look well to be honest, but then I don't think he ever did...

The pace does slacken a bit on occasion when the band are joined by a female vocalist who duets with Spike as well as providing backing vocals on some songs - no one seems to know who she is, and although I think Spike introduced her at some point I can't remember her name.

As ever with the Quireboys - it's party time! A bagpiper is brought on stage towards the end of the set - maybe because it's nearly Christmas? 

Islington Academy is pretty full tonight - I would think it's sold out. The venue is full of familiar faces and the atmosphere is terrific! Spike's new Quireboys definitely give the crowd what they want and apart from not getting to see Guy Bailey perform I doubt anyone goes home disappointed. A brand new single 'Jeez Louise' is set to be released in the New Year, and a new album is set to follow later in the year. According to Spike it will be a proper 'rock 'n' roll Quireboys album' with "no chords with numbers in!" and all the songs have already been written with Guy Bailey.  It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Spike and the boys...

9/12/2022 M.O.S.E.S & Healthy Junkies @ The Old Blue Last

This week Friday night is an actual 'Friday Night' again instead of Thursday - see my previous couple of posts. 😉 And this one finds me heading down to Shoreditch instead of Islington for a change.

After a shiny state-of-the-art modern venue last week I now find myself in an old school pub 'toilet' venue. It's fairly well known on the indie scene, but not to put too fine a point on it - the Old Blue Last is a bit of a dump. Reputedly 'haunted by Shakespeare' although the building is very obviously not old enough for him to have ever been in it. It's just another run-down East End boozer clinging on somehow by trying to be 'cool' to less discriminating hipsters. I don't have a beard, but somehow I managed to sneak in anyway. Upon reaching the bar after braving the indie disco and associated 1990's rose tinted spectacled hipsters I wondered why I had bothered? Another venue where regardless of price there is nothing I actually want to drink! No real ales on tap, but that was no surprise - and my request for a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale was met with a blank look from the obviously inexperienced barman.

I made my way upstairs to the room where the bands play. I had bought a ticket on the Dice app on my phone - which I showed to the guy doing the door - and was met with another blank look but he let me in anyway as he recognised me. There was another bar in the room upstairs, but I already knew it wasn't worth bothering with so I didn't. The actual room the bands were playing in was OK actually.

I was only there to see one of the support bands and had never heard of the headliners. I had never heard of the first 3 bands either, and to be honest because of the bar it wasn't the sort of place I wanted to hang around in any longer than I needed to. So I arrived just in time to see Healthy Junkies - a band I have seen countless times and have never left me disappointed.

Phil and Nina have kept the band going for a few years now after a few lineup changes, but the core sound and attitude of the band remains - a punk inspired mix of glam, grunge, and pop tunes.

Healthy Junkies always put on a high energy and impassioned show. It makes a change seeing them somewhere other than Camden, but a few familiar faces have made their way to East London to see them.

I'd never heard of the headliners M.O.S.ES. but a bunch of indie kids obviously had as they had a decent crowd watching them - although the small venue was by no means full.

There are a good band and can obviously play well, but to be honest it was pretty standard indie fare. The band had absolutely nothing to make you remember them from countless other indie bands that you might see in the usual Camden and Hoxton hipster hangouts - the only thing that stood out was the singer. Not because he had a great voice or anything, although he was perfectly good enough, but because he had that 'it' thing - that star quality. Probably a bit in love with himself like many frontmen are, but he knew he was good at being on stage and making himself the centre of attention.

None of their songs were particularly memorable, although they weren't crap. M.OS.E.S are probably a band who will vanish never to be heard of again, but I wouldn't be surprised if the singer doesn't pop up again somewhere in the future - either solo or with another band. He might have been a bit full of himself and his band very forgettable, but at least it was worth going down to Shoreditch to see Healthy Junkies.

1/12/2022 Kira Mac @ The Grace

Once again, Thursday night proves to be the new 'Friday Night'.

This is my first visit since it's reopening to the venue formerly known as 'Upstairs at The Garage'. Now re-branded as The Grace. I can't say I like it very much in spite of the much more state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The once fairly reasonable in selection and price bar is now shite - there is nothing I actually want to drink regardless of price. So I don't bother. 😒 Also...

...smoke machines - the deadly enemy of gig photography. All that mist floating about in the atmosphere reflects the light back and makes autofocus very unreliable. 😖

Opening tonight's proceedings is The Karma Effect - a name that is new to me.

I don't know who the frontman is, but he looks familiar from somewhere and I suspect he's been around the block a few times over the years.

