24.06.2025 - Necron 9/Louse/Knome/Börda - Lubberfiend, Newcastle

Another night at the Lubber!

Börda's third gig and canny d-beat punk!

Knome are from Glasgow, noticed the bass player is the singer from the excellent Bleaks. They were class, nice fast hardcore punk, started off with a half cover of Feeder's Just a Day before hitting into their own stuff and ending with a SSD cover!

Picked up their demo tape, worth checking out or if you can catch them live do it!

Some scum rock noise from locals Louse, always gets the crowd riled up a bit!

All the way from Milwaukee is Necron 9, nearing the end of a Euro/UK tour, think after this gig they have Glasgow then Dublin left to go.

Elliott from Börda, who put this gig on had seen them at Brainrotter Fest and had said we were all in for a treat and he wasn't wrong.

Some brilliant old school hardcore in the same ilk as The Fix. No fannying around and to the point which was very enjoyable!

Made sure to pick up their LP, 16/17 minutes of raging hardcore, what's not nice to like about that?!

16.06.2025 - Terror/Jivebomb/No Relief/Dead Stare - Digital, Newcastle

A no barrier hardcore show at Digital!!!!!!!!

Dead Stare's first gig, short and sweet as they only have 4 songs and only recently released a demo.

Ex-Mortsafe and believe current member/s of Finish What You Started, decent heavy hardcore.

From Brighton, we had next up No Relief. I thought they were a bit shit to be honest, not the kind of hardcore I would listen too, but the majority of the crowd were digging it.

For some reason I had thought Jivebomb were from Brighton or London, but they come from Baltimore. They were pretty decent live, mean probably not a band I would listen to on vinyl/CD. Did think that one of the guitarists looked a bit like Mike Vest!

Again, not a massive fan of Terror, in that I have only heard a handful of songs etc but fucking hell they put on one hell of a show!

You would think with a name like Terror they might be a bit of a macho bullshit band but nah, they want everyone to be a part of the positive energy in their show.

So many stage dives and people just getting into it without any fights or ego. Really enjoyed their set, did feel the urge to get up and stage dive but I decided to be sensible and stay at the side and then at the back.

Also enjoyed the gig being done and dusted before 10pm! No rushing to catch the last bus or metro home which is always a plus!

Even though I'm in my 40's, I don't think I'll ever get sick of going to shows!

14.06.2025 - Smote/Penelope Trappes - The Cluny, Newcastle

Had left this pretty much last minute and got a ticket on the Friday before, lucky there were still tickets available!

First time seeing Penelope Trappes and had only gave her a quick listen in the morning before the gig! 

A really a amazing set by her, vocal stuff over dreamy ambient electronics, she used two microphones so assume one was lined into pedals to layer her vocals(?), I'm not 100% sure, she was backed up by Mark from Vorpor, again playing cello. I was really taken back at how class it was, I can't really compare her to anyone, I did want to say a mix of Zola Jesus and Julianna Barwick, but I don't know.

Third time seeing Smote, despite them having been a part of the local scene for a good chunk of time, sure every time I have seen them, their line up slightly changes too.

One of the best live bands around to see, a lovely mix of prog and krautrock I think, they have quoted Träd, Gräs & Stenar as a big influence and all the bands before Träd.. and that is clear to see.

Great night and think Smote are playing the Lubberfiend in September so will be at that. Picked up the Smote live album, not sure if it was a tour release but they had it down as an unreleased live album so maybe not and it could be out soon. It is on Rocket Recordings though can't find any info on it yet...

13.06.2025 - Vorpor/Christian Alderson/Mothlight - The Cumberland Arms, Byker

A warm Friday night in a small room at the Cumberland! 

Knew it would be a decent night, when getting off the metro at Byker and walking past a bloke battering 5 blokes outside the pub for some reason or another!

Complete opposite of The Get Up Kids from the other night, which was fairly packed out, this was quite a small gathering of people, reminds me of the normal noise gigs of a few years back which were poorly attended, but always good!

First up was Mothlight, second gig for him. Interesting stuff, as he has a few homemade noise boxes and gizmos for his set up.

Was a bit in between with his set, was some parts I wasn't into and felt like it wasn't going anywhere, then you would have parts that were amazing! Not trying to knock him and it was only his second show, but think he will be one to watch over the next few years as can see his set probably getting more and more complex etc...

