The first POTC event of 2010 and had the look of being a rather exciting affair with three of the regions finest punk bands on the bill.

With a 6.30 arrival time for the bands and an 8.30 start time, I guess the signs were there when not only was their no sound man, but the drum kit was conspicuous by its absence.

Errant sound guy (ESG) arrived about 10 to 7 and ignored ..Woodstock.. from BTD (one of the POTC team – must be because Woodstock is such a super hero and forget to turn off his power of invisibility before he entered the venue!) and proceeded to wander around looking for a screw driver.

A couple of the Citizen Keyne boys approached ESG and said Mate, where’s the drum kit? We have only got breakables with us because we were told there was a kit here! This prompted ESG to make a call to the other half of the POTC team because ESG didn’t know what was going on.



Anyway after much prevarication and unnecessary whining the kit arrived in dribs and drabs so finally it was possible to get things set up ready for sound checking.

By now things were starting to get  little on the tight side, but as Born To Destruct didnt mind doing a quick line check/mini sound check and then kicking off straight after it would have been possible to get all the bands off and on by 11pm and no-one having to comprise on their sets.

BTD sound checked and were about to start when the lights get turned off on the stage and the music got turned back on because – we’re starting at 9pm now came the instruction from the sound desk.

I am not one to have a go at people unnecessarily and bearing in mind I dont want to queer the pitch for future events that POTC or other associated bands, promoters at this venue, however, every time there has been a PUNK gig at this venue, there has always been some sort of issue when the guy at this event has been behind the desk.

Listen when you have a venue that:
(a)  doesnt charge for use as a venue
(b)  has all the sound gear – permanently set up including a decent 24 channel desk
(c)  has a house kit
(d)  provides some one to do the sound
It is some what churlish to moan, but on top of everything else when PUNK is not only the sound guys least liked musical genre, but delights in making comments like why so much fuss it’s only punk!

I feel that this is never going to be a marriage made in heaven, Its not like he doesn’t know how to do the job, he does. So why make it such hard work? (PLEASE NOTE, this is my personal opinion and does not and is not meant to represent the views of any one else.)

Enough of this! Let’s get down to the reason why we were all at The Haymakers.

After  9pm Born To Destruct took to the stage and proceeded to do what they do well and that is play decent punk and have fun doing it. Given the fact that the other two bands on the bill are in yer face Oi/Street merchants BTD got another chance to prove to a crowd that punk does a more melodic side as well.

A year ago I would have worried about BTD being on a bill like this as although KAT DESTRUCT (VOX) had gained experience through a fare amount of gigs, self belief and confidence were always a bit of an issue, and she would play it safe if she didnt feel 100% confident, but now, its a case of BRING IT ON! She has that confidence, belief, sass, attitude and presence, and it’s a delight to see those in the crowd that havent seen the band before sit up and take notice.



WOODSTOCK (GUITAR & B/VOX) was on form, and these days he is doing a little more of the old backing vox as well as a couple of the newer songs have a bit more of the old Q&A type delivery. DR STUART (BASS & B/VOX) had a couple of momentary lapses, but for those less familiar with the bands material they wouldn’t have noticed, as he was back on track very quickly. RICHIE RICH (DRUMS) was yet again Steady Eddie behind the kit, he keeps it simple, adds a touch here and there when it is needed and gives everyone a solid platform to from which to work.

Ten songs in tonights set from BOLLOCKS to LEECH via WATCHING ME, with the DESTRUCTION CREW, TAKE(ing) time to celebrate an EXTRAORDINARY LIFE whilst only having 24HRS to save the world from the SICK SCUM AND APATHY and another ROTTEN DAY so they could visit the bar afterwards to have a BEER or two!

This was where the fun began. BTD cleared the stage quickly but allowing for turn rounds etc the headliners were looking at having about a 25 min slot as there is an 11pm cut off on the live music. (I never have problem with that because at the end of the day, publicans have to keep the local residents happy whilst running a business – but work with the bands by making sure they can sound check and get under way at 8:00pm or 8:30pm as those extra minutes can make all the difference)

CITIZEN KEYNE graced the stage at The Haymakers one short! The Short One was missing due to prior engagement, (some one had left him in charge of a pub so they could go on holiday – nice gesture, but a sensible one?)



