A recent (ish) show! PopPunk til I Die!

Masked Intruder at The Old Blue Last, Thurs 25th Sept 2014, support: Throwing Stuff and Sam Russo.

Happy New Year!

Kicking off this new year with a recent-ish outing. This year I've been delving back into the punk scene in a big way and discovering new bands to listen to and go see and my favourite find of 2014 has been without a doubt Masked Intruder. Who knew balaklava clad romantics could write such catchy tunes? If you've not heard of them and you are in anyway into punk and poppunk check them out immediately. They are funny, catchy and as I've discovered, fucking immense live. Their 'gimmick' is that they are 4 masked colour coded band members who write songs that make fun of how creepy and stalker-ish pop punk songs can be and they can an 'arf write a damn catchy tune. Both of their albums have been on a constant loop for me and I even got my band to cover their song 'Heart Shaped Guitar'. So when I saw that they were playing in London, I snapped up tickets for me Jon and Dave to see them. The Old Blue last is actually a large pub with an upstairs with a small stage and a bar which makes for an intimate and sweaty experience and this was the perfect venue for lightning fast punk songs. Both supports artists were really good, standout being Sam Russo who reminded me of my beloved Frank Turner ( and it turns out I've heard his stuff before at a Franky gig). If you like honest, emotional songs by a guy and his guitar, Sam is a great one to catch.

Now the main event. After several brewskies we headed into the main area and got a glimpse of the infamous 'Officer Bradford' Masked Intruder's very own police officer who as we found out is very much part of the act. He stood solid at the side of the stage til about 3 songs in when the pit started going wild and he jumped, stage-dived, moshed and sang at people for the rest of the set. It was hilarious watching this guy throw himself around with gusto and pretend to arrest people and join in the banter with the band and audience. He also ended up just wearing his cop hat and a very small pair of pants which was funny. The band themselves were a great laugh, excellent banter, they kept in character the whole time and joked and heckled with the crowd. I even got a hug from Green after the show which was sweet. They sounded just as good as the albums only about 10 times faster which is funny cos the albums are very produced sounding and live its as viscous a punk show as you can get. Dave danced with Officer Bradford so his night was made and we all agreed it was the funniest gig we'd been to in ages. I highly recommend you check out their new release  'M.I' and the self titled debut. :D

Now the merch! As they are a small up and coming band, the merch stall was small but they did have a lot of different stuff, even matching balaclavas if you so wanted to join the band. All the shirts were for dudes so I decided on a small bowling tshirt which defo is in theme with the band. I think its great and cannot wait to catch them live again.

For a bonus laugh here is Officer Bradford's tumbler page...I have warned you!
http://officerbradfordpickedmeup.tumblr.com/

Trioooooooooooooooo!

Today's shirt is a rarity and a half. In fact I always wear it to Alkaline Trio shows now and high five anyone I see that is also wearing it!

Alkaline Trio at The Underworld, Camden Mon 25th Jan 2010
https://www.songkick.com/concerts/3950101-alkaline-trio-at-underworld

This was a rare gig which you could only buy one ticket for hence another rarity, I went to the show solo. Armed with a cider, I headed over to the merch stand to pick up my shirt that came with the ticket. Made for that one show only as it was an album launch show (for 'This Addiction)' in a venue so tiny its silly. The band were hot sweaty and wild in such a small space, you can step up onto the stage with ease which helped the old crowdsurfers a tad! Not so much the famous large pillar in the middle of the floor which is great fun to try and avoid in the pit, NOT! The whole show was a hits set with shout outs and rarely heard oldies played to a room of massive fans. It was so good, its actually kinda sucky that I didn't know a soul in there as I don't have anyone to share it with! Hence the high fives with the shirt! If you haven't been to see the Trio live, do it, they are a great live band, Matt Skiba is a god (fangirl in me coming out a little there :P) and they appreciate their fans a lot. The same year I saw the band at the Roundhouse, a far, far bigger venue so they didn't have to put on such an intimate show but I'm glad they did. Underrated band who remain very high on my list of favourite bands. Oh and if you do see them, make sure you know every last word to 'Radio'. One of the fun-est songs ever to scream along with the band!

With the back print, great shirt, if a little oddly shaped as I think its a youth large (aka girls fit to yanks?!)

I've got...a big fat fucking bone to pick...with you my darling!!!!!!!!!!!!

Billy Talent birdies

Billy Talent
Sun 1st Nov 2009
At Brixton Academy

https://www.songkick.com/concerts/2527016-billy-talent-at-o2-academy-brixton

So a band I'd wanted to see for a while, nothing like a bit of Canadian screamy pop-punk to cheer the soul! I took Damian, my bosses son along as he had been getting into rock and metal and fancied a good moshpit. Cancer Bats were the support and despite not liking their records too much, I thought they were pretty decent live, just not my cup of tea.
Billy Talent were wired and crazy that night and with young'un Damo with me who wanted to be at the front, I had to man up and get the elbows out lol. Was great fun, but reminded me I'm not quite the spring chicken I once was! I've actually not got their last album they released as just haven't picked it up yeat, but I've heard good things so I'm sure its as good as I, II and III (genius album titles by the way!)

