Ez Luscombe
Forming in Brighton in 2014 and being the only brits on the lineup, Pure Noise Records alumni and energetic ska-punkers The Bar Stool Preachers were a perfect opener to a night that was chock full of horns, undisputed energy, and two stepping. From their confrontational and uncompromising new single ‘Pick A Side’ which discusses artists and public figures refusing to speak out on the genocide currently happening in Palestine, to the spirited cover of Cock Sparrer’s ‘Suicide Girls’, The Bar Stool Preachers are a shining example of why politics still matter in punk, and the importance of community, subculture, and unity within today’s less than ideal political climate.
Delightfully juvenile ska-rockers and creators of the highly successful Aquabats Super Show on CITV; The Aquabats! were next to grace the stage, and bought their wonderfully whacky and family-friendly stage presence to the masses. Donning matching superhero attire, using every second of their thirty minute set to their full potential, and performing tracks such as ‘Pizza Day’, (complete with inflatable pizzas, sharks, and a young girl in the crowd getting up on stage and surfing on one of the pizza floats) ‘Cat With Two Heads’, and ‘Red Sweater!’, The Aquabats are a class act who pride themselves on bringing stupidity to ska, in the best way possible of course.
Since their formation in the late eighties, New Jersey icons The Bouncing Souls have inspired artists ranging from Frank Turner all the way to Pkew Pkew Pkew and have been a staple in the US punk scene ever since. Thundering their way through 14 songs in just forty minutes including ‘Kate Is Great’, ‘Manthem’, ‘Lean On Sheena’, and ‘True Believers’ whilst also debuting a new single that had only been played once before off their new LP that’s set to release in June, their infectious energy as an older band was highly admirable. Charismatic frontman Greg Attonio’s quiet confidence was more reserved than your standard punk frontman, but his crystal clear vocals, and devotion to playing a setlist based around all eras of The Bouncing Souls and their fifteen studio albums was a nice bonus to both casual fans, and die-hards alike.
Taking to the stage as headliners after a dazzling array of some of the US’s most prestigious and acclaimed ska and punk acts, third-wavers Less Than Jake prove that despite their thirty three years as a band, they’re still capable of providing raw energy, especially with a horn section that will make it impossible for you to stand still in the crowd. As the first show on their UK leg of their Winter Circus tour, spirits were certainly high as toilet paper flew into the crowd, clowns were skanking like their lives depended on it, and the banter between the band and the audience was as sardonic as ever between songs as singer and guitarist Chris DeMakes joked about concert-goers needing to slow down as most of the audience was clearly over thirty.
Opening their twenty song-long set with the upbeat ‘Nervous In The Alley’ taken from their arguably most popular Hello Rockview album, and their setlist being jam-packed with bangers such as (but not limited to), ‘History Of a Boring Town’, ‘All My Best Friends Are Metalheads’, and the newer ‘Sunny Side’ and ‘Brand New Day’, it’s very clear that the band were having just as much fun as the audience instead of feeling like they were going through the motions. Throughout their set which was just over an hour long, it was pretty much a non-stop mosh pit with the exception of their biggest hit in Latin America-‘The Science of Selling Yourself Short’ which consequently turned into the most energetic swaying pit known to man.
Less Than Jake’s dedication to the music business for over thirty years, their popularisation of the third wave ska movement of the 90’s, and their extensively touring schedule since then have cemented their place in punk history. They certainly have more energy than some bands who are half their ages, and their widespread appeal combined made for a brilliant show.