COCK SPARRER/KNOCK OFF
PROJECT HOUSE LEEDS
Street Punk originators Cock Sparrer are playing (the last-minute Rebellion saver aside) their only UK date of 2023 at the shiny new and uber-impressive Project House in Leeds. The venue’s adjoining Galleria bar has a very Kensington at Christmas atmosphere, so what the dining romantic couples and sequin-clad Xmas party revellers thought of rubbing shoulders with scores of Punks, Skins and casuals invading their festive fayre heaven only knows.
Knock Off plays to a pretty much full house, and their pavement-kicking Punk warms the sold-out and well-lubricated crowd up perfectly for the night’s main attraction.
As the house lights dim, the Cock Sparrer’s now legendary intro music kicks in, and instantly the Project House turns into a bouncing karaoke-esque celebration. The right and proper front ‘n’ centre opener ‘Riot Squad’ is duly thumped out before ‘Working’, and fan fave ‘Nothing Like You’ keeps the sing-a-long hordes well, singing themselves hoarse. The Sparrer set list has a few surprises, including the duo of ‘Marbella’ and ‘Family Of One’, which are both refreshingly welcome and worthy additions. The “hits” arrive as ‘Take ‘Em All’, ‘Because You’re Young’ and ‘Runnin’ Riot’ are all vigorously gobbled up. A red-hot ‘Suicide Girls’ is shadowed by the heartily roared back ‘England Belongs To Me’, and the show’s closing heart-holding anthem ‘We’re Coming Back’ wraps up yet another 10/10 (and thank f*ck we made the trip, braved the freezing rain and icy temperatures to get here) night in the company of the finest (and friendliest) all for one Punk family. With a new album firmly locked in the clip, along with a host of festival and headline dates oven-ready to be announced, 2024 is shaping up nicely for Cock Sparrer and their ever-faithful, happy-to-travel army of followers. What’s it like to be old? With more days and nights like this on the horizon, it’s gonna be alright.
Cock Sparrer headline the legendary Rebellion Punk Festival in August 2024. For more tour dates, info, tickets and merchandise, head to
http://cocksparrer.co.uk/