Next up we had Christian Alderson of The Unit Ama/Archipelago doing a solo drum set. Wasn't expecting what I saw and heard!

Think I was assuming it was just going to be jazz drum solos, but it was a lot better than that! A lot of different percussion instruments used alongside his drumkit. He asked the crowd to pick a number from 1 - 33 and think that each number had been indicated a piece of music. Some wonderful droney/ambient stuff infused with drumming, was nice and relaxing. The only thing that spoilt this set was someone calling my mobile (it was on silent) three or four times! Turned out to be workmates who were outside in the beer garden....

Finally came Vorpor, a duo of Lee Stokoe (Culver) and a lad called Mark. A collaboration of keyboard/tape drone and cello, also believe this was their second gig as well. Really good stuff, wish the seats had been better as I wanted to lean back and just drift off into the void! They do have one CD-R out at the moment and hopefully some more releases to come.

Was a decent night and saw a lot of people I hadn't seen for ages!

10.06.2025 - The Get Up Kids/Lakes/Dikembe - Northumbria University, Newcastle

Dikembe was a late addition to the line up, they were due to play the Cluny the same night with Suds but for some reason that never went ahead.

They are from Florida and play emo/indie rock. They were ok, not a band I would go out my way to see like but not bad.

Second up, were Lakes. For some reason I thought were from Ireland, I was sure I read that, but they are from Watford!

From what the singer said, they are normally a six piece but one of the members was unable to play tonight's gig so their set had to slightly change. A bit of alternative rock with a bit of an 80's feel in places, still trying to think of the band I thought they sounded a little bit like but it's not coming to me. 

Again, thought they were ok, but don't think I would see them again, maybe give them another listen to hear them as a full band, could maybe change my mind then!

Did feel a bit bummed out for the two openers as the venue didn't feel busy.

Finally, The Get Up Kids got up onstage and played a great set. Played the whole of Something to Write Home About for it's 25th Anniversary. 

Was saying to a mate before they played it's funny that the last time them played around here was in 1996(?) with Braid and that it was probably £2/3 on the door!

Definitely worth the wait to see them and as part of their encore got to hear, Stay Gold Pony Boy and Shorty!! Two of my favourite songs by them from the first album.

Nice night out and saw some mates I hadn't seen for ages. Though, this morning I feel like I can barely walk as my legs and back are kicking me!

31.05.2025 - Ramleh/The Shits/Louse/Skintern - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

Soon as this got announced I was pretty siked to see Ramleh again, especially as a four-piece band doing their noise rock work as opposed the last time I saw them 15 years ago as a duo doing power electronics (which as also very good!).

Night kicked off with Skintern, not sure where they are from, maybe London?

A nice mix of noise rock and hardcore punk, they had a film showing in the background which I'm surprised no one moaned about, guess if it was at the Star and Shadow maybe...film was a bit of BDSM stuff on a loop. It added to the performance as could imagine this sort of stuff when Ramleh were playing in their early days or any early 80's power electronics band.

There was a bit where someone got on stage and cut the guitarists forehead and blood got everywhere, again part of the performance and not done in spite. Though where I was in the crowd, I thought the bloke had a bit of his hair cut, not sure why!

Look forward to picking up any demo or release this band may do and would see a again. 

Been a while since I've seen Louse play and they have just recently come back from short Euro tour with Brak.

Also been busy releasing stuff as think in a period of a year they have put out an LP, 12" EP, split 10" with The Shits and a split tour tape with Brak.

Good to hear the newish stuff live, sleazy noise rock!

Callum from the Shits had been busy this gig, having drummed for Skintern and Louse and now up on vocal duties for The Shits.

Honestly think the majority of the crowd were here for them to be fair. I like the Shits, don't like having the shits...

Think a couple of new songs were played, know the new album has been recorded and will be out some time soon.

A bit of a late start to Ramleh's set but that didn't matter as they were phenomenal live. Think I would say this was better than the last time I saw them! Cracking noise rock and looking forward to the new album by them.

I did have to go before them finished for the last metro but saw nearly an hour of something rather magnificent! 

One gripe I did have, was the cunt who kept talking all the way through the set. I moved a couple of times to get away from him and his mates and he seemed to be behind me everywhere I went! If you want to talk to your mates, then fuck off outside?