October 21, 2008
There is a wave of anticipation circling the bully tonight. Speedo, AKA John Reis, is in the building! Best known as the frontman in legendary San Diego punk rockers Rocket From The Crypt, his CV also includes such distinguished luminaries as Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Sultans. A true renaissance man.
GunnBunny take to the stage first, and turn in a truly breathtaking set. Gone are the superfuzzed mudhoneyisms of old; in their place are fluid basslines, faultless drum playing and a new subtlety in frontman Jack Goldstein's guitar playing, which shows off his impressive vocal prowess to maximum effect. They still rock, you can still nod your head to it, and Jack still yelps and hollers in all the right places. It just seems cooler, more sophisticated, more... now. Brilliant stuff, there is no excuse for missing this band next time they play. On this evidence, they'll be drawing in the masses soon.
Winnebago Deal are next, proudly upholding their reputation as Oxford's most dangerous rock act. Making more noise than you thought humanly possible from a two piece, this pair set out to destroy, in a good way, of course. Singer Ben Perrier screams, throws himself around the stage and plays deafening guitar solos like a man posessed, whilst Ben Thomas pounds away at the drum kit in a manner which would even leave Animal from the muppets running away in horror. Raw, visceral, devastating, and completely brilliant. Just don't see them alone. You may not live to tell the tale .....
After all this excitement, you could be forgiven for forgetting there was still another band to come! Speedo and his merry men soon put a stop to that, however; arriving on stage to deafening applause, they silence any doubters that might be hanging around by playing a brain melting set, comprised mainly of tracks from their excellent debut album "See You In Magic", an amazing techicolour concoction of punk rock, terrace chanting, sixties psychedelia and sleazy soft rock, all peppered with liberal doses of wisecracking, audience baiting and the kind of good, old fashioned rock 'n' roll showmanship which seems to be sadly lacking in much of today's music scene. After finishing with anthemic album closer "We're Goin' Down" the band leave the stage, happily posing for pictures with fans and having drinks at the bar. A thrilling end to a truly amazing night of music.
GunnBunny take to the stage first, and turn in a truly breathtaking set. Gone are the superfuzzed mudhoneyisms of old; in their place are fluid basslines, faultless drum playing and a new subtlety in frontman Jack Goldstein's guitar playing, which shows off his impressive vocal prowess to maximum effect. They still rock, you can still nod your head to it, and Jack still yelps and hollers in all the right places. It just seems cooler, more sophisticated, more... now. Brilliant stuff, there is no excuse for missing this band next time they play. On this evidence, they'll be drawing in the masses soon.
Winnebago Deal are next, proudly upholding their reputation as Oxford's most dangerous rock act. Making more noise than you thought humanly possible from a two piece, this pair set out to destroy, in a good way, of course. Singer Ben Perrier screams, throws himself around the stage and plays deafening guitar solos like a man posessed, whilst Ben Thomas pounds away at the drum kit in a manner which would even leave Animal from the muppets running away in horror. Raw, visceral, devastating, and completely brilliant. Just don't see them alone. You may not live to tell the tale .....
After all this excitement, you could be forgiven for forgetting there was still another band to come! Speedo and his merry men soon put a stop to that, however; arriving on stage to deafening applause, they silence any doubters that might be hanging around by playing a brain melting set, comprised mainly of tracks from their excellent debut album "See You In Magic", an amazing techicolour concoction of punk rock, terrace chanting, sixties psychedelia and sleazy soft rock, all peppered with liberal doses of wisecracking, audience baiting and the kind of good, old fashioned rock 'n' roll showmanship which seems to be sadly lacking in much of today's music scene. After finishing with anthemic album closer "We're Goin' Down" the band leave the stage, happily posing for pictures with fans and having drinks at the bar. A thrilling end to a truly amazing night of music.