UK SUBS, L.O.A.D, HALFWITS & RAWBOTS
Another fine night from the glorious old warhorses of British Punk Rock ‘n’ Roll.
I’ve reviewed UK SUBS several times in the past for this website. This is less of a review and more of a love letter to one of the most reliable (to damn with faint praise) live acts I have seen over the years. Why? Because the Subs have said that this their last ever tour. No, they’re not packing it all in, there will still be shows but - allegedly! - no more extensive stints on the road.
It’s understandable. Charlie Harper is 78, At 78 years old, he’s been singing in bands since 1964 and has been the UK Subversives main man for 45 years. Through multiple line-up changes, the charismatic frontman has been the one constant presence. That said, the superb bassist, all round good egg and candidate for coolest human being on the planet that is Alvin Gibbs has played with the band for 17 or so years over several stints. Steve Straughan has been in place for 6 years and provides riffy, flash-free style of guitar that Subs songs need. The recently departed Jamie Oliver (no, not that Jamie Oliver...) might be one of my favourite drummers of all time. On first impressions, new boy Magic Dave Humphries might not be up to Oliver’s standards but he is a veritable powerhouse of a drummer, fits right in and is a more than decent replacement. No doubt he’ll grow into the role the more he plays with the band.
Over the years, the Subs have provided some truly great nights. Of course, punk (or a different kind of blues, as Harper would have it) will never be for everyone. There are still those that insist that punk was a haven for the talentless, with no place in 2022. What utter cobblers. There is no one here tonight that is not enjoying themselves. At times, the mosh pit is insane and when did you last see members of every support band throwing themselves around to the headliners? Songs like Endangered Species, Rockers, New York State Police and Limo Life are always great to hear. Anyway, the Subs are more than punk. Warhead and Party In Paris are absolute stone cold classic rock - not punk rock, just rock - songs. There’s even a glorious diversion into heavy, heavy dub with Ice Age, a track that I don’t think I have ever heard live before.
If this is truly the last Subs tour, go and see them. If you can’t, well, go and see them at the one-offs and festivals that they will no doubt be playing in the future. This is a band that is at the absolute height of their powers. Intense, powerful, heavy, fun and having fun.
And now a few words for the rest of the bill.
Locals RAWBOTS have expanded to a four piece since I last saw them and it is somehow added a grind/metalcore spine to the already heavy hardcore punk sound of the likes of Paranoid Bullshit and Whacko The Clown. I’m not sure what Joey and co would make of the cover of Blitzkrieg Bop but it certainly works for me. Rawbots are gaining in confidence with every show they do and are well worth seeing.
Hailing from Canterbury, HALFWITS aren’t dissimilar to Rawbots but add some 21st century dissonance to the hardcore fury. They come on like a less visceral, terrifying (and therefore less thrilling) Bad Breeding. It’s good but not great, although I will welcome the chance to see them again.
Lowestoft’s L.O.A.D play a fairly straightforward, old school oi/second gen punk hybrid. It is nothing I haven’t heard a thousand or more times before but L.O.A.D are entertaining, good fun and almost a relief after the unflagging and some might say one dimensional intensity of Rawbots and Halfwits.
But, good as L.O.A.D, Halfwits and Rawbots are, everyone was here for the Subs and no one left disappointed.
