16.11.2025 - Unified Action/Reap/Save Your Breath/Sinecures - The Little Buildings, Newcastle

 

Not sure if it's me getting older but it was a cold night to be going to a gig where the venue isn't any warmer in the gig room!

Burnt Body were to play this gig but pulled out for reasons I think are just stupid, though not that it mattered as the night was decent enough without them.

First up were locals Sinecures, I had thought this was their first gig but it wasn't. They had been described as sounding like Unwound, to which I haven't heard a lot of so can't compare but in parts I did think it was a bit like Codeine mixed in with a lot if the early to mid 90's emo. Was a really great set and liked the short sound collages between songs. Definitely looking forward to their album which should be out maybe next year?

From the Wirral were Save Your Breath, class fast angry hardcore sort of like Infest. Like bands like this, no messing around, short, fast sets!
Also singer is part of the Tied Down podcast which is also worth a listen.

Second time seeing Reap play, this time as a three piece, still loud as hell and again nice short and fast set, 14 songs in around 11 minutes!

Again, no fannying around and just getting into it!
Closing the night were Unified Action, straight up hardcore, nice Infest and Negative Approach cover.

Some good points from Lins doing the set about the North East scene, that no one seems to show up for locals that have been doing this for decades.

I've notice over the years that some shows don't pull in the crowds while some get packed out and you see people at the packed shows that don't bother with the local stuff, this shit kills the scene as if you don't support the local scene, there won't be one for the "bigger" bands to come to. Also, certain parts of the scene being weird about other people's jobs but ignoring some proper wrong'uns that make the scene unsafe...

Was a great night for the Dog and Cat Shelter as a fair amount of canned food was donated for there, though if this happens again I will remember to get them from the shops near me as trying to find tinned dog or cat food in the shops that are open in town on a Sunday evening is stupid as all I was finding was the pouch stuff until the last shop I tried had a 6 pack!

06.11.2025 - Wormrot/Deadguy/Gag/Ingrown/Plastics - The Grove, Byker

A pretty wild line up for the Grove! Early start too with the first band having been penned to play at 6:50pm!

Though when I got to the venue my mate who is part of Byker Grave mentioned that GAG were two hours late and were still not there!

Was a bit worrying as I had been wanting to see them the most, plus their bass player was there, he had came when I had just arrived at the venue. Overheard him say he flew in so assume he had came straight from the States and wasn't on the other Gag dates. The rest eventually turned up so everything was good!

First up were Plastics, who come from Brighton, fairly decent hardcore band and canny set.

Second up were Ingrown who I think are on tour with Gag, a three piece from Idaho. Had been told they were a metal band off someone, their bandcamp has them down as straight edge hardcore. Live they sounded more like a powerviolence/grind band, think the way the guitarist/vocalist played reminded me a bit of Pretty Little Flower.

Started to heat up now that Gag played! They absolutely killed it, not often I go near the front for gigs as I'm too old and prone to injuries but I went and enjoyed myself. Kids stage diving and moshing like maniacs! Was a joy to behold, not so much when I saw a lass take an elbow to the eye like! Interesting cover of Aphex Twin's Come to Daddy as well!

Wasn't familiar with Deadguy's music, had heard the name but not the music. Had been told they were mathcore/metalcore, members have been in bands such as Lifetime, Rorschach and Mouthpiece amongst others. Pretty decent live, was a nearly a fight between some of the younger kids and the older crowd when they were getting a bit too daft in the mosh pit.

Last time I saw headliners Wormrot, it was only one original member in them and their set was probably the worse out of the times I've seen them. Not tonight though! As we finally had all three OG members back!!!!!!!!! Back to form and just great raging grindcore! Even made a songs from Hiss sound a lot better or at least I thought so.

Crowd went ape for them, so many stage dives and some kid managed to crowd surf for about five minutes from the front to the back and then back to the front! Again, great set and a millions times better than the last time I saw them!
Was one arsehole who got up on stage and looked like he was taking photos but then appeared to maybe filming (or livestreaming?) himself with the band and it was annoying. Someone got on stage and dragged him off when he went to stage dive! But he got back on the stage again, so Arif kicked in off the stage though again he got back on and Stu one of the promoters dragged him off the stage and kicked him out which got a round of applause!

