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4FT FINGERS, ANDY FICTION, FEUD 4 FOUGHT@
ALICE SPRINGS - 09/09/03 - HUMANFLY PROMOTIONS
Well, this was a strange one. With the mighty Lightyear, 5 Knuckle, No Comply show the next day, you could have forgiven Humanfly for not bothering with this Tuesday, but instead they put on one of the biggest bands to have played in Yeovil thus far, 4ft Fingers, supported by Chard punk rockers Andy Fiction and relative new-comers Feud 4 Fought, who take the stage first.
In an under-crowded Alice Springs (surprising considering the headliners popularity), Feud 4 Fought played a competent and tight set of poppyish punk and sublime ska on their first appearance in Yeovil. An enjoyable upbeat set that got the small crowd bouncing and lightened up the grey weather caused mood.
Next up were Chard up and comers Andy Fiction. This, their second Yeovil show in as many months was their best so far, with tight guitar riffing playing off against the chugging roar of the bass ripping through the motions. Accompanied with the incredibly fast and technical drumming, endeared the Fiction to the small crowd, and hopefully the political punksters will appear again some time in the near future.
And as, surprise surprise, a bigger crowd suddenly appeared, UK punk maestros 4ft Fingers took up the limelight, this their second appearance in Yeovil (their previous appearance was at the awesome Smash it Up Tour 2002).
They tore into their set from the word go, but they appeared to be a little phased by the smallish crowd, with repeated orders to the crowd to "Jump, jump". In truth, although the Fingers possess some incredible songs from their first album "...At Your Convenience", their new album is weak in comparison, and plus some of the new songs, this was the same show as a year and a half ago.
Set highlights included "Slowly Sinking" ( all the more poignant lyrically after the farce in Iraq), the upbeat ska number "Hopeless Romantic" and the aways popular "Brickwall".
A very very tight performance in all, and although the set lacked depth and boasted some weak songs (the one about boobs anyone?), it still left the majority with a smile on their faces. Good to see punk back in the Springs.
By Dave Sealey
LIGHTYEAR, 5 KNUCKLE, NO COMPLY@ YEOVIL LABOUR CLUB - 10/09/2003 - HUMANFLY PROMOTIONS
WELL WELL WELL, A SUPREME BILL IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE, AND TWICE IN 2 MONTHS! THESE ARE 3 OF THE GREATEST BRISTISH BANDS AROUND AT THE MOMENT, AND THEY JUST SHOW HOW MUCH TALENT THERE IS IN BRITAIN, COMPARED TO MOST OF THE STALE (GOOD CHARLOTTE) SHIT THATS EMERGING FROM AMERICA AT THE MOMENT...
ANYWAY, ON WITH THE REVIEW. THE LABOUR CLUB WAS FILLED TO BREAKING POINT ONCE MORE, AS IT OFTEN SEEMS TO BE RECENTLY, AND EVERYONE GATHERED ON THE DANCE FLOOR (AFTER AN HOURS QUEUE AT THE BAR!) TO SEE FIRST BAND ON, NO COMPLY.
THE PLYMOUTH BASED SKA CRAZIES TOOK THE STAGE 2 MEMBERS SHORT WITH THE RECENT DEPARTURE OF MOST OF THEIR HORN SECTION, BUT THE BAND STILL MANAGED TO CREATE A DANCING ATMOSPHERE AS THEY ATTACKED THEIR SET WITH GUSTO. AMIDST A WHIRLING SMASHING WALL OF SKA-TINGED NOISE, SINGER KELLY KEMP IMPRESSED ONCE MORE WITH HER VOCAL RANGE, AND DESPITE THE MISSING INSTRUMENTS THEIR SOUND IS STILL TOP OF THE GAME. A PERFECT BAND TO START PROCEDINGS, AND AS NO COMPLY COULD (AND HAVE) EASILY HEADLINE SHOWS, THIS IS JUST AN INDICATION OF THE QUALITY OF BANDS TONIGHT.