I was interested to find out what difference the absence of the Pocket Rocket makes to the band. Verdict: The sound is a bit tighter and the backing vocals are a little bit sharper, crisper, BUT BUT BUT, there is definitely something missing without Darren. In the same way that Abbott without Costello, Laurel without Hardy, Wise without Morecombe, wouldnt be the same. Citizen Keyne without the mighty midget arent Citizen Keyne, still a fucking brilliant punk band, just not citizen Keyne as we know and love them!  (Mind you CK had no shortage of honoury backing singers as on several occasions members of the CK army invaded the bands bubble and helped out.)

Kicking off with MENTAL, an invitation for one and all to go mental as if an invitation was eeded! LIES(?) was followed by PUNK NOT FASHION which must be the bookies favourite to feature in the SONG OF THE YEAR competition. (This coupled with POLICE STATE is available of a track CD which looks like a mini vinyl single very retro and classy!). WAY OF LIFE, BOOT SALE TALES and BOLLOCKS followed in quick succession. U.S.U.K., a song that questions why we ever got in to bed with George Dubya and agreed to send our boys off to lose their lives fighting a war that has nothing to do with making the world a safer place and more to do with America wanting to protect their right to destroy the planet with unrestrained use of fossil fuels! Sorry this is a gig review not an address to be delivered at Speakers Corner in ..Hyde Park.., rant over.

At was at this point the band got the one more song call. Which got treated with derision by the CK Army and measured understanding by the band So OI FOR ENGLAND was the final song, or was it. With crowd quite rightly asking for one more it appeared their requests were falling on deaf ears until all of a sudden the band were given the all clear to do another one which meant STAND PROUD was the last song after all. A brilliant song, that had everyone with a soul and a heartbeat joining in with its mantra!



The fact that CITIZEN KEYNE were allowed to play one more was down to TEO (VOX) from OVERLOAD telling the sound guy to turn them back on. Much respect to TEO and the band for this gesture it was appreciated by nearly everyone in the venue. JOHN (VOX), FLOYD (GUITAR & B/VOX), TIM (BASS & B/VOX) and MATT (DRUMS) can always STAND PROUD. Underdog Punk will always have a heart beat when there are bands like Citizen Keyne, and the others playing at this gig, BORN TO DESTRUCT and OVERLOAD making the music and pushing the cause.

Cambridge based OVERLOAD (who originally expected to be second on, agreed to headline when Citizen Keyne said as Teo and crew were the local band it made more sense to have the homeside last up. Generous gesture by CK and probably more to do with available drinking time! LMAO).



For my sins OVERLOAD are a band I have only seen a couple of times, and I have to ask myself why? This is a class band that have been round for a year or two (first seeing the light of day MAR 03) and over these seven years there have been ups and downs, personnel changes, problem with a reputation that made them somewhat toxic property for a while, but throughout at all TEO(VOX) and JAMIE(DRUMS) have remained constant and true. The most recent line up with GUNGLE (GUITAR & B/VOX) and EMMA (BASS) have recorded an album – GODKILLER, and have played several successful gigs and Saturday 20th Feb 2010 was another one to go in the fuck me that was a good gig column and made all the more special as after 2 ½  years of duties on bass this was to be EMMA’s final gig with OVERLOAD.

All the favourites were in there from the eponymous OVERLOAD, LIVE FAST, DON’T DIE, STREET CORNER MILITIA, ONE BY ONE, BENT COPPER, oh and the one in Italian! to name a few through to their excellent cover of the Devo classic Mongoliod.

TEO had the crowd eating out of his hand, and although professing to be suffering from a heavy cold, they only indication of this was TEO kept his shirt on for the entire set! Obviously didn’t want to catch a chill. GUNGLE, EMMA and JAMIE provide the perfect foil to TEO’s exuberant, balls out, in yer face vocal delivery. A true gent and like Citizen Keyne and Born To Destruct, does as much behind the scenes to keep the punk scene going as he and OVERLOAD do performing.

(a)  Thank you for your opinion to which you are entitled and the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same thing

(b)  Thank you for listening to all the bands before making up your mind you didn’t like what was on offer.

Respectfully Submitted by

A Man Called Moose

Situated just off J16 of the M6 and boasting a train station that stops pretty much at the ‘bottom of the garden’ The Alsager Arms is a hostelry rich in history and over the last few years, history of the ‘chequered’ variety.

However, Wench has grabbed the situation by the unmentionables and has set about turning this rather large pub in to a proper ‘music venue’ – from folk to rock, funk to punk, Ann Summers to the legacy of Joe Strummer, all are catered for and welcomed with open arms.

