Music > Live Reviews

Wonk Unit

Voodoo Daddy's Showroom

23/11/17

For an unbiased review of Wonk Unit, you should probably look elsewhere. I love Wonk Unit and in the three years since I first saw them play live they have become one of my favourite bands. There’s something incredibly joyous and inspiring about them, and all of this stems from main man Alex Wonk. He is not just a lead singer, songwriter, lyricist, artist, poet and record label boss, he is Daddy Wonk, the pied piper of all things DIY punk rock and I, and many others, will continue to follow him on his journey for as long as he wants us to.

Back for their third appearance at the Owl in a little under 18 months, this was easily the busiest one yet. By the time the band came onstage the gig room was packed, amazing what can be achieved by sticking to what you believe in and being bloody good at what you do. Sadly I arrived later than planned and immediately bumped into a thousand people I know, therefore managing to miss the whole of Project Mork’s set. I’m sorry guys, schoolboy error on my part, but I have enjoyed them every time I’ve seen them and heard nothing but praise from the punters filing down into the bar. First band for me then was Manchester’s Aerial Salad. Having being support on the whole of this tour, they were tight and confident if not especially original. With a sound that owed a lot to Green Day and any number of bands that I used to listen to on Fat Wreck Chords comps, but vocally reminding me of the great Leatherface, I enjoyed their set. Given the fact that all three members are 21 or under I reckon they’ve got time on their side to find a slightly more distinct sound and I hope to catch them again somewhere down the line.

A Wonk Unit show is a celebration. Rarely have I seen more happy faces in one place. Opening up with the ridiculously silly, but oddly beautiful ‘Horses’ the tone was set. Behind the veneer of humour, lies a band that are very serious about what they do: it’s not often you get songs that cover everything from sweatshops (Awful Jeans), domestic abuse (Bin Him), not asking for guestlist (Je M’Appelle Alex) to old trains (err, Old Trains) during the course of a one hour punk gig. All delivered with huge hooks and killer choruses. New guitarist Kenny slotted in perfectly, although his guitar could have done with being louder in the mix. Tommy on drums and Pwosion on bass power the music along and collectively they have become an absolutely fantastic live band.

They pulled out a few older tunes to alleviate end of tour boredom at playing the same set, but also delivered every song we could have possibly wished to have heard, and ended up playing past curfew time. The only time things went slightly awry was when they attempted to get a conga going to accompany a new song. Most joined in, some of us were too cool to do so…haha…and after Alex’s mic packed up during it, everything ground to a halt mid show. Still, we soon built up again and it was by far the liveliest crowd I’ve yet seen at a Wonk gig. I even saw a human pyramid being attempted at one point – respect. This was my fifth Wonk live experience, and it was not only the best one yet, but also the best show I’ve seen at the new Owl.

Like I say, I love Wonk Unit, they make me very happy. They deserve every bit of success they’re having – Alex deserves it too and sometimes in life just seeing the good guys winning is enough.