First gig of the year is Bang on

WHAT an incredible first Basingstoke gig of the year! Unbelievable – a late afternoon-early evening of punky mayhem.

It started very well indeed with Basingstoke’s folk-punk quintet Burning Idols, pictured above, who are far too good to be on first these days. They have some great political, social and drinking inspired songs and are a real joy to watch.

They were followed by a one-man ska band Rob Blake, who I gather was the guitarist of the now defunct band Whitmore. It didn’t mean anything to me, but others were impressed. I can understand why because with his rhythm bits played as backing tracks, he produced the sound and feel of a full band.

He was followed by an awesome melodic hard-core punk band from Watford, The Working Dead. They played very fast, very lively, very catchy songs with a fantastic mix of vocal contributions from most of the band. Although virtually unknown to the local crowd, they quickly notched up strong approval and a bit of moshing too.

On their trail was yet another amazing band, Smokey B – Reading’s answer to the Dropkick Murphies – with a suitably raucous brand of Celtic-punk, just too infectious to be resisted. The crowd was at fever pitch by now and it just didn’t seem like it could get more wild, but it did.

From all over Berkshire came the headline band Beat the Red Light, a ska-core band. A band that combines the best elements of ska and the best elements of metal to come up with a sound that has to be heard to be believed. As a lover of hard, heavy, music I was in heaven.

The bitter cold outside was forgotten as the crowd shed their remaining shreds of sanity and surrendered to the music.

One of the best Basingstoke shows I have ever attended, with kudos to promoters Annie and Jon and, of course, the management and staff of the Bang Bar.
–Neil Duncan ISSUEPUNKZINE