And on the evening of Saturday 13th Feb, it was the turn of underdog punk to grace the stage at The Alsager Arms.

To get set up and sound checked etc, we arrived at 5:30pm, which is notable for 2 reasons, (1) – We found the venue first time – which on a road trip hardly ever happens, and (2) We arrived at the time we said we would.

First order of business was to find a way in! After wandering round the building we found someone sweeping up in the smokers area, there was life! However it was pointed out to us that the venue didn’t open to 8pm! When we pointed that actually this was one of the bands due to play, entry was secured!

Once this obstacle had been cleared it was a case of set up the PA, mikes, etc and wait for the other bands to turn up.

It was about this time that Wench made her first appearance of the evening welcoming us to her humble abode. I must say a huge thank you to our hostess for her generous hospitality and the rather tasty chilli that was laid on for us!

However before partaking of said spicy comestibles there was the small matter of the sound check to get through once Tim and his bass amp turned up, eventually!

After the eats it was time to get down to business and on going back down in to the bar the evenings third band, KYBOSCH (and the closest geographically to the venue) had turned up, and the relief was plain to see on their drummers face when he spied a FULL SIZED kit, as is the way of these things the last time the band were at the venue, no one brought a kit and in the end the day was saved by the production of a JUNIOR kit. A sight to behold I am sure! Especially given that Mr Sticks is more front row forward than a sleek winger!



Did I mention that the evening was meant to be a fancy dress affair?

So it was good to see a few people making the effort, we had Zombies, A Blue Elephant, A Werewolf, A Spider complete with appropriate numbers of legs!, a punk fairy princess, Gary Glitter, a mouse, even a suicide bomber.

KYBOBSCH got things underway about 8:45pm. I band I saw for the first time when Born To Destruct were supporting Mispelt 2.0 on their recent Still Dying Tour. On that occasion apart from the bands and the destruction crew they played to a very miniscule crowd I am glad to say that there were a few more in for this gig.



They play a bright, up beat style of punk influenced rock. Opening their set with 1970’s Super Hero and brought proceedings to a close with Food Deliveries  in between amongst the songs on offer were Bunny Boiler, 35 Million Reasons and Don’t Blame Ralph  to name three.

I enjoyed the set they played back at The Norfolk Inn, and I enjoyed this set even more, the was a lot more edge, and definite energy. Mind you the 2-1 win over Portsmouth could have something to do with it, (I seem to remember on the first occasion seeing these guys the arrived straight from the Britannia Stadium having watched their beloved Stoke City go down 0-2 at the hands – that should be feet?! – to ManU. If I have one complaint – no CHEESE, love that song and trust me there are not many bands that could pull of a song about fermented curds! Great stuff! It was good to see most of the band stayed to watch and support the other two bands.

With CITIZEN KEYNE being next to entertain us it was a case of from the Potteries to land of the concrete cows, Milton Keynes!



A 5 piece punk band steeped in the finest traditions of the genre. This is punk for the underdog by the underdog. Full of energy they deliver song after song with power, passion and expose their very souls in the process.

Lead by that Shy Retiring Violet Mr J C Clarke(VOX) sporting the very latest in suicide bomber chic - who with his pocket rocket sidekick Darren ‘Wonder Midget’ Gardiner(B/VOX) – attired in army camo wear including a net which was bigger than he was all you could see was his arms poking out! - laid down melodious vocals for our aural delectation, Matt (DRUMS) and Tim (BASS) try and keep everyone honest – personally this lot are beyond hope! – whilst Floyd aka “the Talent”(GUITAR) - letting his glam rock yearnings show through especially for that paragon of debauchery and depravity Paul Francis Gadd Esq! – indulged in some fine riffery.

With a sizable chunk of the CK making the trip to Alsager there was a fine atmosphere and with songs like, Mental, Lies, Punk Not Fashion (got my vote for song of the year so far) Way Of Life, Boot Sale Tales, Bollocks – complete with the Alsager Arms Community Choir, USUK, Oi for England – CK’s entry to be the official England song at the World Cup, Chavs, UnGreat Britain, Police State – which with Punk Not Fashion can be found on a newly released 2 track CD, and the incomparable STAND PROUD bringing the set to a close. Real meat and two veg punk with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives – although you would be forgiven for thinking that Darren may have been over doing the Tizer!