I get the strong impression he's very much in love with himself, although to be fair he puts a lot of energy into his performance and is a very good frontman - I think he must have been doing this for a while.

He's a pretty decent guitar player too - and doesn't he just know it.

The band are actually pretty good - a strong 1970's/80's classic rock vibe, but the songs don't really grab me.

And on to the main act. I think this is the first London headline show for Kira Mac - and they've sold it out. It's not that surprising to be honest as Planet Rock radio have been playing them a lot over the last few months, and I think they could have sold out a bigger venue like The Garage downstairs.

The band take their name from their singer's stage name. Her actual name is Rhiannon Hill and she has passed auditions for 'The Voice' TV show - she certainly does have quite a voice on her!

The band's sound is very much in the 'classic rock' mould and strongly influenced by the blues-rock acts of the 1970's and '80's. Their material is strong - hence getting a lot of airplay on Planet Rock this year. They already have their first album out 'Chaos Is Calling' - it's pretty good, although many of the songs sound in a very similar vein as if they have been written by the same person. However, one of the standout moments of the night is a song that breaks from their hard rocking powerhouse sound - the singer introduces the song by describing one of her friends saying something like "Rhi' - why don't you write another of those quieter songs?" The result is the ballad 'Never Going To Stay' - which is one of the outstanding songs on their debut album and a highlight of tonight's show.

'Never Going To Stay' is almost the only quieter song of the night; All ten tracks from their debut album get an airing as well as covers from ZZ Top and Nicklback - and also 'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica - which was the song Kira sung on her audition for 'The Voice. It's pretty good version too. 

This is a young and I suspect fairly inexperienced band, but I get the strong impression they have worked very hard to get to where they are now in a short space of time. I also suspect they have been very well managed to get to this stage this early in their career - but they certainly deserve it. 'Kira' herself has a very warm, natural and engaging personality on stage - she is very down to earth and makes no effort to hide her Stoke-on-Trent accent. Her likable personality makes you think she would be a good person to go to the pub with - I may be shallow but I tend to judge people by if they would be good company in the pub - imagine going to the pub with Brian Johnson from AC/DC? That would be fun!

The standard of musicianship is high, and so is the songwriting. It's very impressive that such a young band can sound so radio-friendly and commercial. I really like the fact that they have made no attempt to follow current rock fashions and dumb their act down to 'appeal to the kids' like many other current bands do. They do have an vintage classic rock feel to their songs, but there is a modern twist to their sound as well to keep things fresh.

The band really do themselves proud tonight with an outstandingly successful show. They are very relaxed and polished performers for such a young band and could have a promising future ahead of them - I'm sure next time the band play in London they will be in a larger venue...

24/11/2022 Marc Valentine Band + The Speedways @ The Hope & Anchor

Thursday night is the new 'Friday Night. Back to one of my favourite and easiest to get to venues for this. I'm glad to finally catch The Speedways after not being able to see them at the Pump It Up Powerpop Weekender earlier this year.

Their tuneful and energetic powerpop is quite infectious. They are good musicians who write catchy songs and are one of those bands who make you think "Why aren't these guys all over the radio?"

The Speedways are polished and dynamic performers - well worth your time if you get the chance to see them.

Much the same can be said of tonight's headliners. Marc Valentine is best known for fronting the excellent Last Great Dreamers, but that band are taking a break for a while so Marc is keeping busy playing with his solo band and releasing an album of his own - Last Great Dreamers guitarist Slyder Smith is also currently doing the same with his other band The Oblivion Kids. Slyder's band is taking a heavier direction while Marc's band are sticking more with a 1970's/80's pop/glam rock feel. Their image reflects this. Last Great Dreamers never achieved the success they deserved - another band who seemed to be in the right place at the right time but never got the breaks. However, they learned their trade well and Marc's polished pop/rock songwriting skills are being put to good use here.

Marc's new band are all very experienced musicians who have been round the block a few times. Great players with good stage presence - even if they do feature possibly the world's most miserable looking guitarist! He might look like his dog's just died, but he is a superb player and performer - throwing shapes as he peels off fluid guitar lines. 

Unlike his LGD bandmate Slyders new band, Marc's band sounds more similar to their other outfit - probably due to Marc's catchy pop songwriting. This band look and sound good and are another band well worth catching if they head your way...

