Rockin' For Robin was a one-off special tribute show at The Forge in Camden to the memory of Robin Guy the brilliant drummer for among other bands Rachel Stamp, Sham 69, GMT, Bruce Dickinson and all the bands on tonight bill along with loads of others. Robin was truly one of the nicest, fun musicians you could ever wish to meet or see play live, he carried on playing live as much as he could during his battle with cancer. All funds raised at this very emotional evening were going to his wife Jessica. This review will feature loads of my shoddy guess work at song titles, apologies for anyone who loves accuracy.
We arrived during super sensitive folk singer Tom Hunt's set, the first song we heard all of was Give A Little Respect that was played with hushed tones and far more sensitivity than the other three shows we've seen him play this year, with the well known Kentish folkies Anti-Nowhere League. Tom told us how much Robin meant to him before playing the quietest and most heart-rending version of 666 The Number Of The Beast a true folk song if ever there was one.
The Foo Fighters Everlong was stripped to its core and took on a plainsong element. He finished his set by encouraging a rousing sing along to Tenacious D's immortal Tribute that got most of The Forge singing along with him.
Next on were Bite Me the band Robin managed, that featured his wife Jessica on drums and is another band to feature Kit Swing on vocals. They opened with Tonight We Wanna Fuck You Up or whatever this song is called, it was great fun and Dangerous upped the energy level and feeling they were working on Runaways meets Girlschool style template. Sex Sex Sex saw some great fun being had between Kit and the guitarist while being driven along by a great sleazy bassline.
Cherry Bomb was a song that was perfect for Kit's vocals and the band. What Dreams Are Made of felt a bit bittersweet a feeling added to on Born To Die, although they all looked like they were having a total blast. They rampaged through Snake Woman before making clear what a bunch of Deviants they are.
They did a great girl gang version of London's Burning before dragging Tom Hunt out of the dressing room to help prove he really is a Rebel Girl, he helped out on backing vocals, before they closed with the bands theme song Bite Me, this set left me wondering how I hadn't seen them play before and hoping to see them again soon.
Next up were a two for one deal that began as Cobrettii who eventually morphed into Conspirators they started as a 4 piece with a hammed-up version of Shut Up, they all looked like they were having a blast. Gina had some edge to it with singer Corin's irrepressible energy, he made clear how much fun he had working with Robin in the US. Misery Loves Company was a mass sing along, before they went all glamtastic on Poisons Fallen Angel, even if none of them had enough scarves to really nail this. Prime Mover really rawked with help from David Ryder Prangley making his first appearance, to try to put into words what Robin meant to him having played with him in Rachel Stamp for almost 3 decades.
The band then expanded to an 8 piece with everyone wearing black & white stripes with Conspirators opening with Permanent State Of 13, they had loads of energy. Corin was making clear we should avoid plastic surgery, he told us we were all Sexy As We Are. Before they did a song about the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Corin then introduced Shadows On The Brain from the bands Songs To Make Your Heart stop Ep, copies of which were being sold at the merch table. They closed with a brash version of One For Rock & Roll that was perfect for raising your glasses to Robin for.
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It was then time for David Ryder Prangley's very emotional set, that opened with a wonderful version of Black Magic & True Love, David was in fine form with his current version of his solo band. Space Station No 9 was more stripped back and very cool. He couldn't ever have thought Robin was the Big Bad Wolf, but the fragility of losing an almost lifelong collaborator were close to the surface. He closed this far too short a set with a cover that my notes are a total mess for sadly, I think it was a Kiss song.
Our evenings host Sam Hall then introduced Janus Stark who were the tightest band of the evening opening with the urgent Found My Way, Gizz Butt peppered the set with memories of spending time touring with Robin on joint tours with Rachel Stamp or in other bands they were in. Panic Attack had some angry guitar from Gizz. Every Little Thing Counts had added poignancy that we should all do everything we can while we have the chance too.
Floyd (What Are You On) was played up to with some cool, acidic edges. I think it was Whose Gonna Come Along And Make It Right next that really got to how losing someone like Robin Guy makes us all feel. White Man Speaks With Forked Tongue was a healthy dose of the truth we all need to hear, it was good and angry. They closed this brilliant short set with Barriers and the hope we can tear down as many of them as possible.
The evening then closed with Sack Trick's first UK show in over 10 years, this totally bonkers ever-expanding band opened with the classic Penguins On The Moon from an album Robin sold to me after a gig, back when it came out. They started the song with lots of furry penguins on stage, before the madness was unleashed including a monster super tight riff for everything to go off around.
Words Of Wisdom from Sack Trick are along the lines of lets all get totally smashed and have A great time. Hearing them destroy Kiss' Love Gun was brilliant it sounded way more deviant and pervy in Sack Tricks hands. Sam Hill joined on drums for some obvious classic rock song that I don't know the name of, about how someone should play bass as they can't play anything else. This was followed by some immense Iron Maiden tune I should know that they took out to the further reaches.
What we all really needed at this point was some Blue Ice Cream that sounded like it was laced with LSD and DMT total madness. Jessica and David Ryder Prangley joined in the fun for an amazing version of Kiss' Shout It Out Loud that attempted to blow the roof off, it was out of space and in our faces. They then ended this incredible tribute with Deuce yet another Kiss tune being transformed into a mind melting acid rock monster and a suitable end to this show.
RIP Robin Guy keep on rocking wherever you are.
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