Above Them come from Pontefract in Yorkshire (now Wales as I always thought!) indie punk stuff. Was good to see Bisons play again!
Rice Milk I wasn't keen on, more because the vocals went through me and was just painful to hear. Nothing wrong with the music so canny indie rock but the vocals to me were just terrible.
Have added the pic of us at the Social Club gig!
Free gig at the Tyne bar down on the Ouseburn.
Tyne bar is a nice venue and think all the gigs they put on are free, you have an outside stage and also a stage inside which when full is a but cramped to get around in!
Cauls were to play but pulled out, replaced with Natelys Whores Kid Sister.
Though the Day Man Lost were pretty good like, think they had just had their split with Prolefeed come out round this time.
Hopefully one day will see Looking For an Answer as I quiet like them!
Think I always got Low Culture mixed with another band, but what band I don't know! Some decent garage punk rock with a good line up of local support!
Electronic stuff here, ambient sometimes hinting at a bit IDM, first heard Impasse by him on a 3" CDr and it was fantastic though this is an edited version of two tracks and the fill version got released as a 12" with two tracks recorded around the same time.
Basic House is Bish from Drunk in Hell, his stuff is a bit of ambient, a bit of noise a bit of everything really, one of my favourite tracks by him is L-Wave and Comb which was released by Luke's label Alter.
Michael and Dawn were the Cankles, bizarre keyboard noise dressed as an old couple!
Some metal, rock and punk at Trills!!!!!!!!!!
Think Waz had left Battery by now and there was a different drummer?
Souls of Jack Ketch have seem to been around for ages and bit surprised that Discogs say they only have two releases!
They were quite heavy metal!!!
Second time seeing the Arteries play, always thought they were canny.
Bisons were great, I kinda thought they were a bit like Husker Du! Only did one demo which was a shame as reckon they would have done some banging stuff later!
No idea who No School Reunion were!
Trans/Human was a duo consisting of Adam Denton and Luke Twyman, more prepare guitar and using over music making devices.
I think Captcha was a lad called Sean Cotterill but I'm not 100%
Wrest's set was quite something, broken cymbal, used cooking oil drum, an axe and some electric shears with added Noise Bastard playing records over it!
There is one bit when smashing stuff up with the axe he was getting close to an amp and I could see Adam getting worried!
Haikai were playing a serious number of gigs and also recording a lot!
Smut was Lucy's project, mix of sometimes harsh noise and then droney goodness!
Another short-lived band with Tighten Grip playing alternative rock.
Break Ups were from down south, punk rock stuff, fairly decent though not sure if they are still a band!
Heart Attack and Vine was a short-lived venue around the Ouseburn, just along from the Cluny. Think it was mainly a practice space?
Was quite small so having two bands as loud as Haikai no Ku and Waheela wasn't great on the lugs!
Minutemen bass player Mike Watt played with Italian duo Il Sogno de Marinaio doing experiment rock, some good stuff though think they just go under the name Il Sogno de Marinaio now.
Thought it was a good set and some canny tracks!
As always, a band that rarely played and only put out a tape and a CDr.
Really wish I recorded more of Charles Dexter Ward's shows!
Can't remember if I went home before/if Helictite actually played!
It's Not Ok were from London, can't remember much about them but they were a punk band I assume! Mean can't find anything in a quick google search to give them another listen to jog my memory, to be fair was more likely here to see the locals play!
It did sell out really quick but they announced a second show the night after!
Knew about Thurston due to Sonic Youth and had no idea about Michael Chapman.
Both did solo acoustic sets, was taken back at how brilliant Chapman was! For those who don't know he has been part of the English Folk scene since the 60's and was an absolute joy to see play!
They both ended do a set with Chapman playing his acoustic and Thurston on an electric guitar which I'm not sure got recorded or if they ever recorded anything studio wise together.
Stupid memory of the night, tried Blue Moon beer and thought it was shit!
[Edit] Uploaded a pic of me and Thurston from this gig due to lack of flyer!
First time see Martha, poppy punk from Durham made up of ONSIND and Fashanu members, class nice bouncy tunes.
