Both bands tore the roof off this punk mecca - you totally had to be there!
Dear Santa, what we would most like for Christmas (and, indeed, throughout 2025) is MORE GRUNGE. Particularly the punkier variety. Alas, I’m not old enough to have attended early UK gigs by the likes of Mudhoney and Nirvana (you’ll have to ask fellow Punktuation scribe James Sherry about those), but by all accounts, they were thrillingly raw, chaotic affairs – and these days, it seems that wherever the genre’s influence pops up, the results are usually awesome
A case in point: Spleen. After their set, vocalist/guitarist Samuele admits to have been feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of playing this renowned London punk pub; not least as tonight is the young Italians’ first ever gig outside their home country.
He needn’t have worried, though. Songs like ‘What’s Behind The Sun’ and ‘Affected Kid’ are proof that Spleen are already masters of the quiet-loud dynamic that was (yes!) grunge’s hallmark in its heyday, and a mid-set cover of ‘Making Plans For Nigel’ transforms XTC’s original into something fabulously fierce.
They play with more and more confidence – and intensity – as the set progresses, and eventually Samuele dispenses with his guitar for a feral finale, whipping the already-lively pit into a crazy, bouncing mess. We can’t help but wonder if there’ll be many more folks claiming they were here in the future, when Spleen have gone on to greater things. Fingers crossed.
Most bands would be nervous at the prospect of following such an impressive set, but Brazilian duo Yur Mum are not most bands. From the go, this is a heads-down, no-nonsense display from Anelise and Fabio; you get the impression that they’d give their all in front of just two men and a dog.
By the time they drop ‘Tropical Fuzz’ fourth song in, they’ve well and truly hit their stride, and those fuzzed up bass riffs (hello again, grunge!) hit the spot beautifully. Initially recovering after Spleen’s set, that pit (now featuring members of Spleen themselves!) builds again, and it morphs into an utter maelstrom for the hardcore punk blast of ‘Same Igual’ from this year’s expressive album release ‘Duality‘. And hey, it’s nearly Christmas, so there’s time for a quick mauling of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ to bring things to a feedback-drenched close.
So ends a great evening at a deservedly sold-out venue. Thanks to Sam Wilde from UXB Music Promotions and Tony Smith from Sounds of the Suburbs for having us – be sure to follow them on Facebook for more quality gigs.
Thanks also to Paul Bedford from Kick Down The Doors PR and Paula Hartley from Digital Rebel PR for all their help!
Main Photo Credit / All Photos: RUTH RAE
Follow Yur Mum on Their Socials:
Need more Punk In Your Life?
Griff and Michele are back with a Ska classic!
Follow-up single to their December hit ‘Christmas Smile’, Griff & Michele with one ‘L’ return with a cover of the 1968 Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae classic ‘54-46’, by
Crymwav to hit London on Friday!
West coast US rockers Crymwav (pronounced ‘Crimewave’) are crossing the pond to play a show at the famous Iron Maiden pub the Cart & Horses
Scarborough Punk Souvenir – are YOU in this fantastic photobook, by Phil Thorns?
Scarborough Punk Festival 2024 was an amazing event – top photographer Phil Thorns presents the best of the action! Published in a fabulous 72 page
Syama de Jong, ‘first lady’ of Dutch punk, passes away
Rest in Punk, Rest in Power, Saskia aka Sacha aka Syama de Jong! We shall never forget you. Herman de Tollenaere recounts her extraordinary legacy.
Peesh goes ‘Under the Radar’ in his new seasonal project!
Northumbrian punk singer-songwriter Peesh has just released a great new single, ‘Under the Radar’, to celebrate the first day of Spring – and to launch
Album review: Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts
March 2025 sees The Wildhearts return with their 11th studio album; ‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’. Featuring their new line-up, coming out on a new
I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
Did you know that we are 100% DIY? We run our own game. No one dictates to us, and no one drives what we can or cannot put on our pages – and this is how we plan to continue!