NEXT UP WERE YEOVILS FAVOURITE BRISTOLIANS, 5 KNUCKLE. AS THEY TOOK UP THEIR POSITIONS THEY URGED THE SLIGHTLY DISPERSED CROWD TO TAKE 5 STEPS FORWARD, AND THE MASSES DULY OBLIGED. AS THE KNUCKLE ERUPTED INTO THEIR FIRST SONG, THE PIT ACTION HOTTED UP AND SOON THE WHOLE ROOM WAS FEELING THE 5 KNUCKLE BURN.
5 KNUCKLE CREATE A SOUND THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER PUNK BAND AT THE MOMENT, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY COMPARISONS. WITH THEIR GUITAR CRAZINESS, THE DRUMS AND BASS SEEMINGLY EATING AWAY YOUR SOUL, AND SINGER/SCREAMER DANS POIGNANT LYRICS LIFTING YOU BACK UP, YOU DON'T JUST LISTEN TO 5 KNUCKLE, YOU LIVE THE SHOW. SET HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE BRILLIANT "FEEL THE FORCE", THE ALWAYS RELEVANT "SLEEP EASY" AND ALONG WITH A CLUTCH OF OTHER SONGS, DAN'S PLEA FOR 2 MINUTES SILENCE ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, "ONE FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TWIN TOWERS, AND A SECOND ONE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE NEEDLESSLY MURDERED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ". AN EXPERIENCE...
AND LAST, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, CAME THE MAIN EVENT, THE EVER CHEERFUL, EVERYONES FAVOURITE BAND LIGHTYEAR. AND THIS GIG WAS THEIR LAST IN YEOVIL EVER (THE BAND ARE DUE TO SPILT LATER THIS MONTH). LAUNCHING INTO THEIR SET WITH A BROADSIDE OF SONGS FROM THEIR LATEST OFFERING "CHRIS GENTLEMANS HAIRDRESSER AND RAILWAY BOOKSHOP" AND FAVOURITES FROM "CALL OF THE WEASEL CLAN", LIGHTYEAR WERE CLEARLY IN PARTY MOOD, ALTHOUGH THE AIR OF FINALITY CAUSED A LITTLE SOMBRENESS. THEY HAD THE ENTIRE CROWD GLUED FROM THE WORD GO, WITH SINGERS CHAZ AND NEILS ONSTAGE ANTICS BETWEEN SONGS. SET HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS DANCEATHON (IF THERE COULD BE HIGHLIGHTS) WERE THE AWESOME "BLINDSIDE", "LIFEJACKET WATERWINGS", "A PACK OF DOGS", "TRUMPET TROUSERS", IN FACT PRETTY MUCH EVERY SONG THEY PLAYED. LIGHTYEAR HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WELCOME IN YEOVIL, AND THIS WAS A FITTING SEND OFF FOR THE DERBY INSANOS. IT'S JUST A SHAME THAT THEY HAVE TO SPLIT AT ALL. MORE BANDS SHOULD BE LIKE THIS!HELL, MORE BILLS SHOULD BE LIKE THIS!
BY DAVE SEALEY
Wednesday 25th of June. The Cartoon, Croydon
Bands: Before I Die, Violent Basket, Half-Arsed
The night kicked off with one of the longest sounds-checks i have ever witnessed, with lots of guitar solos and bass lines going every now and then from the lads in Half-Arsed, tonights headline band. a few steady customers and regulars made their appreances at the gig as well as any people the bands could muster together to form a crowd. After what seemed like an eternity, Half-Arsed cleared from the stage after their stupidly long sound check, allowing tonights travelling musicians Violent Basket to do a quick set up, tune and thrash out a song in the space of about 5 minutes. the band had travelling all the way from Yeovil in Somerset, and were quite knackered after their long drive. Before I Die are known around the Cartoon, and have brought a few fans along. The fans seemed to separate between those of B.I.D and Half-Arsed, which gave the gig an "unfriendly atmosphere".
Before I Die kicked off in true rock and roll style, with "She Said", playing very tight and well rehearsed music, giving it their all as the first band on. Their fans seemed to enjoy the set, and a few sang along with the songs. Their set is an all out standard rock and roll style, finishing up with "Best of me" and getting a good cheer from the assembled fans.
