Category: Music

London Forum,
21/5/05
with Every Time I Die, The Ghost of a Thousand, Sounds Like Violence

Not many bands can manage to get a decent-sized circle pit going in a half-full venue at the ungodly hour of 8pm, but The Ghost Of A Thousand manage it with ease, their abrasive hardcore attack whipping the crowd into action. Their confidence is understandable, given that their excellent second album ‘New Hopes, New Demonstrations‘ will be released next month, and the fact that they don’t seem remotely fazed by playing a venue of this size bodes well for their future.

Every Time I Die keep the party going in fine style. It helps that in Keith Buckley, they have one of the most gloriously unhinged frontmen this side of, well, Frank Carter, as well as a seemingly limitless arsenal of thunderous riffs. Like with all of tonight’s bands, there’s a sense of the visceral and the untamed to their set, and the sole new song debuted tonight is so dark, filthy and furious that it could have come bursting out of a coal mine with all guns blazing. As ‘Ebolarama‘ sparks utter mayhem in the pit, you get the feeling that ETID could soon reach beyond their cult following on this side of the Atlantic.

Tonight was always going to be something special; not just due to the excellent bill, but also because it’s the last date of Gallows‘ tour, and the closest thing the Watford Five have to a hometown show. They’ve come a long way since their early days, but there’s still that certain underdog aura to them – the self-proclaimed “five dicks from Watford” who are taking on the world and seemingly winning – and it’s partly because of this that there’s no end of goodwill from the crowd, who howl and bounce and sweat to every single note.

Whilst devoting at least two thirds of their set to new material might seem like a foolhardy action to some, the frenzied circle pit and massive human pyramid that greet ‘The Great Forgiver‘ suggest otherwise. It’s clear that those present tonight already hold ‘Grey Britain‘ as close to their hearts as they do ‘Orchestra Of Wolves‘; the main difference between the two records being that the likes of ‘Misery‘ and new single ‘London Is The Reason‘ are bigger, more focused sonic smart-bombs that can more than hold their own in theatre-sized venues.

They save the best until last, though – an encore appearance of ‘Orchestra Of Wolves’, which sees Frank and guitarist Steph surrendering themselves to the hands of the crowd, before bringing the evening to a close with a spectacular funeral-march style drum parade for ‘Crucifucks‘. Gallows indictment of our country is a bleak one indeed, but the band’s own future has never looked brighter.

Alex Gosman
Photos: Zac

There’s mancam action below from this show featuring Richard Carter from Blackhole and Eva from Rolo Tomassi, her voice is viscious.

London ULU,
19/5/09

It’s The Bronx, Jim, but not quite as we know them. When Matt Caughthran and his merry men first appear on stage tonight, the majority of the crowd is clearly amused and bemused in equal measures, as tonight the much-loved hardcore rockers are supported by their own alter-ego, Mariachi El Bronx. Dressed in traditional mariachi dress and accompanied by three violinists and a trumpet player, it’s odd to witness these purveyors of aural chaos in such a smooth, suave context. They sound great though, and it only takes a few songs before loud applause and shouts of “Arriba!” echo around the room.

Interval entertainment arrives next, in the form of performance artist Simon Subvert. He dissects a toy rabbit, and then sets to work on various parts of his own body with nails, razorblades, and other sharp instruments. A darker, more realistic shade of fake blood wouldn’t have been a bad idea, but even so, he makes us feel slightly ill – which was probably the point.

So there’s a sense of relief when The Bronx return, and fuck me, they do not disappoint in the slightest! Right from the start, this is pure, unadulterated, visceral, turbocharged rock n’ roll chaos; the kind that too few bands can deliver these days. The pit steadily swells in size as the band unleash the likes of ‘They Will Kill Us All (Without Mercy)‘ and ‘Shitty Future‘ onto the grateful, sweat-soaked, flailing mass in front of them, and there is simply no let up in energy throughout what seems like a painfully short hour-long set.

Seriously, folks, this is what rock n’ roll should be about – passion, vitality, but above all, unpredictability. Mariachi El Bronx may be a brave (and very much worthwhile) side-project, but The Bronx shouldn’t – nay, mustn’t – give up the day job when they’re on such blistering form.

Alex Gosman