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| THE BLUNTS THE MEANWELLS RADIATION ANGELS The Planet, Wolverhampton UK Friday October 8th 2004 Admission £3.00 I found out about this gig less than 24 hours before it was due to start thanks to Becca Puke emailing me the details. I dunno if the Blunts who set it up meant it to be the city's best kept secret or not? Coz they did a splendid job of hiding it's time, date and location from the local populas and it would've took Sherlock Holmes an infinity to deduct it's presence if it wasn't for the local intranet grapvine. Well onto a bit of history for ya...I ain't been in this hole (when it was called The Venue) for close on ten years. It's an upstairs club set in a tired looking metallic futuristic setting. The good sized room with a downstairs bar and pretty decent bar prices was perfect for catching a punk band.. The Planet is built at the back of the old Lafayette Club (home of some splendid punk action in a time long gone). However the rat infested Wolverhampton city centre these days is a fucking dead end as far as punk rock goes. But since the Planet has been taken over by ex-Neon Hearts saxophonist Steve Heart, things could be looking up again, we hope! As I stood outside the club with Tommy Drongo (complete with blonde spiky hair and US tour shirt on) I was asking what time the first band was due on and we were interrupted by a hungry rat who was raiding a nearby bin at the back of one of Broad Streets fast food hovels. Which reminds me not to get a takeaway outta gangsta central no more. It's early evening the club don't open for another hour so I retire to a few bars round town till the gig starts. I bump into a couple of old punks on the way. Borstal (cheers for the blue un') and Maff both of whom were in The Stench and Contempt/Torcha Shed in a former life. They too were going down to the gig so we swap some old stories over a beer and head in the gig. I gotta say the turn out tonight was a lot more healthier than I ever expected. Loads of young punks and some not so young. It was by no means full but it shows you there is a market for punk here of all places. I just missed the first band Radiation Angels, who are a new local spiky top studded outfit who I had never heard of? But are apparently a happening band which this city needs big time. I'll definitely try and check em out sooner or later me thinks. Up on stage at the moment though are The Meanwells from Birmingham, who were going through the motions of a losing battle. They're a non-descript trio of pop punkers who brings us their quirky version of this genre with a singing drummer. They're very tight as they blitz through a melodic punk set of tunes with synchronised harmonies, but were lacking impact and were pretty unforgettable. I spot Becca Puke jiving around in front of the stage in pink luminous socks but I think she was the only one out the crowd tonight who really paid em that much attention! Tonight's crowd were more interested in catching up on what life had to throw at them instead of checking out the band it seems. And I must admit I was guilty of doing the same. The poor Meanwells however were very much backing music to the throng. They did give us their best song the mid-paced 'Crumb' but I'm afraid it wasn't enough to feed the masses and rescue em from just making up the numbers. |
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| Next up were The Blunts who continue the shitty band names for the evening. Aint these fuckers got no imagination? I hope to god they weren't inspired by the jaded Blunts shoe shop situated conveniantly around the corner. They originate from round here somewhere? But I suspect they're from the mixed up Telford quadrant maybe? They've got that inbred look about em! They are apparently very good according to their demo reviews that's doing the rounds at the moment. But sadly I didn't spot a demo up for grabs so had to satisfy myself with their live sound instead. They come over as a confident well polished dual guitar act. In fact a bit too slick and squeaky clean for my soiled mind, but they succeed in getting some audience reaction with an energetic set. They remind me of one of those bands that gets featured in the pages of Kerrang! You know those new kinda punk outfits that have expensive tattoos and are prone to wearing make-up and nail polish. Except these have Neanderthal black country accents and spectacles for for accessories, which probably ain't gonna do em any favours. However if they manage to secure the right Agent you could well imagine these geezers doing major supports all over the gaff with their powerful Americanised punk rock 'n' roll delivery. I just got the feeling Hardcore punk wasn't really their bag at all, but it'll do till they get spotted and waltzed off onto some Vans Warped tour where everyones a lot more clean 'n' tidy. |
| By the time the Drongo's hit the stage, the front of the stage area had filled up considerably with young kids, seasoned punks and someone taking video footage? Most were moving around to some degree as the Drongo's brandished their Barcode brand of punk. You have to give it to the Drongo's who can still draw a good following from nearby Birmingham to such desolate locations as Wolves. They've been touring their arses off this year and it's paying off for em by tonights reaction. Having just come back from a successful US Fury tour, they continue playing the relentless UK dives with punctured tyres and little payback. So it must been hard to keep it fresh! They maybe ain't doing it with as much enthusiasm as I'd seen em display just over a year ago in the bowels of Birmingham, but they make up for the deficit with a pro set of singalong punk. A set that is now predominantly new material off their recent debut album 'Barcode Generation'. Which sounds pretty promising live, especially 'Freakazoid' I think it was called? So I can only surmise how good it really sounds in a studio. I still rate their older stuff from the 'Deaths A Career' EP which I wasn't alone in enjoying tonight. They seemed to entertain the Wolverhampton crowd on a Friday night with their heads down, no thrills hardcore sound. And you can't really complain about that in this day 'n' age. Good to see punk making it's presence felt on the streets of Wolverhampton once more. I was beginning to think it was a figment of my over active imagination, but it's still around in one shape or form all be it in a more cosmopolitan fashion with new inspirations and new faces. PETER DON'T CARE |
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