Minton is a composer, vocalist and a few other things. The set he did with the similar Luke Poot was more vocal, mix of singing, noises and nonsense. To some may seem stupid but it has a weird charm too it. Mean not for everyone, but guess giving something a listen once won't hurt!
Raein returned to Newcastle, think with extra members this time! There was a lot more people here for them and their Italian brand of screamo!
Crash of Rhinos were an emo band down from Derby, what made them different to other bands is that they had two bass players as well as two guitar players.
Cavalcades played post hardcore/emo and were from Aberdeen.
Locals Waheela, I always found their sets were different, sometimes if could be a set of post rock, next doom metal then noise! Good too see live, they had plenty of self-released CDrs out.
Jackal-headed Guard of the Dead came down from Edinburgh, some doomy stoner rock, was alright!
Benway was a noise group made up of Noise Bastard, Steve Savage, Martin and Wrest. Short lived but not forgotten! Noise rock with electronics, believe one of the OG New Blockaders may have helped on a recording...I know one of my pictures got used for one of their tapes!
Helictite were also locals, a collective of Jazz artists and improv, was interesting stuff.
Not sure if this was the gig some drunk bloke came in and ate chips and curry sauce and got the sauce everywhere, I got some on my pants and was foaming!
First Wade gig? Locals who were known as Sunday League, guess a slight line up change but pretty much carrying on where they left off as...
Unfun were Canadian punk rock, they were canny good.
Some doom metal from Ommadon from Scotland, sure one of them was in Snowblood?
Read someone describe them to be a bit like Sunn but guess the heavy guitar feedback might make you think that Ommadon has a drummer which adds a bit more to their sound.
Speaking of the drummer, he would later join members of Khuunt to play in Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs!
For some reason I always though Ommadon were named after the Mile Oldfield album (which is class) but then noticed that is Ommadawn....
Think I fucked off early so didn't bother with Conan!
This was a charity gig and in memory of John from the Big Oaks who had passed away.
Never saw the Big Oaks as they were, but the remaining members and guest singers did a good tribute.
Distraction Records had put out the Monster Turd album out a month or two before hand and it's a mad album of crazy rock and nonsense! Check out their song Pancakes Vs Omelettes!
Good noise for a dark winter’s night in the tower!
Swan Hunter is Adam Denton, his set was prepared electric guitar, was interesting to watch.
Some queer noise rock punx from Roseanne Barrr. The duo were ok, quite loud and out there.
To quote a friend from that night, it wasn't anything original and blokes dressing in women’s clothes is nothing new!
Some pop punk from the USA with the Marine Electric and Fellow Project, both were fairly good from what I can recall.
People Making Noises were a local band, I thought they were a bit shit to be honest!
Got on the guestlist for this thanks to my mates!
Field Music are from Sunderland and are brothers, playing rock/pop music. Kind of think both brothers have done a lot of other projects as well over the years.
Enjoyed Warm Digits set a lot as was around their second album Interchange had come out, proper kraut rock worship!
John Egdell is a local musician doing acoustic stuff, sure he also worked at the Cluny for a bit!
Halloween night at Morden Tower!
Transylvanian Sex Pest was another project of MP Wood, for this gig they were sound tracking a film they had made. Or they showed the film then did a set?!
Dark Bargain was Lucy from Rife, Wrest and Xazzaz(?) bit noisy rock stuff. This might have been one of their only gigs they did.
This might have been fancy dress too; Jonas came as a dead Jesus Christ! He may have been to a party before hand or going to one after this gig?!
[Edit] Added photo of Dark Bargain from this night
I didn't dress up but as I had my crutch just told people I had come as a benefit cheat...
Though I was impressed that someone came as a dead Barbie Doll and even had a box that when around her, some dedication to have that all night on!
All locals, only band not mentioned in previous posts is Rivals, members of the Future Heads and Offshore Radio. Alt rock, they were great though as always, a band that didn't put much out or were around long enough!
Islaja also known as Merja Kokkonen is an composer, performer from Finland but lives in Berlin. Once described her a Finnish Bjork which is a bit unfair as both are awesome in their own ways. Islaja combines a bit of folk with electronic and slight drones, recommend checking out the track Ihmispuku.
