NOT long back from a very enjoyable (and hot, sunny) holiday - but having serious gig withdrawal symptoms, I had so much gratitude to the Rockbitch crew for not merely putting on a gig, but for putting on a really excellent one.

First up were Whale Belly (below) - a young, earnest hard-core band up from Portsmouth. Plenty of enthusiasm covered up a slightly scrappy performance, which was still pretty good. I needed some of those brutal vibes to welcome me back to the real world.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Next up and from the Basingstoke area were Crown, who I first saw a couple of years back and have just watched them get better and better ever since. They are really tight and have got some excellent songs in their repertoire. Not only that, they have a fantastic performance, which helps to underscore the power of their music. Very impressive indeed and their name goes straight on the "watch again soon" list.

Crown

Basingstoke Gazette:

They were followed by Like Home (below) from Fleet, who I believe I have also seen before. They play slightly more melodic hard-core, with the tempo being up and the songs being belted out at break neck pace. Another quality band it was a joy to watch and the evenings bill has been one of the best line-ups I have seen in a while.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The main support slot was taken by Show Your Teeth (below), who have come all the way from Austria. This is the first time I have every seen them, but what a band, what an amazing band.

Basingstoke Gazette:

As always with European bands, their English was perfect an they were able to engage with the audience and crack jokes, but it was the quality of their songs and their playing which was off the scale. Good and heavy and thoroughly refreshing and they were not even the headline band!

The headliners had come from even further afield, from California. They were aptly name Worthwhile and interest in them has been bubbling under in the UK for the past year or so.

I was keen to see what all the fuss was about and in fairly short order I got it - they were tremendous! So much energy and such good songs. The whole even had such a positive atmosphere about it, it was definitely a special night.

Thanks to all the bands, to the promoter Jon and his crew and to the manager and staff of the venue, for an awesome night.

Neil Duncan, ISSUEPUNKZINE