999, L.O.A.D. & Hotwired

The Waterfront Studio is depressingly empty when Norwich’s HOTWIRED take to the stage. The band - Emma on vox, lead guitarist Paul, Dandelion on harmonies and guitar, Si on bass, drummer Lee and Dodgy Dave Smith on fiddle - make the best of it and hit the stage with an energetic take on the title track of recent album Crimes of the Future. With two Exploited tees on stage, it is no surprise that the sound is rooted in UK82/street punk, as admirably demonstrated by second song Punk United. I always enjoy Hotwired when I see them but the addition of Dodgy Dave and his fiddle brings a welcome edge and originality. Perhaps thankfully, things never venture into folk-punk territory and Hotwired are as raucous and raw as but have gone up a level. With the Studio a lot fuller now, the finale of Nirvana’s Territorial Pissings - with Emma and Dodgy Dave both on the dance floor - is really rather excellent.

Lowestoft’s L.O.A.D. don’t do anything that I haven’t heard a thousand or more times before. Their sound is a mash-up of old school oi and second gen punk  - think a combination of the Rejects and Subs and you won’t be far wrong. Tonight’s there’s a touch of Motörhead that I’ve not noticed when I’ve seen ‘em before. Some of the between song banter is hackneyed and some of the stage moves bring Quo to mind. For all that, I can’t help liking them. See, songs like My Town and Dead Heroes  are heartfelt and any band that sings a song dedicated to the pleasures of a cuppa tea can’t be bad. Above all, L.O.A.D are entertaining good fun and that very much ain’t a bad thing to be. 

Bar a couple of hiatuses, 999 have been active since 1977. Amazingly, in all that time there’s only been four line-up changes. Original members and brothers Nick Cash (vox and guitar) and Guy Days (guitar) are still in place. Ex-Lurker Arturo Bassick has been pummelling the bass since 1993 and Stuart Meadows thumping the drums since 2018. The set spans pretty much the entire history of the band’s eleven albums, up to and including 2020’s rather decent Bish! Bash! Bosh!

The set is mixed. At times it is disappointing - a strangely restrained take on … Bosh! highlight My Dad Trashed My Submarine), a shambolic and an overly fast rush through Emergency. At others - the Stranglers-goes-dub of Feeling Alright With The Crew, a driving Inside Out, a corking Homicide, the glam stomp Lil Red Riding Hood - it is storming. For the most part, it is pretty damned good but I’ve seen 999 play much better sets than this. Whatever, like near contemporaries Stiff Little Fingers and UK Subs, 999 can be relied upon to deliver a decent set.