Was also cool to see Nick from Bones Brigade Records again as well a couple of people I hadn't seen for ages!

Cracking Night

03.11.2025 - Autechre/Mark Broom/Russell Haswell - Digital, Newcastle

Didn't think I'd ever see Autechre play live, had missed them the last time they played Newcastle, though to be fair didn't know they had played then. Knew they had played a boat on the Tyne with Wolf Eyes back in the 2000's which sounded fun!

Only thing that irked me about this gig was how crap promoters f45 are! Not much info from them since they booked the gig and announced it back in February(?) and didn't find out that Russell was supporting when they shared an Instagram post of set times on the day and even then, that post was by Brave Exhibitions and not f45.....

Short set by Russell Haswell, was not aware of his music beforehand but enjoyed his set, nice mix of harsh beats/drone and noise. It reminded me of past nights at the Sound Room or even Morden Tower and the noise gigs that used to happen there! Would like to see him play again for a bit longer and maybe try track down some of his releases.

Next up was Mark Broom, again wasn't aware of his music but he is a techno DJ and producer, got about an hour long set of him playing a mix of techno/dance(?) tracks. It was alright, probably wouldn't be something I'd go out my way to see again though. The crowd was weird as thought there would be more people maybe dancing but vast majority were just standing.

Finally, Autechre came on stage, there were signs up regarding their performance, that the set was going to played in the dark and requested no one had their phones on during the performance unless they needed to move around or go to the loo etc then they could use the torch on their phone. Also, if anyone needed help, they could use the touch and wave in the air, and someone would come to see/help them.

The sign said they would play for 80 minutes but sure they played round about 90? A very enjoyable set, maybe seats would have been good as could feel myself nearly nodding off. I liked the set, usual nice IDM stuff from Autechre, think with it being in the dark and no flashing lights etc it made you want to absorb the sound more without distraction. My back, knees and ankle however didn't thank me later as I could barely move but it was worth it like!

One thing I could have done without, the person who kept crop dusting their eggy farts, they were vile!

26.10.2025 - Smote/Knyf/SL Walkinshaw - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

Nice Sunday night at the Lubberfiend, though slight change up as Ekstasis had to pull out.

Their replacement was SL Walkinshaw, who opened the night. Nice drone/tape loop stuff, very ambient stuff maybe verging a bit on musique concrete, or at least I thought so in parts as it reminded me a bit of Luc Ferrari in places. Enjoyed the set and now need to find some of his releases!

Haven't seen Tom do a Knyf set for a while, and it didn't disappoint. Bit heavier drone/noise from what I can recall but none the less good! Don't think he has put any other releases out bar the tape that came out maybe 10 years ago(?!).

Headliners Smote were on form as always, was the final night of their tour for their recently released album, "Songs from the Free House". Great set and constantly releasing great albums, doesn't feel like it's been that long since their double LP, "A Grand Stream" was released. Though still need to catch Dan doing Smote solo which I'm told is also great live.

20.10.2025 - Higher Power/Existence/Test of Patience/Dissent- The Grove, Byker

 

An alright night to spend my 41st birthday at a hardcore show!!!

No Sense were supposed to be on this bill for their first show but pulled out. To be fair not sure they even exist anymore?!

Locals Dissent opened up with their debut show, members of Wise Up, Dead Stare and Finish What You Started. Only had four tracks from their demo but fairly decent set of beatdown hardcore. More likely see them at a lot more upcoming shows in the future.

Test of Patience come from Glasgow, again playing beatdown hardcore, quite heavy. Watch a couple of songs but it really wasn't my thing. Though it may have been over when the singer nearly hit the deck when she tripped over something on the stage. Luckily, she was alright and carried on.

Existence were really good, from Sweden and ex-The Hammer/Neighbourhood (not sure if both or just one of those bands) who I have seen before a few years back. Though a lot more metallic hardcore then those. Crowd enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, we all had fun! Well, I stood at the back being safe!

Not sure what to think of Higher Power live. I did like their set but sometimes the vocals were dogshit then would be good. Think it was mainly the vocals that put me off, the music was decent enough on a kind of bit Turnstile sound to it. Gentle hardcore I would say.
Was an alright night and saw some mates I hadn't seen in a while.