Phrases and Photos: Adrian Hextall / (C) MindHex Media
Celebrating it’s 10th anniversary, Solution Pageant at London’s iconic 100 Membership kicked of 2025 in taste with more than one headline presentations over 8 nights together with; TV SMITH & Vom Ritchie, DISCHARGE, FEROCIOUS DOG, SUBHUMANS, UK SUBS, THE BOYS, GBH and 999.
Every of the bands had high quality helps and a moist Sunday evening in early January was once fortunately made a lot more uncomplicated by way of openers, Headsticks.
Headsticks
Shaped in overdue 2012 the band boasts former participants of one of the most areas maximum a success folks crossover bands Tower Struck Down, Jugopunch, and The Clay Faces. Ten years on from debut album ‘Muster’ the band are nonetheless in advantageous fettle and as fired up and agitated about existence as their ‘chilly, gray, English skies’ opener would recommend.
For me, this can be a totally new band. I’ve now not observed them ahead of so with the intention to actually gauge their affect, a handy guide a rough scan of the group was once vital. With a setlist that gave us the most efficient a part of an hour’s value of track the room seemed as satisfied to peer the openers as they have been when the headliners arrived. Their new album, very best of assortment, ‘Headsticks: 2012-2022 Ten Years With out Killing Every Different’; brings in combination 15 tracks that show off all of the band has to supply musically and lyrically.
Talking of lyrics, lead vocalist and lyricist Andrew Tanter has a talent for recounting the lives and tales of folks all of us recognise and he spent lots of the set explaining the ones tales loudly and energetically to any person who catches his eye within the entrance few rows. You handiest have to take a look at one of the most pictures beneath to understand the eagerness and effort he places right into a display.
Ably supported by way of guitarist Stephen (Doon) Dunn, bassist Nick Bayes and drummer Tom Carter, Headsticks spent their set tackling subjects from magnificence, local weather alternate, poverty and political turmoil. The arena and nation that we are living in this present day every now and then seems like development takes 3 steps ahead and 5 steps again. Fortunately because of bands like Headsticks who unfold the phrase by means of catchy melodies, cast ratings and heartfelt lyrics, we’re waking as much as the ones realities.
SETLIST: Chilly, Gray, English Skies / Demise for a Lie / Miles and Miles / Bare / Mississippi Burning / Flatline The city /The God Track / St. George’s Infirmary /Tyger Tyger /Darkish Waters / My Personal Conflict / Peace and Quiet
Ferocious Canine
With the group suitably warmed up, and stuffed with this type of fireplace now not observed for the reason that miners moves of the early Eighties, the reception that greeted Ferocious Canine once they got here on degree was once, smartly, ferocious! They got here directly to ‘There Is Energy In A Union’ which Billy Bragg most probably nonetheless believes is correct however I’m now not so certain the unions have the facility that they did some 30-40 years in the past. When the band plugged in and began with ‘Haul Away Joe’, the group within the sweaty house of punk rock, The 100 Membership, have been bouncing, cheering and normally simply having a blast.
For the reason that your moderate vintage punk rock crowd has been there for the reason that Seventies, you’d assume that they could have slowed slightly and begun to sway in appreciation somewhat than pogoing across the room however no, a Ferocious Canine crowd is aware of no bounds and bouncing, one thing that lead singer Ken Bonsall was once obviously channeling as he flew across the degree along with his low slung acoustic guitar. As such, the enthusiasts, as it should be named ‘Hell Hounds’ are and have been each a lot part of the display because the band themselves.
The brand new songs from newest album ‘Kleptocracy’ stand shoulder to shoulder with the most efficient of the bands youth and the group obviously agreed. Each and every tune was once sung again to the band phrase for phrase, a lot to the satisfaction of the six lads on degree. Highlights from the more moderen subject matter integrated the identify monitor and the somewhat superb ‘Sus Regulations’ (there’s an excellent few of the ones in this day and age). Should you’ve observed the band play ahead of then you definately’ll know their emblem of Celtic folks infused punk rock track energises, invigorates the frame and stimulates the thoughts in equivalent measure. Their presentations are not anything however a laugh, albeit with severe messages hooked up to the track and the group will also be similarly raucous and respectful when required right through the units.
For more information please check out The Lee Bonsall Memorial Fund and Andy’s Guy Membership or Thoughts if you’re suffering.
They closed with a singalong and a dance (enthusiastically) to the age previous vintage ‘Nellie The Elephant’. Regardless of the messages that had to be mentioned (and have been), this was once nonetheless a gig and was once there to be loved. What higher manner than this undying vintage that all of us learnt as youngsters.. An excellent method to end the evening.
SETLIST:
[TAPE] There Is Energy in a Union (Billy Bragg tune)
Haul Away Joe
Pentrich Emerging
Iron Mike Malloy
Spin
Kleptocracy
Black Gold
Deficient Indignant and Younger
Damaged Soldier
Pocket of Insanity
Darker Facet of The city
The Punk Police
Sus Regulations
Parting Glass
Paddy at the Railway
Johnny, I Infrequently Knew Ya
Hell Hounds
Mairi’s Wedding ceremony II
Gradual Movement Suicide
[TAPE] Nellie the Elephant (Mandy Miller tune)
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