The shirt is one I love wearing as I love the birds and the unusual placement of them on the shirt, damo actually has a tattoo now of a similar looking bird to these on this chest so evidently he was influenced!

More Beatles stuff!

Here is some more of my non gig band merch. I only allow three bands into this catagory (The Beatles, The Clash and The Ramones) because I will never see them live due to some of the members being a bit dead!

So here are a few more from my Beatles collection:

Top one is my awesome 'Come Together' shirt I got in Virgin Megastores (remember them) in Los Angeles. They had about twenty different shirts , all based on a different Beatles track and I still hate myself for not buying the 'Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' shirts too cos I've never seen any of them again :( Anyho I really liked the notation on the back of this one.

Next up is a new addition to the collection, with Sesame Street characters replacing the fab four.

Lastly my favourite Beatles shirt, as its the original photo that my tattoo is based off. Love the iconic poses and its from the photoshoots from around the filming of 'A Hard Day's Night' which is the film that cemented my love of the band.

Time for an eventful post....

Ha figured it was time this story got an airing. Nope not my other go to story about Green Day, I'll write that one up someday as it doesn't technically involve a gig (although there is a tshirt involved!)

No this story actually is the closest I've got to having a friend die because of a gig which isn't the most humorous of things, I mean we all laugh about it now as it was very what the fuck but at the time it was pretty scary!

Anyho the gig was:
Green Day at Emirates Stadium, Sat 1st June 2013

https://www.songkick.com/concerts/13813999-green-day-at-emirates-stadium

Yep the most deadly of gigs was a pop punk gig lol. Actually it was the copious amounts of drinking and disorientation of a certain William that almost had us at the ER. The gig was a Sat, a pretty laid back one as Emirates is ridiculously easy to get to my house from it turns out. We decided eating and drinking was the way forward so we started early. We were a jolly bunch, all of us had seen the band before I think except Joel and we soon schooled him on what happens when the band play 'King for a Day'. Inside the venue we met up with my usual gig amigos, Adam and Caspar. Caspar was in poor spirits as he'd had knee surgery a week before so had been banned from skanking moshing and general crazyness one usually assumes at a GD gig so after me and Adam made our amazing merch purchases (onto that in a sec) and promptly left them with him to guard at his disabled seat (lol) we dived into the crowd and enjoyed Kaiser Chiefs. An odd support choice but alright, I like them and have seen them plenty of times before so wasn't as fussed about it but they put on a great warm up. During this I add me and the Pompey gang had been beering up a bit, I stopped as I wanted to be down the front but from what I've heard the others continued behind me.... I got forward and pretty much ended up almost towards the barrier on the right hand side and danced like a loon and sang along. This is where my bugbears begin. I'd already realised that Emirates is not as well set out or set up for gigs as say the new Wembley Stadium as the pitch had an odd raised angle to it meaning at times it was hard to see the stage. Boo number one. Boo number two as always at GD gigs nowadays, theres always those people who for some reason think the band started in 2004 and have absolutely no idea whats going on when the good stuff kicks in. Honestly if I have to sing 'Going to Pasalacqua' again at either a confused 12 year old or a 50 year old man who will only show the slightest hint of enjoyment when 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' comes on, I'm gonna go wacko. Back catalogues people, a little itty bit of research will help you when you are right near the barrier and suddenly the boys kick into Platypus (I Hate You) and a giant dancing circle pit erupts and you just stand there looking confused as to what a rock show at the front entails. ANYWAY RANT OVER!
So I wasn't too hot on the venue and the crowd were a bit meh, got myself into a fun position with another group and still had a blast. Gotta say though my elats favourite time seeing them by a long shot. Once you've A hugged the band and B been at secret shows, a behemoth stadium just doesn't cut it anymore for ya and I'm looking forward to their next tour mixing up the venues a bit. Just two months later I went to the band's secret reading warm up show at Brixton Academy and it was just fabulous in every way so venue and crowd do go a long way to making the gig!
Right onto the death part! So we stumbled out at the end, me sweaty and happy, my Pompey mates also very happy but also a tad more drunk than me, I thought oh well onto the bus home to Camden. We catch the bus and the boys give the N214 a rousing rendition of the 'Vengabus' song which incites a lot of giggling, then a swift one at my local (The Oxford) then we headed into Camden's Sat nightlife of which my fave haunt it the Monarch pub for its 'movie music' night. After a lot of spirits the guys are completely smashed, in particular Will and we decide to hobble home to crash. And boy did that happen. Two hours after we'd all passed out asleep, I'm awakened to an almighty crash in my hallway and suddenly Sarah shouting Will's name at the top of her voice. I get out there and Will is stone cold knocked out on my hallway floor with Sarah shaking him trying to revive him, after a minute of this and splashing his face and my my mate Zena about to dial 999, we get him to wake up and he is concused as fuck. Turns out on his way to the bathroom, he just passed out and hit his head on our wall as he went down. He had a lump and a half on his head and Joel sat up with him all night cos we didn't want him to sleep after that. We got him home the next day, him hungover and saying he was alright but he got himself checked out just to be safe. Nothing quite as scary as seeing your mate unconscious and nothing reviving him I'll tell ya! Like I said we laugh about it now but at the time it was a scary conclusion to an otherwise crazy fun night! Beware beer, whiskey and pop punk combined, a deadly combo!
Onto the shirt...or I should say hoodie!

