This show at The Resolution Festival was 999's 50th birthday party as a band, fans had shown up from around the world to be at this show, including fans from Japan, France and Germany many of whom were far younger than the band.
We arrived in good time to see the opening band Hi-Fi Spitfires, who I probably should have seen before now, they contain UK Subs guitarist Stephen Straughan who kicked this set off with his gruff vocals in harmony with bassist Tony Taylor on You Better Run, You'd Better Hide that was good and speedy raw punk, they upped the energy for You’re Obsessed the lead track from there latest album Off The Radar. There was nothing Restricted about Steve's guitar playing on Restricted. Dean Ross' drums helped make clear everything about You that the band wanted to tell us about.
Steve was singing about Backfire but the last thing they were doing was that, while the large group of Japanese fans took endless videos and pictures of them. They made clear that Lockdown Clampdown was not about what we thought it was about, either way it flew along with a great guitar solo and a raw bass line totally in our faces.
Berlin was about the joys of being on tour and the fun they get up too while playing in Berlin. Welcome To Jazz Club sounded perfect in a Jazz Club where all the greats have played like the 100 Club is, although this was speedier energetic punk than jazz.
They wanted to take us on a Night Raid and it wasn't the military sort, the result of course was that She's Gone Astray and gone off to find her own fun. I'm glad they said that 3 Volt Love wasn't about what you think its about, because I thought they were singing Free Born Love about Freeborn John and the English civil war!! That meant it was time to Dance With The Devil once more and damn he plays a fine tune. They closed the set with Did Anyone See Him Go well no we didn't, The 100 Club was far too packed for that and this was a great opening set.
It wasn't long before 999 came on to a good cheer With Nick Cash welcoming us all to 999's 50th birthday party and the 50th birthday of punk, at one of the few venues that has been holding punk gigs for 50 years the legendary 100 club. They opened with send Black Flowers To The Bride played at a frenetic pace ready to get us all going, Inside Out flew by driven along by Arturo Bassick's bassline.
Pick It Up made sure they kept the pace up, it was blistering. Nick put his guitar down so he could whip the audience up during Feeling Alright With The Crew and he got everyone singing along, while Guy Days guitar was suitably anthemic.
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Shoot was built around Stuart Meadows huge drum sound and Arturos frenetic bass playing and gurning. I'm sure Nick introduced the next song as being called Sue but it could have been So Greedy either way they blasted through it and Guy looked like he was having a total blast. Nick made clear that Boys In The Gang was for everyone who shows up to see 999 play, before they romped though this anthem.
Titanic Reaction was played at a blistering pace with Nick and Guy trying to outdo each other on guitar. Nick they took his guitar off for Little Red Riding Hood while making clear how happy they are to have lasted 50 years and noting he first played the 100 club back in 1973, it was like winning The Biggest Prize In Sport that always sounds celebratory.
The Last Breath had some great downbeat drums from Stuart. Don't You Know I Need You was the most romantic they got, Lie Lie Lie is one of those songs that just seems to be more relevant with every passing year sadly, Nick sounded just as angry as you need to be currently. No Pity still sounds monumentally great and flew by in a rush. Emergency was with only one guitar like normal and Nick got everyone singing along, they finally had a decent sized mosh pit going. Nasty Nasty just sounds like an everyday description of the 2020's and Arturo really let loose on it. Homicide was one huge sing along so much so that we are still singing it days later, Homicide, Homicide the perfect way to close the set.
They came back for a well-earned encore that was the traditional double shot of My Street Stinks and a totally salutary and joyous run through I'm Alive and we are all very glad that 999 are still alive and performing in 2026, here's to the next 50 years of punk.
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