This show is part of the U.K. Subs final 19 date UK tour that concludes with 5 nights at the 100 Club, this is the second of those five shows, that all have different legendary support acts, tonight's being Birmingham Biker rock band the Black Bombers, who with true punk spirit are carrying on and playing despite bassist Darren Birch having broken his left foot so being unable to stand up to play this show.
Black Bombers opened there set with the crushing groove of No Pity that has Alan Byron's gruff vocals making clear all the things that are bothering them, as Steve Crittall started sizzle and really burn on lead guitar.
I think they went almost straight into Sometimes from the bands Vol.4 ep as this super solid biker rock riff wouldn't let up. Take it Down kept up the pace and by this point Steve Crittall seemed to be attracting a few fan boys who couldn't stop taking endless photos of his playing, while almost not noticing the legendary Dave Twist's pinpoint drumming.
The Price was introduced as being about the price of Brexit and the many mistakes that followed it, the bile was seeping out as Darren Birch's solid bassline allowed Steve Crittall to flay and wail as he hit his effects pedals.
Day After Day had a nagging insistent repetitive riff just like the daily grind that seem to never stop repeating itself. Pretty Boy wasn't as obsessed with itself as that Pretty Boy was, as another rock-hard riff gripped us and allowed Steve to really fly off.
Rush was as adrenal as it comes and the need to feel that Rush going through your veins once more was made crystal clear. Everything Is ruined felt like a perfect summation of the last 10 to 15 years of a country heading in the wrong direction.
Last Bite had no mentions of any XL Bully's or other dangerous dogs, but still had a very Stooge like core to the sound. They closed with Early Warning one of the monuments from the band's debut album that allowed one fanboy the chance to shoot another video that only focused on Steve Crittall's guitar mangling's that also just makes me want to hear the bands new album when it comes out.
After the break and with much anticipation from the sold-out crowd Charlie Harper led the U.K. Subs onstage to loud cheers as they opened with the speedy onrush of Scum Of The Earth that seemed aimed at anyone who hasn't shown up to see this last tour. It went almost straight into a slightly ragged version of Endangered Species as Steve Straughan appeared to have some trouble with his guitar that was quickly sorted out.
Charlie then laid out his credo for life Born A Rocker, Die A Rocker it seems to have worked, as he's still sounding great at 79 years old, as they started New York State Police Charlies Microphone went dead so Alvin and Steve filled in while it was soon sorted by the time the chorus kicked in, so that Charlie could joke about it at the end of the song, as he claimed if there was no chaos it wouldn't be a Subs gig.
They then got super topical with Barbie's Dead as I think they tried to ignore the recent movie crushing us under that riff, as well as Stefan Haublein's super solid drumming. Emotional Blackmail had most of the audience singing along with it as Charlie let us know all the tricks being pulled.
|
When Charlie started singing that he was waiting for his best friend to Kill Me I know where he's coming from, although it's a tough sentiment to get across as Alvin just wouldn't let up on his always solid bass.
Charlie then claimed he wanted to be living the Limo Life as all he needed was a little action, well the audience had plenty of action in the mosh pit as the guy filming it's handheld camera seemed to get pushed around a good bit. Time And Matter are concepts that Charlie seems to be wrestling with pretty well as he contemplates a quieter life.
Down Here On The Farm went down a storm like always, as is now normal Charlie thanked Guns & Roses on Alvin's behalf for covering the tune. They played a harder and faster version of Tomorrows Girls than they did at Rebellion in the summer.
Charlie told us it was time for us to sing as they launched into Warhead and everyone in the club sang the chorus endlessly as he knew we would. Riot Squad was every bit as angry and bitter as it should be, it dovetailed into a sizzling version of Stranglehold the song I've had stuck in my head since then.
They closed the set with Guilty Man, they only thing they were Guilty of was not playing more. But that was soon sorted after the audience went nuts and they came back for the first encore that opened with everyone singing along to C.I.D.
They then took a look at the plight of the homeless on I Live In A car a very sardonic look at what happens when you are reduced to sleeping your motor. I Couldn't Be You is a dark take on what it must be like to be uncaring enough to be Tory, before they closed with a super seedy version of Party In Paris that left us all screaming for more.
They came back on to make us all think of those less fortunate than us who are living in Cardboard City, a problem that should have been solved a long time ago, so that memories of Squat 96 would be long forgotten, unlike this brilliant tune. Keep on Running Till You Burn was super intense as the mosh pit seemed to get a bit madder in time for them to finish with everyone screaming along to I Wanna Be Teenage no matter how strange it must be to be singing that as a 79 year old, but still this was a magnificent send off.
|
