27.03.2026 - Jim Bob/Interrobang?! - Anarchy Brewery, Walker

Anarchy Brewery has changed the venue since I was last there for Napalm Death, layout has moved the bar to the bar instead of the side so a lot more room than before. Also noticed they sell pizza which looked pretty good, if I hadn't already had my tea before coming would have picked up a slice!

Opening up were Interrobang?!, an anarcho-pop cabaret group with two members of Chumbawamba and one from Regular Fries.
Wasn't too sure about them during their set but looking back it is pretty much what I would expect of ex-Chumbawamba, not conforming to certain norms.

Part art/spoken word, part techno/rock. Normally a three piece but performed as a duo. Despite not and still not too sure about them, it was a fairly decent set.

Jim Bob's set was very good, played for nearly 2 hours! Really great song writer and I kept think he looked a bit like Olga from the Toy Dolls!

Also the closest I'll get to a Carter USM reunion with a few of their songs being played! Was way too young to have seen them in their hey day and missed their reunions back in 2014 (maybe earlier?).

Really glad I picked up a ticket as he was class live as well as his band, will definitely see him again, also need to pick up some of his solo and the rest of the Carter releases I'm missing!

Was also great to see a couple of mates I hadn't seen for a while, should also point out, still not keen on Anarchy's beers like....

21.03.2026 - Bong II/Louse - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

 

Rainbow Grave were to headline this gig but had to pull out due to personal reasons. Was a shame, but can't be helped and Lubber will try get them back at some point.

Still a decent night with a great set from Louse again!
Highlight of the night was Bong II's debut gig and it did not disappoint.

Still got the old drone sound of Bong, but think Dan from Smote on guitar adds something  bit different to it, like they are a bit more freer to experiment with the sound. 

 
Looking forward to what ever they release and to see how it goes! Was pretty goof to catch up with a lot of people I rarely see at gigs now as we're all old buggers!

13.03.2026 - The Dogs/Mass Hallucination/Draft Dodgers/Wasted Harvest/Proposition - Downcast Studios, Gateshead

First time down to Downcast Studios over in Gateshead. A weird but fairly decent venue, weird as in the live space is sort of outside but not, maybe something of a barn with a metal sheet as a roof? Could imagine in the summer it's like a sweat box and it was a bit cold when I was there but they did have heaters on. Bit gutted that the kitchen was closed as heard they do some decent scran there!

Opening up were Proposition, new fast local hardcore band, second show for them and it was pretty decent and a nice SSD cover near the end of their set which got the crowd slamming all over!

Wasted Harvest are a band spread across from Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle, members have been in pH People, No Ambition and Life Expectancy. Would say they are a mix of post punk and heavy fuzz hardcore, really good stuff. They have a tape out soonish with Flower Power so ging to be keeping an eye out for that.

Was siked to see Draft Dodgers play as their demo is fantastic, 5 songs in about 5 minutes! Absolutely blinding set from them, fast hardcore punk, and back up here later this year! Think during their set I nearly fell into the bin during the mosh when standing at the side!

Mass Hallucination's set was very short, saw one song, went for a can, then a piss and heard them say last song! Good stuff from what I heard, bit d-beat/noise rock stuff.

Up last were The Dogs, now a five piece compared to when I saw them the first time when they were just a trio with a drum machine! Another band that is spread across the UK, one member in Sheffield, another Leeds and the rest in Cardiff(?), did over hear one of the guitarists say they don't really get to practise much but to be fair you wouldn't know if you saw them play as they were tight! Great set of OI/Punk rock goodness!

Check the video of them below from this gig!

27.02.2026 - Self Immolation Music/Louse/Diall - The Lubberfiend, Newcastle

 

Late one at the Lubberfiend with this gig starting at 11pm!

There had been a gig on earlier here, Onsind doing  benefit gig for the Lubber, which I would have went to if it hadn't sold out extremely fast!

The Lubber was heaving with the remains of the previous gig however that sharply dropped before the first band of the second gig played.

Another decent set from Diall who are slowly becoming one the most local bands for me.

Slight line up change for Louse tonight, Lucas from Contentment/sound man for the Lubber was on guitar as Tom was away, though think he may have joined as their third guitarist anyway? Been a while since I've seen Louse and first since they dropped their LP Creep Call. Smashed their set I thought, seemed to be a bit more heavier, always good!

It may have been about 1:20am when Self Immolation Music got up to play and another blinder of a set, always great to see live and being playing their newish album a lot of the last couple of months. 

Ended up leaving when the gig finished around 2am and headed home as I had plans to go out for a mates birthday on the Saturday night.

I'm still wiped out a bit, getting to old for the gig game think!