Spear Of Destiny, Crazy Pink Revolvers. Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 18.05.18.

Crazy Pink Revolvers split the crowd. Some don’t like them. Some think they’re great. I’m with the latter. Formed by Stan Stammers in 1986 after his days with Theatre Of Hate and Spear Of Destiny, disbanding in 1989, reforming in late 2017 and featuring Chris Bell, current TOH gigging drummer, these are their first live shows for nearly 30 years. They released two albums back in the day although seven of tonight’s 10 song set come from second album ‘At The Rivers Edge’ with two more from 1987’s ‘Timeless Smile’ EP. Whilst it could be argued that Stammers is not a singer their songs stand the test of time – listen to the chilled beat of ‘Wednesday 19:45’ or the slashing guitar post punk rock of ‘The Driver’ and ‘Brixton Nights’ -  with some great guitar work by Adam Bolton and wicked twin bass sounds from Stammers and Tris Reignier on rhythm bass. A great opening act.

As is always the case Spear Of Destiny are welcomed on Teesside like long lost friends. Tonight turns out to be a celebration of two fantastic albums. Recently released Tontine – superb both musically and lyrically, full of snarling lyrics, pounding rhythms, singalong chorus’s. “Muppets working the puppets, just for fun” - opening the set with ‘Brighton’ sets the tone. It’s heavy, menacing, full of rumbling bass from Craig Adams and piercing guitar work from Adrian Portas backed with solid drumming from Phil Martini and subtle keyboards curtesy of Steve Allan Jones. ‘MK Ultra’ with it’s chanting chorus and sinister content (CIA mind control), ‘Medievalists’ bounces along with a much more dance around friendly beat but listen to the lyrics and things haven’t changed much “Some people don’t mind dying, they just don’t wanna live / Sticks and stones will break my bones, bombs will really destroy me.” Add in ‘Second Life’, ‘Afrikan Proverb’, which sadly took some explaining for a few people, the beautiful, almost ballad that is ‘Second Life’ and single ‘Mr Livingston’ with it’s gentle acoustic guitar backing Brandon’s story about a friend whose life didn’t go so well, suddenly erupting into a powerful noise as Brandon yells out “Mr Livingstone I presume”.

Tontine is classic Spear Of Destiny and it would have been a great night if they’d simply hammered their way through the whole album. But 2018 also marks 35 years since the release of what many regard as one of Spear Of Destiny’s greatest albums. Their debut long player, Grapes Of Wrath, is full of clattering drums, thumping beats and perfect sax topped off with Kirk Brandon’s distinct vocals. Less raw than ‘Tontine’, more subtle but no less powerful even without the sax it’s a real treat to hear ‘The Preacher’, ‘Roof Of The World’, ‘Grapes Of Wrath’, ‘The Wheel’ and the brilliant guitar work of it’s B side - ‘The Hop’. Add in the perfect singalongs that are ‘World Service’ and ‘Comeback’ and an encore featuring the rousing ‘King Of Kings’ and ‘Liberator’ it’s little wonder many left tonight saying it was the best Spear performance they’d ever seen.

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages, Snakerattlers, The Milk Lizards, Oilbirds. Westgarth SC. 11.05.18.

It’s an early start and consequently I arrive at the tail end of Oilbirds set. I’m also slightly distracted when the speaker stack comes crashing down a couple of meters from where I’m stood. Thankfully nobody hurt but a nice chunk taken out of the table where Steve and Wendy are sitting. What I do see of Oilbirds impresses me a lot. Garage punky blues – Timothy Oxnard’s new outfit (they played their first gig in March) certainly sound like they’re going to make a decent mark on the music scene and I’ll make sure I see them again when they play.

Sunderland’s The Milk Lizards step up and keep us entertained with some superbly danceable surf rock. With a constant background sound of waves lapping on the shore The Milk Lizards play only instrumentals. Instrumentals that range from driving rhythms overlaid with reverb soaked guitar on tracks such as ‘Defcon 5’ to a much more laid back but heavier vibe on ‘Good Cop Bad Cop’.  They don’t even speak between tunes but play a recorded “Thank you very much” after each track. This is music for hot summer nights sitting under a palm tree watching the sun go down. Even in the Westgarth with The Milk Lizards playing your mind wanders to sunnier climes.

