Home-Maid Creepshow.
Prepare for battle my friends as Hastings quartet Maid Of Ace step up to the plate to deliver some home grown, edge of a knife, no nonsense Punk rock. They are the Elliot Sisters and have been stage surfing for some time now and since their 2014 release of debut, self-titled album, it seems they are attracting a fair bit of attention. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t heard of them before, at first, I got a little L7, Hole even but then I had the epiphany, MOA remind me of The Distillers. I mean this in a wholly complimentary way, I’m not saying they have copied them, but the vibe and execution is extraordinary.
They begin clawing and gnawing at the audience with their angry and disruptive assault, singer Alison spits out lyrics like broken teeth, and with a venom that would put a cobra to shame. They are not shy this lot; in fact, they are a steamroller that is mowing us down, foot off the brakes, tossing petrol- soaked rags into the furnace, glowing brighter and more ferocious. The insightful ‘something wrong with the world today’ is the fuel to keep us ‘On The Run’ and yet we take time to remember that we are ‘Maid In England’ and surely that stands for something. The question of the evening is ‘where the fuck do you think you’re going?’ I wasn’t going anywhere my friends; I didn’t want to miss anything. Maid Of Ace are a commanding outfit, and you need to stand by your beds my friends, the cavalry is here.
From the rage spiked we move on to the stage psyched with our Canadian Psychobilly friends The Creepshow who are gracing us with their presence after twelve years. They promise to ferry us all over to their homeland, considering the absolute political carnage that we face over here at the moment. Under the influence of the horror genre, singer Kenda Legaspi is happy to be here, it’s fun and frolics people as Sean McNab wheels out his double bass, the main protagonist in Psychobilly music. With songs like ‘Death At My Door’, ‘Run For Your Life’ and the closer ‘Get What’s Coming’ it was a foot stomping, great balls of fire hoodang. In fact, if there was a table, I can guarantee we would have clambered on to display our funky groove.
Singer Kenda Legaspi jumps into the crowd to conduct the circle pit, she is the ringleader and whips us into a frenzy as she fears we are not ready for the pounding that the headliners will no doubt give us. The Creepshow will invade your mind, a little bit like Danny Glick at the window, let them in so they can run riot over your lives leaving you grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Altogether now, ’ oh what a show when Elliot sings to you do you even ever know…’
Bonzo Goes To Pittsburgh….
… but there’s no time for a cup of tea here my friends as the legendary Punk outfit that is Anti Flag have returned to our shores at a much needed moment and waste no time in venting their spleens at the ‘Christian Nationalist’ for starters and then, well there is no going back. This band of brothers do not miss a trick, they are socially aware, tack sharp in their perception and emphatic in their delivery. It is time to rise up people, as ChrisDos takes the mic and calls out racism, hatred, bigotry and all other kinds of nastiness that lives with us.
As always, we delve into the burgeoning back catalogue of classics and really the band could’ve taken the night off as we sang word perfect, matching their enthusiasm and integrity. With ‘The Press Corpse’ banging at your door ‘This Is The End’ but we will remain undefeated and ‘Unbreakable’ even though ‘Hate Conquers All’. I will suffer the ‘Broken Bones’ because we need to ‘Fuck Police Brutality’ as it is ‘The Disease’ that is part of the ‘American Attraction’, it is time to draw the line folks.
The circle pit is in full flow as our friend ‘Johnny Mohawk’ aptly named by Chris, helps anyone falling down, and keeps the pit stabilised and revitalised. He was rewarded with a hug from Chris and we all looked on in awe. This is the spirit of humanity and equality that is the essence of Anti Flag, the world is a much better place with them in it.
We share a hug and a handshake with our neighbours in the crowd, an act of friendship that is encouraged by the band. We are equals, we are united, we are one. It is a night like this when we feel safe, we feel a little lighter as Anti Flag shoulder some of our worries and with their constant reminders of how they are privileged to see us, as we show our commitment to the cause, and we ‘dance away the bullshit’ in tribute to their honesty and acceptance of each and every one of us.
Kenda jumped up onstage for the showstopper ‘Brandenburg Gate’ and it was good to see drummer Pat Thetic back on this tour. To finish the set, he too ventured into the crowd with his drums and Chris to sing the final bars to this timeless tune.
‘If you want a better tomorrow then you start today, with kindness.’ These are the words of men who are articulate and inspiring.
It’s just what I needed. RIP Ric Ocasek.