Nearly spoilt her set as took a photo on my phone and it bleeped! At the time I had a Samsung phone and you couldn't turn the bleep flash off, this was done due to loads of Koreans upskirting people which to be fair is a good idea to have!
Tomutonttu was some mad but interesting music, or as a mate called it when he walked out, "some Willy Wonka shit!".
I enjoyed it, enough so I picked up some CDs of his!
Poorly attended gig, which was a bit of a bummer as one of the bands came from Lebanon.
Bao with Rhodri Davies set was amazing, mix of Davies harp work with the middle eastern sounds provided by Bao were incredible.
The blokes on Bao were really canny and picked up some CDs from of the members label, unfortunately they didn't have anything of theirs to sell which was a shame.
Sometimes and it sounds daft wonder if they are ok with how sometimes issues in the middle east are.
Was 28 on this day so went to this as an excuse for a night out!
Battery Humans came from the Blyth area, punk as fuck, ex-Crane member, they were pretty good, had a few line up changes after this and then a name to Sanction This!
Exiles would have been a punk band.
Prolefeed were a fast and aggro pissed off hardcore band, with ex-members of Sawn Off/Tide of Iron etc
Nice gig the night before my birthday!
Usual bands bar having Phil Tyler doing some solo folk stuff.
Eaten Alive were from Middlesbourgh,
Obstruct were from Leeds, Johnny from Control played guitar in them for a bit, Leeds Hardcore!
Not sure if Control had a different line up this time?
Harda Tider was from Malmo, Sweden, think their name in english is Hard Times? They were good, old school euro hardcore!
Seems strange but during the gig, I thought I recognise the singer and turns out he had been hanging out with a mate who moved to Indonesia and in their blog, there had been pictures of him in it! Small world like!
Star Turbine are the duo of Sindre Bjerga and Claus Poulsen, as mentioned nice droney space sounds!
Gate/Pain Jerk/Sylvester Anfang II/The Unit Ama/Richard Dawson
Fushitsusha/Hild Sofie Trafjord/Lobster Priest
Second Tusk Fest, this time fully at the Star and Shadow for the three days. It felt long as I was still using my crutches and popping tramadol for the pain!
My highlights were:
Gate, Gary from The Dead C doing his guitar noise, I felt like his set was 2 hours long (don't think it was) which might not sound good to some people but it was class!
Hild Sofie Trafjord's set was interesting, she used a french horn and sort of processed it through electronics for this really cool droney sound.
Got to see some proper old school japanoise from Pain Jerk!
Final band on Sunday and the fest was the mighty Fushitsusha! Amazing rock/psychedelic band fronted by the legendary Keiji Haino!
If I hadn't buggered myself up, I would have seen Godspeed You! Black Emperor! in London but gave my ticket up :(
First gig after doing myself a trouble! Massive moon boot and a crutch!
Was worth it to see Shonen Knife play, legendary Japanese punk band!
Rexine was local, bit more rocky, they didn't seem to be around long but sure they would be on loads of flyers for other gigs!
Small Gang, I'm sure were another Japanese trio Shonen brought over with them, they were canny enough.
Trip to Auld Reekie to see Grimes!
Good start when you get on the train and some fucker is in your seat and has the cheek to ask to see your ticket!
Had a good wonder round Edinburgh for a bit as had a lot of time to kill, saw a Baked Potato shop and also a Princess Diana tartan shop!
Majical Cloudz and Becoming Real were shit.
Grimes was class plus it was years before she ended up seeing Elon Musk! Some interesting merch with her fanny rings!
Was a good night, made more memorable by drunk me breaking my ankle in three places later that night in a nightclub!
Also fucked my elbow, not sure what happened as it didn't get sorted but I still now 12 years later can't straighten out my right arm properly!
Rat Faced Bastard, another metal band which at the time always made me confused to who they were as members were in Plague Rider, Roy Cropper and sure another band!
Was not sure who Franz Nicolay was before going to this gig, but he is in the Hold Steady and had been in the World/Inferno Friendship Society.
Doing his solo stuff, was good and he was really funny between songs.
