The Garage
16.04.2010
Pretty sweet line-up tonight. It’s not all that often you genuinely want to be at a gig from the moment the doors open but tonight there is a punk-rock trio to be reckoned with in the form on Cancer Bats, Trash Talk and Chickenhawk. Even the band names seem to go together poetically. Chickenhawk get proceedings off to a loud start and it’s clear the evening will progress in a similar fashion. Their hook-filled, dirty-ass rock sensibilities go down a treat with the slowly filling Garage. They actually provide some of the most tuneful snippets of music this evening despite hammering the PA hard and heavy and rocking out with no hint of pretence.
And so to Trash Talk.Fresh from a play on DAYTIME RADIO 1 that day, this band just don’t give a shit. Well, that’s not entirely true. They definitely give a shit about putting on a good show and everyone having a good time. The band thrash about on-stage and off, reeling off punchy song after punchy song (some of them are barely even 30 seconds long).
The crowd is rapt and the band give it their shouty, frenetic all but some sort of altercation which involves venue security calling the Police whilst they are still on stage (did vocalist Lee kick someone in the head? Did he?) means their set is cut rather short. Still, these are almost ideal conditions in which to experience such a band. Trash Talk are short, sharp and not exactly sweet, but seriously exhilarating.
Cancer Bats are of course the main event tonight and there is no doubting this as they take to the stage and The Garage erupts. Full to the brim, this venue is packed with fans – old and new. This is somewhat of a record release party as the band have just released third album ‘Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones’ having slowly chipped away at the UK market and diligently put the work in to become a success story which this gig proves they are.
A blaze of riffs, vocals and crashing drumbeats does not let up throughout their set. It’s a barrage of most welcome noise as the band put in an energetic performance. This is an exciting show to be at and the consensus is that it’s pretty much their best to date. Old and new songs seem to be equally well received for the most part but the Cancer Bats’ somewhat-surprisingly-amazing version of the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage is a definite highlight as is the band’s own classic-in-the-making ‘French Immersion’ which rears its head towards the end of the night. It’s a loud, passionate whirlwind of a set and there is no doubt that Cancer Bats are becoming a mighty force in the UK.
Winey G.