12/11/2022 Pussycat & the Dirty Johnsons + Pollypikpocketz @ The Dublin Castle

Back to the Dublin Castle yet again - I seem to have been to this legendary Camden venue quite a few times over the last year. And I've seen the headliners a few times at this venue as well. To be honest it starts to get difficult after  while writing about the same bands in the same venues - usually playing most the same songs. But there are certain bands that make me keep wanting to go back to see them again - because I know it's always going to be a good night. Tonight two of those bands are on the same bill.

Pollypikpocketz are always highly entertaining with their multicultural mix of punk, metal, and other more exotic influences.

I've seen this band loads of times now and they never fail to grab my attention.

The headliners have been very good at grabbing my attention for quite a few years. Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons have been regular performers at the Dublin Castle for some time now. And with good reason - they always get a good crowd in and a great night is guaranteed!

With their mix of rockabilly mixed with punk attitude (and sometimes disco beats!) there is plenty to engage. Many of the songs are very dark lyrically, but there is humour in there too. And it doesn't hurt that their singer has an amazing image - if you see this band you will definitely remember them!

Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons are always a lot of fun! This Saturday night in Camden once again proves that live music post-Covid is far from dead - you just have to know where to look for it.

30/10/2022 Spizzenergi, The Witchdoktors, & Healthy Junkies @ The Dublin Castle

 Another good bill at the Dublin Castle. First up are Camden regulars Healthy Junkies.

I have seen this outfit countless times now. There have been various lineups of the band over the years, but always featuring the core of Nina on vocals and Phil on guitar. They are always well worth seeing with their mixture of catchy punk/glam/grunge tunes played with passion and verve.

Next are the Witchdoktors. This is that rare beast these days - something I call a proper rock 'n' roll band. The music isn't just a style or genre - real rock 'n' roll is a spirit. and this lot have it in spades!

Sure, they can play - but real rock 'n' roll isn't about technical perfection, being in perfect time and tune - although you don't tend to ever notice these boys put a foot wrong. They play full-on old school rock & roll but with a punk edge - which is how I suspect many true rock & roll bands were in the 1950's even though 'punk' wasn't even a thing back then. Yes, they have some great tunes - but they also play them with fire & brimstone! Many bands who are excellent musicians technically can 'play' rock 'n' roll. Except they can't. Because they don't actually 'get it'. They can play all the right notes, but still be boring. They don't understand what rock & roll is actually about - attitude and rebellion. The Witchdoktors know exactly what it's about - and their cranked up high energy shows are all the better for it. Good rock 'n' roll makes people want to dance - and you will always find plenty of that going on at a Witchdoktors show.

And so to the headliners. Spizz himself is a well known character on the scene, with his carefully constructed persona and talent for self-promotion - often popping up at other band's gigs. But any scene needs it's characters, and Spizz makes an effort to be entertaining and draw you into his world.

Over many years Spizz has built up a loyal fanbase for his 'brand' - so Spizzenergi gigs tend to be well attended. He is good at self-promotion, but he works hard on stage too.

It also doesn't do any harm that in recent years he has put a really good rock 'n roll band together to back him up.

It's actually quite impressive that he has managed to keep his career going since 1979 based on just one song! Although to be fair 'Where's Captain Kirk?' is a very good song and quickly became a punk/new wave classic - a rightly deserved status that it retains to this day. Sadly it's the only Spizzenergi song that anybody apart from hardcore Spizz fans can name, and his live sets tend to have quite a few covers thrown in like Roxy Music's 'Virginia Plain'. That's not to say that Spizzenergi aren't worth catching live if you get the chance, because as I said - Spizz has a great band. And you will always get to hear that song about a Star Trek character - and who doesn't want that?

So, another good and entertaining bill at the Dublin Castle. And in spite of all the 'Live music is dead' naysayers there is a good crowd in the venue on a Sunday night out to have a good time and prove them wrong. In fact virtually all the gigs I have attended this year have been well attended, and some have sold out.

29/10/2022 The Damned (original lineup reunion) @ Hammersmith Odeon

This day has been a long time coming. In fact most people thought it would never happen - for a variety of reasons. It's been no secret that certain members of the early version of The Damned don't get on. Things were OK for the first few years of the band, but there was a major falling out which led to some members of the band leaving and not wanting to have anything to do with each other. So it seemed highly unlikely that the original lineup of the band would ever play together again... 

Then, a couple of years or so ago it was announced that the original members would reunite just for one or two shows - while the current version of the band is still a going concern touring and recording new albums. So is this a case of promoters eventually making them 'an offer they couldn't refuse'? That appears to have been the case with Guns 'N' Roses and The Black Crowes recently - big money talks.