Ladies and Gents, by far this is the highest quality merch I've ever bought. And I paid highly for it. Considering my old black GD hoodie is a washed out faded version of its former self, I figured upgrade! Its one of those really soft hoodies and all the hand embroided patches are really cool, even the zipper is a lightning bolt if you can see. Great colours and great details, I love this hoodie so much! The band even wore it on the tour for their warm ups and sound rehearsals so they must have liked them. 10 out of 10 for quality! Adam got the same one and Caspar got the replica of Mike's tour vest which was equally as awesome. You don't mind paying for merch if it actually is wearable and will last so well done Green Day!

Its not always Rock n Roll folks :)

It would all be boring if everyone narrowed down their tastes to one genre. I mean even in playing instruments, I loved playing classical violin in an orchestra and I played blues numbers on piano. I also played Nirvana tracks on the drums and play punk rock in my current band on bass. I'm all for different music mixing it up. This is why I don't get when people are shocked that I love some pop music. Sure pop at the moment is dire but in the past there have been some great artists playing amazing songs and I am proud to be a fan of pop. This leads into one of my all-time favourite artists, someone who I'm proud to say sings one of top 3 favourite songs ever, part of my first ever favourite band and kicks absolute ass live.

Robbie Williams at Milton Keynes Bowl Fri 15th Sept 2006.
https://www.songkick.com/concerts/831252-robbie-williams-at-national-bowl

I've been a fan of Robbie since 1992, when a little girl got to buy a cd for her mum's brand spanking new cd player in the living room. I had cassette tapes at this point (and actually their next album, Everything Changes I bought for my own white cassette boom box in 93 and still have somewhere in my mum's attic!) but this was the first cd I had imput on. And like most 90s girls the Take That bug bit hard. I was gutted when Robbie left the band and even have his first solo single, a cover of George Michael's 'Freedom' on tape as I wanted solo Rob to do well. And boy has he! I've been to see him 3 times now solo and once with Take That and man alive does he put on a show. I have a story relating to one of my all time favourite live gigs ever ( a little known gig called Robbie Williams at Knebworth) but we'll get to that another time.

This gig was me and my mum alone which is funny cos RW and Take That are pretty much the only things (aside from Disney) we have in common. She is a huge fan and I wanted to take her to see him again after Knebworth. It was quite the pain to get to MK bowl (the only reason I dislike this venue is the location, the actual setup and atmosphere is great inside) but we managed to get there. I decided I wanted to buy my mum a new lanyard for work as a present so leaving her on the edge I popped up and got one and also a shirt for me. I actually rarely wear this shirt but its great quality and a unique design makes it stand out. Mum loved her lanyard too. Basement Jaxx supported and they were amazing, a killer warm up and I'm glad I've seen them again since at IOW fest. The main man himself was on fire and he filled the stadium up with a uniquely shaped stage with a giant arm podium at the top and we could get really quite close to the stage to see him which was fab for mum who isn't so up for the rough front like me. This tour was in support of RW's odd album Rudebox and to be honest him dressed head to toe in Adidas and rapping was really fun and even got the crowd going who didn't like the album. He did all his hits aswell and I think this was around the time he started singing 'No Regrets' again which is my fave RW song and one of my all time favourite songs in general. He finished on 'Angels' of course and me and mum left elated to brave the long trek home on a coach. Rob you are the man and I'll be a fan to the last!

Heres the shirt. I have one of the RW football shirts from his 'Sing When You're Winning' album which I always wear to his gigs (got it in 99 when the album came out and its a brilliant gig shirt). this is the one I bought this time though instead:

Let Me Entertain You!

It was a bit of a Blur....

Blur at Hyde Park Thurs 2nd July 2009

https://www.songkick.com/concerts/490871-blur-at-hyde-park

This tshirt makes me so happy :) Defo one of my favourites in the collection. As who can resist the Coffee and TV milk carton, he's so cute!!

The music video for this song is brilliant and will forever go down as one of the best music videos ever made. Anyway onto the gig!

Not much to say about it to be honest as me Sarah and Nat got a liiiittttllleee bit too drunk during the hot day in Hyde Park and it is a bit of a blur lol! I do remember there was a Dominoes pizza truck there though! I've loved Blur for a very long time, I learned to play drums in 94 around the time of the Britpop wars and personally as much as I like Oasis, I was more of a Blur fan. I remember learning to play Song 2 on drums and being so excited by it! The gig was good despite the booze and in true Natalie Kerr style, we lost her at the end and I found her wandering round a bar in Brixton a few hours later, the silly moo! I'd love to see them again although not sure how viable that is now. Great shirt great band!