Snakerattlers impress once again. Rock n roll with real attitude. Just one guitar, two drums and a cymbal and one hell of a snarling voice from Dan Oliver Gott. Combine them and you get a superb blend of rockabilly, country and punk. Powerful guitar riffs and thumping drum beats from Naomi Gott drive us through the manic ‘Let You Go’, ‘Rattlerock Rumble’ and more. With a stare that seems possessed DG stares at the crowd, and at his wife, occasionally right in your face as he takes his guitar and its savage riffs into the crowd leaving Naomi to knock out the beats alone on stage. It’s good to hear new songs and an indication there’s more to come from this intense, powerful duo.

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages deliver pure, good time R&B tinged rock ‘n’ roll. From opening song ‘Slowly Losing My Mind’ the Westgarth transforms into full on party mood. Barrence sings, shouts, wails through a set list that doesn’t let you go for even a second. New album ‘Soul Flowers Of Titan’ features heavily -  ‘Pain’, ‘Lets Go To Mars’, ‘Adorable’, ‘Sunshine Don’t Make The Sun’ all thundering bursts of energy with superb sax, heavy blues guitar and energy that takes you completely out of yourself to a place where nothing matters except the beat driving through you. Things slow down with the sultry groove of ‘Tingling’ providing moments to catch your breath before ‘The Claw’, from 2015’s Under The Savage Sky raises the tempo and the temperature once again. But it’s not all about recent releases and with a significant back catalogue to draw from we’re treated to early classics ‘Bip Bop Bip’, ‘Walking With Barrence’, ‘Bloody Mary’,  and more from way back in 1984 / 85. Songs that have stood the test of time, still sound great and still deliver hard hitting, infectious rhythms.  It’s hot outside tonight. Inside it’s melting with sweat dripping from band and audience alike. The fact that the place is still bouncing after a set of more than 20 songs is testament to the energy and pure entertainment that seeps from every pore of Barrence Whitfield & The Savages. Surely another gig that will sit comfortably in my top 10 by the end of the year.

The Chords UK + Thee Strawberry Mynde + Sound Reaction. Georgian Theatre, Stockton. 13.04.18.

I’m not sure why but The Chords completely passed me by back in my teenage years despite me being a prolific buyer of punk/new wave/new mod records. More about them later.

First up are Sound Reaction. I’ve seen them once before over 12 months ago and, at the time, wasn’t over impressed. Tonight it’s a different story. Sound Reaction deliver set of garage rock tunes with a distinctly mod twist to them. Mark Duffy’s vocals are strong, Karl Steinberg’s guitar playing spot on as he knocks out some fairly heavy riffs and it’s all backed up by tight rhythms from bassist Chris Marner and drummer Chris Ashcroft. Last year my mind wandered and I wandered to the bar. Tonight I have no such inclination. Guitar heavy garage rock they are and they do it really well making me glad I made the effort to arrive early.

Thee Strawberry Mynde knock out great 60’s garage beats. Heavy bass and repetitive guitar strumming grab your attention and get your feet moving. ‘Know No more’, ‘She Sets The Scene’ – a song that despite being written 20 years ago sounds great today and ‘Hidden’ would have fitted perfectly into one of those music programmes such as Ready Steady Go. New(ish) drummer Stu has slotted in perfectly sounds as though he’s been with them for years. Thee Strawberry Mynde look good too. Tonight there’s no trademark striped t-shirts but instead Bazza’s smart suit, Paul Garner’s eye catching paisley shirt and Stu’s 100% mod haircut. Thee Strawberry Mynde are raw and tight and deliver 9 – 10 tunes that hook you right in and leave you wishing they could have played just a little bit longer.

Featuring only Chris Pope from the original Chords I did wonder what tonight would be like. I was reassured by a friend and Chords fan that all would be good and how right he was. The Chords UK were fantastic. Non-stop punky mod rock n roll. The Chords UK are in your face, fast, non-stop, energetic. Chris Pope leaps around like a 20 year old while Mic Stoner Kenny Cooper and Sandy Michie back him up with energy and enthusiasm to match. This band don’t stay still for a second and their enjoyment of what they’re doing shines through. Add in a crowd that’s 100% behind them from the opening note and you get a set of explosive sing-a-long tunes and an electric atmosphere. ‘Get Me To Saturday Night’, ‘Now It’s Gone’, ‘One More Minute’, ‘The British Way Of Life’, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’, new songs such as ‘I Can’t Let Go’ – every one of them, and the rest, has the crowd dancing, singing, forgetting the mundane trials of everyday. It’s a perfect Friday night gig and as I stroll back to my car I can’t help (i) regretting I didn’t pay serious attention to The Chords 38 years ago, although to be fair I was only 15, (ii) wondering if I can afford to start buying their back catalogue and (iii) hoping I get to see them again soon. Superb stuff.