Violent Basket got onstage and hit the crowd with their Yeovil-Hardcore Punk. From the looks on the faces of some crowd members, it wasnt what they were expecting, but Violent Basket gave it a good shot. A few mishaps occured, most can be put down to the distance travelled and the unfamilliar venue. The band threw out some excellent Hardcore punk, songs like "Gorilla vs Badger Ninja" and "Hate Boy" went down well. they had to also put up with some Hecklers in the crowd, mostly shouting what sounded like "Emilys Summer". The band played a good show considering the fact that they were all tired and had only arrived in croydon 5 minutes before they were meant to be setting up. After the set, the boys got a good cheer from the people who had watched them. Next time they will have been able to relax before the show.
Now, Half-Arsed. Anyone who had sat through the soundcheck, should have been expecting a sound quality and music quality that bands like Iron Maiden would have been happy with. Half-Arsed came to the gig with a reputation as the local big hitters, however, except the large(ish) support that they brought, Half-Arsed had nothing going for them tonight. The sound seemed slightly off, and the Vocals were scrappy and seemed slightly strained. The songs had a good bounce, but not enough to pull off the ska-without-horns music they play. The band had the skills and the talent to use them, but just not on the night. The Faithful fans gave it there best to have a good skank, but the music seemed to be lacking that Skank-tastic edge which makes u want to get up and go for it. Still, the band seemed to have caught the attention of the london venues and have got some gigs up in london-no mean feat- but if the band plays the same as tonight...the band wont be playing there long.
Andy Hay
Leftover Crack, Antimaniax, Violent Basket @ the Yeovil Labour Club June 27th 2003
Well, first off this was my first visit to the Labour club and i found it quite nice and spaceous. Quite excellent venue this night festivities. The Antimaniax and Leftover Crack rolled into yeovil with a purpose tonight, and they sure as hell got it and left leaving Yeovil tired and sweaty.
Tonight first act were Yeovil Hardcore Heroes Violent Basket. These guys came fresh from the gig two days before at the Cartoon and were totally psyched for tonight gig. They opened up with "Fight, Fuck, Oi, Drink" to get the crowd started. The band absolutly rip through their set, destroying any resisitence and totally exercising those ghosts from the cartoon. Violent Basket play possibly their best set ever, at least the best i have ever seen, and the crowd love it. "Gorilla vs Badger Ninja" and "Hate Boy" get huge receptions, "I Hate Your Mum" gets the crowd shouting as well. The Yeovil faithful give their all in the pit, a sweaty and nasty hardcore pit is going infront of the stage as lead singer Ben screams out his vocal chords. Violent Basket have utterly ripped through their set and have set the stage for an awesome night.
On come the Antimaniax. I hadnt heard of this band from Austria until the gig was annouced, and i had a shrewd idea of what i thought they would be like. Was I right? No. The Antimaniax took off from where Violent Basket left off and enhanced the atmosphere into an immense pressure pot. They laid down their Political-Hardcore-Ska-Rage and turned the already crazy crowd into a hardcore frenzy. They asked the crowd to join in some chorus's of "Murder King" and "Fuck McDonalds" their view upon fast food obvious. The crowd screamed out the words and the Antimaniax hammered their punk through our heads till we were ready to explode. This band should be checked out by everyone who like fast punk music.
So, here came Leftover Crack. The atmosphere was immense already, but the question was, could 'the Crack' continue what was already started? The answer? Yes! These guys came on and managed to destroy the crowd again. The band through themselves totally into their music and show and played out to a crowd that were eating out of their hands. Songs like "Nazi White Trash" and "Atheist Anthem" made the crowd go crazy, and they threw some old Choking Victim songs in for good measure. "500Channels" went down crazy and "Crack Rock Steady" summed up the evening perfectly. Leftover Crack came to Yeovil to play music, and left it with the highest reputation. Everyone should check out this band, along with the Antimaniax and Violent Basket. Will i ever see another gig as good as this? Probably not.
Andy Hay
Review N Destroy
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