This was the album launch show for the new Bermondsey Joyriders album 'Noise And Revolution' and they were holding an old school Sarf East London knees up in the West End to celebrate, bringing Deptford's finest The Phobics along in support.
THE PHOBICS have had a line-up change or two since I last saw them but are still a great straight ahead punk band with good snotty lyrics and Ramones-meets-Members punky pop with memorable lyrics about life at street level and 'Seeing Double' while being 'Down and Out In Deptford' while sounding like they should be on the old Deptford Fun City record label.
They dedicated a very angry song to "the Politicians" before they sent up anyone who ever wanted to be in a Boyband while wanting the same sort of exposure as that without having to bend over and lick what you have to lick to get on. Before rushing us over to Carcrash City to hit us with some real nifty guitar work and rock solid drumming that showed no signs of any Split Personalities in tonight's line up.
Would Tom and his gang really have a Wasted Rage when they can get up and give us all their rage ontstage? Or make us all feel better for hearing their feelings on the mess we're in. Still they are all chasing One Girl, which of course can only end badly which is probably why they are on about what happens When You're Dead. They finish off with a blitz through a song introduced as being called Love and then the quite brilliant Word To the Wise which gives us all the advice we need ahead of tonight's main event.
Just to warm the place up a bit more we had a very cool burlesque routine from Luna Rosa who certainly got a lot of the blokes in this packed crowd full of "faces" going ready for Kiria Le Pink to saunter onstage in a fantastic Rubber outfit to introduce to the stage...The Bermondsey Joyriders. Gary Lammin on Guitar and Vocals, Martin Stacy on Bo Diddley Bass and Chris Musto on the Drums with Charles Shaar Murray on Narration and mouth organ duties to come and play all of Noise and Revolution complete with posters unveiled for all of the songs by a very debonair Gentleman with a fantastic Moustache in a Tuxedo.
They opened with a fusilade of feedback and noise that culminated in Gary Lammin and Martin Stacy bouncing the guitars onto the stage to up the ante and make sure we were all ready to begin as they swapped to the guitar and bass for most of the set.
Charles Shaar Murray began the narration that is handled on the album by John Sinclair (he had yet another drug bust at Heathrow Airport less than a week before this gig, yet again they wouldn't let him bring in his prescribed medical Marijuana.) Still Charles was telling us that we were at the Outset of the journey that is Noise and Revolution and that Society Is Rapidly Changing. That was ably demonstrated by the band at a furious pace. We knew they were right and the Eternal Verities that Charles told us about needed forcing home with some thunderous bass riffing on Right Now.
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Yes Right Now we will rock the hell out of Soho and let the whole world know what this band's point of view is about what went on in 1977 with all that silver Jubilee nonsense making this Diamond Jubilee nonsense seem almost more ridiculous. After all, everyone on stage had been there in 1977 trying to change the world with Noise and Revolution instead of street parties and bunting and in one capacity or another as true Punks unlike the idiots they sing about on that song.
It seemed like there was no let up from the thundering riffs and great songs even when going on about the Creepy Crawler we knew what they meant and were happy to stand strong with them as they told us about good old London Bridge and then took us back for a cuppa Tea that just had to be Proper English - well, what else would it be? You also knew it had to stew in the pot for a good few minutes first.
Charles was getting more into his role in explaining exactly the type of Gig this lot could be offered before they told us that playing The Shaking Leaves. It was almost as odd as playing Madame Jojo's, but then of course this lot had nothing but Good Intentions in their many attempts to be a Rock Star and let's face it, you'd rather this lot were rock stars than some other people who made it over the years.
Many of us are living in Alternative Realities and The Bermondsey Joyriders' one is better than most but that's probably because they have embraced their Rock n Roll Demons fully and completely so they could finish the album and set with The Truth Walks Alone. The place went mad of course as they really are a great Rock n Roll Band.
They came back for an encore and among a fair bit of banter with the crowd. Soon Gary Lammin had the place singing along to the brilliant terrace chant anthem that is Football from the band's eponymous debut album. The fact that lots of the audience had on the T-shirt to go with this song shows how important football is to the band and their core following, but then many of them were shouting for Who Are Ya? (the second song of the encore) and the one we haven't stopped singing or quoting since yes Who are Ya?....You What!!! A brilliant song to finish on at the end of another great gig by one of the most Vital punk bands you could go and see anywhere these days.
Oh and you really ought to go buy yourself one of the band's Tea Towels because they are the perfect Punk Rock tea towel!!
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