By the end of the first song he disappears in to a Sharmanesque trance like state and proceeds to oscillate in and out of your conscious awareness chucking in the odd backing vocal or three and on the odd occasion in the right place! ;)

A brilliant performance from a brilliant band that does this thing called punk for all the right reasons, supporting and promoting the under dog cause and showing their appreciation of like minded individuals in a very public way. After JC’s speech about Born To Destruct, Woodstock PunkRock (Guitar) had to rush to the loo to repair his make up!

BORN TO DESTRUCT – punk funsters from the centre of UK academia, Cambridge, had the honour of headlining this Beauties and Beasts parade. This was a band that took the fancy dress element to heart with the grotesque in the shape of Zombie Dr Stu Spider Hand (BASS); the subtle – Richie Rich Quadpod (DRUMS) opting for the old monster hands and feet which meant as he was behind the drums kit the couldn’t be seen!; The delightful - in punk princess Kat Destruct(VOX) complete with tiara; and the down right WRONG – Mr Woodstock PunkRock(GUITAR/KAZOO) opting to be a MOUSE, 



Complete with whiskers, ears and tail, the image of a 6ft tall extremely hefty rodent is one I am even now trying to expunge!! (loves ya really bro!) I am glad to say that none of this got in the way of BTD turning in a trademark fine performance. Like opening a box of the finest chocolates, there were 16 hand crafted, individual wrapped parcels of exquisite confection to gorge on, some milk, some dark, soft centres, chewy centres and a couple of crunchy nutty ones to keep you on your toes. All real beauties and something for everyone.

Stand out songs for me, NOTHING; BEER; LEECH; SICK SCUM AND APATHY plus the two new editions 24 HRS and ROTTEN DAY(debut) which have the potential to give Sick Scum and Apathy a run for its money!



With the Destruction Crew being some what ‘thin’ on the ground – as I was it and thin is not a word that has been used to describe me for about 25 years! – it was great to see BTD receiving support from all quarters.

Rightly called back to give us one more, as in fact all the bands were, BTD played us out to the strains of WE BRING THE NOISE with special guest star appearances from John and Darren from Citizen Keyne, nothing like a bit of good community singing to end the night, and as that wasn’t on offer we made do with this!!



What a night. Pity the sound guy was a bit of an amateur but I don’t think anyone suffered too much.

Thank You’s have to go to:

* Wench for her kind hospitality, amazing venue and very tasty chilli!
* Everyone that came along to lend there support even when they foundout it wasn’t an Ann Summers party complete with strippers!
* Everyone that came in fancy dress
* The bands for bringing some damned fine music to the party

Belatedly but none-the-less respectfully submitted by

A Man Called (were) Moose aka The Slacker!

A venue steeped in the musical history of the UK and one little changed over the years. A venue that has a soul. Even empty you can feel a buzz, so with a few people in the room and the music pumping the atmosphere should be a good one.

The Destruction Crew arrived around 5:30pm to find very few people in the ‘back’ room, RIFF, PHIL and STRAKA from SHAG NASTY and couple of their mates, apparently there was a football match being shown on SKY involving Manchester United and that other premier league team from north east London that don’t play at White Hart Lane!

With the game finished UK VOMIT arrived and seemed like a bunch of truly mental nutters that know how to have a good time!

Arriving a little later than expected the sound guy got straight down to business and got the stage set up and ready for SHAG NASTY to sound check. Followed by UK VOMIT, BORN TO DESTRUCT and finally CRIMINAL BRAINSTORM.

All the bands sounded good and what was encouraging to hear was the sound man suggesting to bands that they want to take a note of the amp settings in case they are changed before they get to play! So may be we were in for a good night sound wise!

It was time to grab a quick bite and get back to the venue.

I missed the early part of CRIMINAL BRAINSTORM set but if it was on a par with what I did here then it was sure to have been GOOD! A bunch of guys from that mecca for great music Sheerness. Formed in the early eighties they played several gigs, recorded some stuff and disbanded in the later 80’s. Some of the band got involved with PORTRAIT OF INSANITY but the untimely death of one of the members (Steve Clarke) was the catalyst for Criminal Brainstorm to reform in 2008, and hit the road again.

It is always great to hear and see band from back then still be able to cut it today showing the youngsters who have what it takes, that they have never lost it!

