Music > Live Reviews

Cock Sparrer & Crashed Out / Hung Like Hanratty & Jack The Lad

The Adrian Flux Waterfront

13/09/21

I’ll admit to being a little nervous as I approach the Waterfront. Tonight’s headliners, Cock Sparrer, are, for better or worse, associated with the Oi movement of the early 80s. Oi, also known as streetpunk, came out of punk and, whilst it is a gross generalisation, ultimately became linked with Far Right, NF supporting skinheads reeking violent havoc. It turns out that I very much did NOT need to worry but more of that later... 

On arrival, I’m surprised to find that there are two punk gigs happening at the Waterfront tonight and that I can get into both, Upstairs in the Studio, there’s Hung Like Hanratty supported by Jack The Lad and Hotwired. Downstairs, it is Cock Sparrer with Crashed Out.

I arrive just in time for the last chord of HOTWIRED’s set. That’s a shame as, on past showings, Hotwired play decent, enjoyable - if unremarkable - punk and I’d have liked to see them again. If you’re going to a gig and Hotwired are supporting, get there early and don’t miss out like I do tonight. 

So it is straight back downstairs for CRASHED OUT. The Jarrow quartet play straight-up, honest-to-goodness, old school punk. Anthemic and likeable, it brings to mind early Stiff Little Fingers with more muscle and Angelic Upstarts. Good stuff.

Back in the studio, locals JACK THE LAD deliver a set that mixes classic punk with Oi and a touch of ska. Originals mix with a trio of covers including Cock Sparrer’s Runnin’ Riot and Suburban Rebels by the Business. Whilst this music won’t change the world, the interaction between the band and a few hardcore fans/friends is thoroughly entertaining and I’ll definitely be checking this lot out again. 

I only get to see a couple or three songs from HUNG LIKE HANRATTY. Clearly that is too little of the set to form a fair judgement but what I hear has tinges of melodic hardcore that reminds me of Bad Religion and Social Distortion. 

 And so, I venture to what I fear will be a veritable lions’ den of simmering aggression for COCK SPARRER. I’m expecting the undercurrent of animosity - or worse - that I’ve experienced at shows by the likes of Sham 69. There is absolutely none of that argy-bargy and the atmosphere is brilliant. 

Cock Sparrer may be associated with Oi but that is unfair. The band formed the best part of a decade before Oi got going. Yes, the sound has a boot boy stomp to it but it is more Slade or Glitter Band or even early Who than the likes of The Blood or 4-Skins.

A year shy of the band’s 50th anniversary, Cock Sparrer put on a good show. Vocalist Colin, bassist Steve and guitarists Mick and Daryl barely stand still. Drummer Steve pounds the drums relentlessly. Colin’s voice is a gruff but sometimes soulful bark. Songs like Runnin’ Riot, Take ’Em All and Where Are They Now bring forth mass crowd singalongs and the encore produces three stone cold classics in Suicide Girls, England Belongs To Me and We’re Coming Back. 

What a night. And I’m even home in time to catch the last three games of the tennis!