So, shows were booked. A good bill was put together - including The Wildhearts. Ticket prices were very high for an old punk band at around £60 not including booking fees etc and many fans complained. Covid happened and everything was put on hold. Eventually lockdowns and the pandemic passed and live shows became a thing again. The Damned reunion shows were rescheduled. Ticket prices remained very high but it looked like everything was finally going ahead. Then, virtually at the last moment ticket prices were slashed via a 'secret' ticket site link - which of course upset all the people who had already paid full price for their tickets! Could it be that not that many tickets had actually been sold at full price? I couldn't really afford to go at the original price tickets, but when I found out I could see the original lineup (which I had never seen) of The Damned plus a strong support bill for around £30 I knew I had to go. Unfortunately The Wildhearts had apparently split up (again) 😞 since the original bill was announced, but the new bill was very strong and it looked like this would be my only chance to ever see the original Damned lineup, so I bit the bullet and bought a ticket.

I knew I had to get to the show early to see the opening band. I had first seen Smalltown Tigers at the Pump It Up Powerpop Weekender in July. I'd never heard of them before then, but these 3 girls from Italy made a big impression on me that day with their Ramones and Motörhead inspired punk rock! I get into the historic Hammersmith Odeon (I and many others still refuse to call this venue by any other name) just as Smalltown Tigers are starting their set.

The doors haven't been open long and the venue is still nearly empty, but there are a few other early-birds down at the front of this cavernous (when empty) room that holds 5000 people.

I'm sure most the people who made the effort to get to the show early are glad they did as Smalltown Tigers are very well received.

As the opening band on a multi-band bill the girls don't get given much time on stage, but in around 20 minutes they make quite a big impression in spite of their fast and energetic performance being delivered to mostly empty venue.

The girls don't hold back, and although their sound is largely swallowed up by this cavernously empty room they don't seem fazed at all by the size of the stage - it's quite a big step up from The Lexington where I saw them only a few months ago.

There are noticeably more people down at the front of the room by the time Smalltown Tigers finish their all too brief Ramones influenced set of original songs. This band are all about attitude and fun - they look like the are having the greatest time on stage tonight, and I know for sure they have won over many new fans who probably had no idea who they were before tonight. I am really looking forward to their return to the UK in 2023 - albeit on much smaller stages! Catch them at a small venue while you can...

Almost no one present will have known who tonight's opening act are, but by the time the second act takes to the stage there are a lot more people in the venue...

...and most of the old school punks will know exactly who this is. T.V.Smith is the former frontman with The Adverts. After that band split in 1979 he formed T.V. Smith's Explorers, and in more recent times has been plying his trade as a solo artist. His current band The Bored Teenagers are good players, but this is nothing like a punk band and his musicians might not have even been born when The Adverts were around. However, The amount of energy this guy pushes out as he bounds around the stage even in his mid sixties put many frontmen less than half his age to shame! And with a load of such great Adverts songs as 'Gary Gilmore's Eyes', The Great British Mistake', 'One Chord Wonders', 'Bored Teenagers', and 'No Time To Be 21' he can't go wrong!

Next up is an act I have seen many times over the years - and they've always been great! The Rezillos are more of a 1950's and sci-fi influenced rock & roll band than punk rockers, but sprung up at exactly the right time to ride the punk wave with their great tunes and energetic live performances.

In spite of only featuring 3 of the original 5 members of the band The Rezillos are still great fun! Like the previous act they launch straight into 'the hits' - and they go down a storm!

With songs as great as 'Can't Stand My Baby', 'Flying Saucer Attack', '(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures', and their biggest hit 'Top Of The Pops' they can't fail to entertain, and even in 2022 they perform with a high level of energy. There are even one or two 'new' songs thrown into their set - they released a long awaited 3rd album in 2015.

Finally, after an excellent support bill the headliners eventually take to the stage - singer Dave Vanian creeping onto the stage first in the darkness and stalking around in the shadows scoping out the crowd. I think he liked what he saw. We liked what we saw too  - getting all four original members of  The Damned into a room together at all had seemed impossible, but now here they are all on stage together to play all the songs from their historic first album! This is a pretty big deal for us old school punk fans. But what will happen?

This is actually the second of two shows at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon. Reports from the first night weren't too promising. According to some present the band weren't that great, and guitarist Brian James (who hasn't been in the best of health for a while) had to be helped onto the stage, and didn't seem to be able to quite play the full set before being helped off the stage. Apparently he is recovering from a recent operation. Apart from that the show went off reasonably well  and there were no fights or other dramas onstage.