Good old fashioned, straight up and down, no nonsense punk rock are what this lot are about. First band on they may have been but they got a great reception from a small crowd, but what an atmosphere. It’s strange how some venues don’t need more than a bit of good music and few people in to create an ambiance that you can almost touch. Sean (Vocals), Noz (Bass), Big F (Guitar) and  Daz (Drums) may be a bunch of SAGA LOUTS but they proved tonight they can still turn out a decent punk tune or two my favourite of which was Captain Scarlet (a boyhood hero and I have a picture of me somewhere running round the back garden as a 5 year old kid in my Captain Scarlet Uniform!) A great set and rightly the band got asked to play us one more!

Having set the bar it was time for BORN TO DESTRUCT to take to the stage and after last weekends gig in Birmingham with its poor sound, tonight was really a treat.

Crisp clean vocals, a great balance between guitar, bass and drums, a fantastic performance, and an appreciative and exuberant crowd you really can’t ask much more than that.

KAT DESTRUCT (VOX) gave a very confident and assured performance full of sass and attitude and up there with her very best and I would say as good as Sheffield back in NOV 09 which is the bench mark (being quite simply not only KAT’s best performance but one of the best vocal performances I have seen/heard).

WOODSTOCK PUNKROCK(GUITAR), DR STU (BASS) and RICHIE RICH (DRUMS) not only turned in an excellent performance but they had immense fun as well and this has to be up there with the best BTD performances.

All the songs were well received, SICK SCUM & APATHY, BEER, 24 HOURS, LEECH really came over well, and the rest of the set stood up for itself too but these for me just shone that little brighter.

Again asked to play one more, and so the band treated us to WE BRING THE NOISE, a great audience participation song, and on this occasion the participation included ‘kidnapping’ KAT from the front of the stage and proceeding to be “danced” round the room being held up by CHUNDER from UK VOMIT then a few others joined in, KAT managed to ‘escape’ when nearly being dropped and retreated back on to the stage, where she remained for the rest of the song!

Then it was the turn of UK VOMIT to entertain us. A brash, crass, dirty, rude, bunch of lads that play loud, fast and hard! With titles and lyrics that would offend the less enlightened it would be easy to write this lot off as just another typical loud punk band that swear a lot. They are so much more than that. Technically a very proficient group of musicians, bass and drums are tight and solid, the dual guitars work well with and off each other and the vocals are delivered with power and edge and compliment the music going on underneath perfectly.

A great great live band. Boundless energy, this lot do all night what the oldies take all night to do!

They had a ‘few’ fans in the crowd to watch them play and this ramped the atmosphere up a notch or three.

CHUNDER (GUITAR/main VOX), SPEW (GUITAR/VOX), PUKE (BASS) and UPCHUCK (DRUMS), play hard and party hard doing it. Loved the banter between the band, and with the audience. They deprived their adoring fans of their favourite song until they encored and unleashed TROLLEY. BRILLIANT

Finally, the main event, SHAG NASTY. Another band from back in the day probably as famous for how they got started as they are for the music. RIFF (GUITAR) is the only original member in the current line up which is a 3 piece completed by PHIL STAR (DRUMS) and STRAKA STAR (BASS & VOX). These guys are a lot nearer their bus passes than their first pair of long trousers BUT have the still got it. You bet your sweet little ass they have and got it in spades. OK there were a few covers, but what the hell, and the odd uncertainty about when to come in on the lyrics, to how to end the song, the missed notes here and there, even the almost mandatory technical hitch which left STRAKA without a bass amp couldn’t and didn’t detract from the quality of the performance in any way. From the opening bars of POWER to the closing notes of PUNK ANTHEM 77 (for which and unless my eyes deceived me a previous member joined them on stage) we were treated to some vintage punk.

The scenes at the end of the night when the UK VOMIT boys got everyone that had played up on the stage to have their photo taken en masse with the SHAG NASTY crew and resulted in a reprised version of PUNK ANTHEM ’77 that just carried on and on, almost as if no one wanted to be the one to bring it to a close. But all good things come to an end and this was a brilliant night for punk.

This was a perfect example of what is right about the scene, mutual respect between the bands, the crowd and the bands, everyone doing it for the love of it, and having a jolly good time in to the bargain.

CRIMINAL BRAINSTORM, UK VOMIT and SHAG NASTY are all top of my list to see again and soon – (BORN TO DESTRUCT are a permanent fixture on that list).

Thanks;

To the venue, what an awesome place to play music.
And much respect to the sound guy who did an amazing job for the bands
To the bands who were the reason the we the punters were there
To those that came to watch as we are the reason the bands come out to play!

Respectfully Submitted By

A Man Called Moose