Will have to double check at a later date and edit but think Bad Ideas were a punk rock group. Same goes with the Double Cross, will have to find out some more and edit.
Again, my memory is shite!
Daniel vs the World was a lad called Daniel, just him and his electric piano singing queer punx songs. Like very personal songs and something different to bring to a gig. Think later he did recruit other people and became more of a band?
So quick walk over to the Northy!
Thinking that Beauty Pageant by this time had a new drummer for them.
Was probably the last time I saw End Now play, and Jimmy and Fret were brilliant as always.
First of two gigs in one day and seeing Beauty Pageant twice!
This may have been something to do with the Late Shows that were happening at the time or there was a reason why there were two shows on!
Brain Fever renamed themselves La Luna at a later date, think after their last release as Brain Fever!
Great Canadian hardcore, during their set I went to the toilet, had found it was quicker to use the hidden* toilet on the same floor rather than go all the way down to the basement of the Central where the main bogs were! Was only five minutes and when I came back the singer had taken a bass guitar stock to the face and had busted her nose/mouth and there was blood all over! This didn't stop her from visiting the set like, proper hardcore like!
Another great set from Bonehouse, Tide and Sunday...
* wasn't really hidden, was just always locked but not tonight!
Acrid Lactations were a duo made up of Stuart Arnot and Susan Fitzpatrick making a lot of noise.
No idea who Chastity Potatoe, want to say I think it may have been someone from Usurper? However google is not bringing anything up!
[6/06/2025] Not a real flyer, but found in an email for this gig, suppose it will do and to be fair I think there wasn't a flyer for this to start off with?
Muncie Girls came from Exeter or around there, were a little bit like Lemuria. Very good live.
T-Shirt Weather were from Durham a bit of indie pop/punk.
Wionna Forever was Jonathan from Martha/Fashanu's solo project, quite good stuff, don't think he played under this alias much, there is a demo CDr which isn't listed on discogs or online anywhere, I think.
Wrestling was an emo duo from Newcastle, bit like Cap'n Jazz and American Football to an extent.
Welsh pop punkers Dividers and Glass Avalanche (not sure where they were from) were decent.
Farman were locals who were pretty decent, they had an EP out which is class and then they stopped being a band.
Bear Trade were from Sunderland, ex-Mercury League and Southport amongst others, Blood and Sand is such a great album.
Matt Davis & Rhodri Davies was a improv set, Rhodri on his harp and I think Matt used a couple of different instruments during their set.
Mariam Rezaei & Posset has Posset's skonky dictaphone improv with Mariam singing and use of various items to help create sound, in my head I'm sure I see her using a bow on a chemistry glass container half filled with water?
Another night of noise and weird shit!
DJ Smear Test and Barg Barg Barginology were similar glitchy electro noise?!
Can't recall if The Bastard Gates was a project of MP Wood's or not...
May have been gifted a few cans of LCL so probably won't have much recollection of this gig!
This may have been the gig where Wrest played a small set using a dictaphone?
Good line up of locals playing.
Heavy hitting gig with noise rock legends Unsane and Big Business!
Maybe the only show where I've bought more than one t-shirt!
The Borough was a canny pub, old fashioned though this may have changed if it has a refurb over the years since I've last been.
Weekend Nachos were over from Chicago, fast powerviolence band, good stuff!
Shoot the Bastard were grindcore from Leeds with members of The Afternoon Gentlemen in them.
Think Alaska Young were from Sunderland and have a vague memory of them saying this was their final show?
Picked up the Grace single sided 7" and was like woah cos I was on the thanks list!
Reunion gig for Unit Ama, I think? Class stuff, read them described as Avant Rock! They have been in various bands over the years, Steven known for being in the great Crane.
He is a great guitar player and the other guys in the band are themselves very talented musicians. Had heard loads of good stuff over the years about them so was canny to see them play!
No Fit State I think were made up of volunteers that worked the Star and Shadow? Riot Grrl punk rock, think they did a mini album but not sure!
Another hot night at the Lubberfiend on a Sunday! Don't really know much about Modern Heaven, they are a duo from Melbourne, Australia...