Tonight things seem to go rather better. By the time the headliners take to the stage the venue is quite full - probably due to the later cheap tickets going on sale. The crowd ranges from teenagers coming to check out this legendary band for their first and only chance to see the original lineup, to original 1970's punks some of whom must now be in their 70's.

The band played the entire first album 'Damned Damned Damned' , although not in the same running order. We also got a large chunk of their second album the less well critically received 'Music For Pleasure'. Certainly no complaints there as these were the only albums the band recorded with the original lineup before splitting up.

Tonight's performance is actually pretty decent - although not without incident: A young stage invader manages to get onstage before being tackled and brought down by security. Dave seems to take pity on the guy and persuades security to leave him alone and let him enjoy his moment of fame. This seems to go down well with the crowd 

As expected the atmosphere in this historic venue is expectant and highly charged - people have been literally waiting for years to see this show!.

The sound mix is good and the band play well - probably better than last night. Between songs Captain Sensible reads out a less than complimentary newspaper review of last night's show which expresses surprise at a Damned gig being 'chaotic'! As if a Damned show is likely to be anything else implies the good Captain - it is punk rock after all, so what would anyone expect? All the early classics you would expect are rolled out; The entire first album, and around half the songs from the second are played - including 'Problem Child' and 'You Know' with it's sax solo - which went on a bit long for my liking...

Unlike last night, I doubt anyone went home disappointed. Considering this is the original and some would say 'classic' Damned lineup I don't think anyone could have asked for more from the setlist.

Opening the show with The Stooges '1970' (renamed 'I Feel Alright') most of the show is what you would expect from the early version of the band, with one or two added surprises like their (ill advised IMO) B-side cover of The Beatles 'Help. The Damned have obviously put some effort into rehearsing properly for these shows, although like the classic Status Quo 'Frantic Four' original lineup show I saw at this same venue several years ago two of the band's original members are still 'current' and up to speed - which was sadly not the case for the Quo as the two returning members seemed to have trouble keeping up. I'm glad to say that wasn't the case with The Damned and Rat in particular I thought played really well - which hasn't always been the case with some the the performances he has given outside of The Damned. In spite of his recent health issues Brian played well too. The Captain seemed as irrepressible and irreverent  as ever, and also quite happy to be back on bass duties - maybe because he knows it's not for long. Hearing him crank out the bass intro to' Neat Neat Neat' tonight was a great moment! And Mr Vanian seems to have aged surprisingly little while maintaining his characteristic neo-Gothic croon. I guess being a vampire helps...

In spite of seeming to struggle to get through the set last night Brian James seems to manage OK tonight. He doesn't really move around at all, but he plays fine and I don't hear him play a wrong note all night. It's a relief to see him play the entire set tonight and I think the crowd really appreciate seeing him back playing with the band he started back in 1976. He was probably the most technically accomplished guitarist from the early UK punk scene, although Captain Sensible showed himself to be no slouch on guitar when he switched from bass to 6 string duties after the band's second album.

Predictably the song that started it all 'New Rose' was saved for the encore and went down a storm! Interestingly this was followed by Bo Diddley's 'Pills' (as covered by the New York Dolls), and then a meaningful cover of the Rolling Stones 'The Last Time' - which of course had us all guessing if really "This could be the last time?" - which I think it very probably is for this lineup...

The good Captain decided to celebrate his return to four strings by smashing his bass to pieces on the stage at the end of the show. Naturally the crowd loved this!

And after this came a very special moment which I'm sure brought a tear to many an eye in the house. It's been well known to the band's fans that Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies fell out with each other many years ago and haven't worked together since - this being the main reason this reunion seemed never likely to ever happen. I guess eventually promoters made them an offer they just couldn't refuse - hence the very high ticket prices that so many fans complained about. But hatchets appear to have finally been buried and everyone seems to be getting along. Then, at the end of the show as the band are leaving the stage Rat and Captain walk to the front of the stage together and share a hug. Rat puts his head on Captain's chest and there is barely a dry eye in the house. This is probably the best and most meaningful moment of the entire night. Suddenly thousands of old punks in the room feel rather emotional. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a picture, but this moment was special - it really meant something.

Dave Vanian remarks as he leaves the stage "We hope you enjoyed the show and it was everything you wanted and hoped it would be". Thanks guys - it really was.

A memorable and rather special night.

PS: I'm very pleased to say that Smalltown Tigers are back in the UK playing some of their own shows in September 2023