WONK UNIT - YUR MUM - I SAID GOODBYE
It has been a while since Wonk Unit last graces the fine old city and the Wonk Fam are out in force for Friday night at the B2.
Opening proceedings, it’s I SAID GOODBYE's brand of easy going melodic power-pop-punk. This is a band I have seen a few times and usually thoroughly enjoy and their album Fairweather is highly recommended. Tonight, though, something is missing. Maybe it is the curiously muted sound. Whatever, they just don’t get going in their usual way, which is a shame.
Muted is certainly not an allegation that can be levelled at YUR MUM. Originally from Brazil but now resident in London, the duo consist of singing bassist Anelise and drummer Fabio. Imagine a feral Royal Blood with Lemmy on bass and you’ll be somewhere towards Yur Mum’s sound. Banana Republic quotes from Welcome To The Jungle and recalls the time when G n’ R were genuinely the most dangerous band in the world whilst Sweat Shop is absolutely ferocious. Hopefully someone will bring Yur Mum back to Norwich soon for you to check out. In the meantime, grab the album Tropical Fuzz.
WONK UNIT gigs are not mere shows. They are events. They are joyous gatherings. And tonight is no exception. From a pre-set singalong of Ebony & Ivory, this is clearly going to be something special. Opener Horses has been described by a mate as the best song ever. I wouldn’t go that far but there’s not many openers that will see the crowd’s singing drown out the band. In the next hour, the band rip through another 21 songs. From old favourites to tunes from new LP Uncle Daddy, there isn’t a duffer here. Indeed, can any band play three songs in a row that match the trio of (best Xmas song ever) Christmas In A Crackhouse, Go Easy and Awful Jeans? Really? And I’m rendered ecstatically happy, if speechless, by the closing duo of Kings Road Sporting Heroes and Stigmata/Johnny Rambo.
Throughout, frontman Alex is in fine form, regaling the crowd with tales of pissing out of train windows in Lewisham and the discovery of keyboard player Vez’s songwriting talents and more. As always with the Wonk, the songs - however furious - are delivered with tongue-in-cheek humour, energy and passion - humour, energy and passion that the crowd takes and give back in spades. Yeah, I could have done without the best part of a pint that came flying out of the mosh pit and all over me but, hells, even that wasn’t going to dampen my enjoyment.
With absolutely no hyperbole, Wonk are one of the most exciting, most fun live bands out there and everyone should see them at least once. Now, to get my jacket dry cleaned...
