Breaking Bands (and Ubers – almost)
They say that when the team works then the dream works and it perfectly describes the night of Friday 3rd October when Birmingham’s premiere promotions agency, The Catapult Club joined forces with local legend, Andrew Miller aka DJ Millabong of Brum Radio to present the Rock of Ages showcase. In a mightily brave and admirable manoeuvre they shared their ideas and aspirations to once again prove that we have a viable and valuable music scene. This is my third time covering a grassroots event like this one, all very memorable but this one I shall remember as the night I nearly broke an uber.
Arriving in Noah’s Ark – a stylish Toyota Prius – in the torrential rain and excessively high winds, which I misjudged as I got out of the car. The door flew open, and for a second, I couldn’t see it, when I gathered myself, I sighed with relief as I saw it was still attached to the car. I had already warned Andrew that I bring nothing but chaos, but he won’t listen.
With me tonight we had local glitterati, Dr David Gange (yes, he is a real professor, quite possibly nutty but I have never felt so benighted) of Why Metal Matters, Terri Ann Coope, who ambushes unsuspecting folk with her tiny mic, but tonight she was my awesome pit buddy. The Award Winning Music Video Director and Count of Claymation, Nick J Townsend singer/ guitarist with Weak 13, Conor aka ‘ConCam’ who shoots anything that moves and my super-duper Supersonic friend Ed who is also a contributor. With the runners and riders in position, we get things moving with FISTPUMP! a new name to me but I was sold the second they started playing. In my head I replayed the video for ‘Pacific Ocean by The Dangerous Summer, the sea, the skies all encapsulating the romanticism yet there is tension and anxiety in the narrative. The tunes were slow burning; but the light and warmth they provide will keep me happy for years to come. They move with precision, they are suitably matched with samples from The Regular Show and Dracula Flow, that’s another rabbit hole I will venture down at some point. FISTPUMP! are Charlie – vocals/rhythm guitar, Brandon – lead guitar, Rowan – bass and Will on drums. The music they make together cascades, it is fluid, it attaches itself to our minds, bodies and souls and melds into whatever we are feeling.
Their set also had noticeable hints and tints of Jimmy Eats World, although I wouldn’t be too pleased with a ‘Head In the Ceiling Fan’ right now. We are privileged to be living in an age of discovery, wasting our chances would be nothing short of criminal. They leave us with the emotionally charged words ‘I’m not the same man I was last week’ raging around the room and punctuating our hearts.
Next up we have Willenhall wanderers Jaotar, a trio of gutsy gents with fret driven tunes that are full of energy, full of soul and travelling at high speed, leaving no time to look around. A feisty and feverish set, that radiates crosstown vibes, creases and crinkles that add flair and charm, a smoothness that glides over you and plays a little twinkle, twinkle with your mind. The chunky riffs, take ’Game of Cards’ for example, hark back to 60’s and 70’s psychedelia, the mood, the groove and the brooding quality all mingling adequately to give a more rounded and effective result.
These three kings are William McDonald (Willie Mac) – guitar/vocals, Jack Beddoe (Stankleg) on bass and Fin Morris on drums who display their abstract art with great fervour.
The gentle twirling is graceful, the band themselves comfortable in the knowledge that it is something they can carry off. A night of new names, new faces and new music, a lot to explore and a lot to build on.
Before I continue, I would like to extend my best wishes to BLDSUGR who couldn’t be with us tonight, you were missed, but hopefully we can catch up soon.
The penultimate band to grace the stage tonight were Left to Reign, representing Shropshire, they are fruitier and crunchier than a Shrewsbury biscuit (Ed, Terri, we will continue our biscuit discussion soon) and as for that sprinkling of sugar on top, oh my -sigh, swoon…..
Lead singer Rory reminds me of Connor Hallisey of OHOH (Our Hollow Our Home) and when he drops himself into the crowd he sends our hormones into a tailspin. We daintily mosh around him, not wanting to upset our guest. He calls out the ‘Headless Traitors’ giving a glance ‘Sideways’ to the ‘Mundane’ as they wake the ‘Already Dead’ who are overjoyed to participate in this jury of our peers.
Four bands, Academy 3, the fans two stepping on this one night to celebrate our next generation of artists. We happily employed small but perfectly formed circle pits, content in our virtue, unrepentant in our allegiance. Get out there and do what you can to support the scene, if it dies, we die.
Azra Pathan
Rock of Ages Showcase – 3rd October 2025, The Catapult Club at O2 Academy 3
Birmingham.