Generally speaking, a good concert experience is defined by ending the night with a sore throat, tired legs, and a slightly lighter wallet. Then you get shows like this, the kind where you’re not sure if you’ve just had a religious awakening or just experiencing whiplash from swinging your neck too hard.
Opening the night were Phinius Gage, a melodic hardcore band from Brighton with a solid discography that instantly took me back to the days of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and blasting its soundtrack on repeat, a comparison only reinforced by their phenomenal cover of “Heavy Metal Winner” by Consumed. They’re reminiscent of bands like Strung Out or early Rise Against, but with that distinctly British tone that’s rarely replicated elsewhere. They made for a fantastic opener. Their fast, aggressive riffs got everyone prepared for a night of endless dancing, and their surprising, but very welcome cover of Mike Oldfield’s “Moonlight Shadow” was the cherry on top of the skate-punk cake. After hearing some of their new material, I’m genuinely excited to see what’s next for them. But in the meantime, go check out their latest singles, “Wrong Direction” and “Masquerade.”
Next up were Jet8, a ska-punk band all the way from Prague, and a shining example of what I love most about punk, that no matter where you’ve come from, when the music starts, you’re at home with your people. Their talent shone through as they controlled the stage like it was where they’d ever been. With honest, in your face lyrics and an energetic blend of hardcore ska and pure punk rock, they sit somewhere between Choking Victim’s grit and Authority Zero’s catchy choruses. I’ll admit I hadn’t heard of them before this tour, but they made an instant fan out of me. Jet8 are one of those bands where it doesn’t matter whether you know their back catalogue or not, once the horns kick in, standing still feels like a crime. Songs like “Prescription” and “Break the Silence” showcased their passion and raw energy, while the surprise appearance of Random Hand’s Robin Leitch joining them for “Less Than You” took things up another notch. If you haven’t heard of Jet8 before, change that right now! And their most recent album ‘Break the Silence’ deserves a proud place in every punk fan’s vinyl collection.
Our third act of the night was the legendary Wonk Unit. In all honesty, I’d only vaguely heard of them before the show, but judging by the crowd’s reaction, I was definitely in the minority there. But to tell the truth, I’m glad I went in blind, because it meant I got to experience them without any expectations, and I was absolutely blown away. There’s usually a line between a tight, musically impressive performance and an unhinged celebration of noise and nonsense, but somehow Wonk Unit bridge that gap without even trying. I’m not a religious person, but discovering this band felt as close as I’ll ever get to a ‘come to Jesus’ moment, something reinforced by my baptism from a rogue beer the second I joined the mosh pit.
Songs like “Depressed?” left me in awe as frontman Alex poured his entire heart onto the stage, screaming every lyric with raw emotion and his crowd work was just as impressive, it genuinely felt like watching your best mate’s band, where everyone’s welcome no matter how much of an outsider you are. I could gush for pages about how much I enjoyed their set, but to keep it brief, if you’ve never seen Wonk Unit live, do yourself a favour and fix that, and If you have, go again!. It’s bound to be unforgettable.
Headlining the night were the one and only Random Hand, an undeniable staple of the UK punk scene. Their dancey brass section, head-swinging guitar riffs, chest-pounding drums, and thunderous bass created an explosive blend of punk, ska, and metal that made the transition from skanking to moshing feel as natural as breathing. But Random Hand’s longevity isn’t just down to their stellar back catalogue, it’s also their sheer, unrelenting live energy and dedication to the craft.
They didn’t need an introduction, launching straight into “The Cycle” turned the crowd into a pit of flailing limbs. They have a rare energy where every song was political, punchy, and full of heart, yet somehow they always found time to make the room laugh, smile, and feel completely at home. It’s that balance that makes them such a special part of the scene. The excitement hit boiling point as they played “Play Some Ska”, “Scum Triumphant”, and “Anger Management”, the entire room shouted every word back at them. They tore through their set like a band who’ve never left the road, each chorus hitting like a truck. By the end, everyone was breathless, drenched in sweat, and buzzing from the sheer electricity of it all.
There’s a certain feeling that’s almost impossible to put into words, that perfect moment where the crowd and the bands blur into one loud, sweaty, euphoric mess. Nights like this prove that for a scene that’s supposedly “dead,” it’s still very much alive and still just as rowdy as ever. And a massive shoutout to all the staff at The Joiners for making nights like this possible!