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This was the first date of the tour and organised as a benefit for a Polish Antifascist prisoner Tomek Wilkoszewski by, among other people, our drummer Mark! His first gig, and what a stormer. Not just bands but films, food and a bar. Read more about Tomek's case here http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/campaigns/campaigns-antifa.htm
Entering into Jack The Ripper's stalking ground (Whitechapel) was always going to carry risks. The P.A. may have actually been from the Victorian era as the vocals sounded like a bag of wasps under water. (PS We don't advise trying this because it is nasty to wasps, and you'll get stung). First up were Beginning of the End. Brutal female vocals over a d-beat assault provided by people who have served in bands such as Give Up All Hope, Whole In The Head, Boxed In etc. The crowd got a rockin' with a little bit of heckling. Next up was us. War All The Time had brought 2 guitar cabs, so up we cranked the noise. After complaints that people couldn't hear the vocals we had to reluctantly turn down. But it didn't stop the crazy self flaggelating straight edger in a pink dress from dancing his socks off.
As the evening wore on, the bar sold out of decent booze, with only Strongbow left (it ain't ever seen an apple and it doesn't taste like cider). However, War All The Time more than made up for it. A torrent of noise worthy of the finest Japanese or Finnish bands you could name was unleashed. By now the P.A. was behaving (was it the P.A. or the person using it?) so the sound was vastly improved. As the band drew to a close word went round that the noise police from the council had arrived. Everything went silent. Gear was rushed out to vans and cars to make sure it wasn't seized and the place was cleaned up. We breathed a sign of relief, but the noise police still hung around watching us with all the gear in the van. Perhaps they thought we were gonna start playing in the van! As if there was room.....
All in all, the gig raised over £300 for Tomek, which translates to a lot more in Poland. So, already the tour was a success. The mission became clear - all we had to do was cover our fuel costs and survive the next few days and we were onto a winner.
War All The Time retired to Lewisham where they dropped off a huge tape collection and we headed back to Nelson Mandella House in Peckham to drink bizarre coloured drinks with Del and Rodney and listen to Disfear until 4 a.m.
After a breakfast of Holland & Barrett sos rolls and tandoori bombay mix we hit the road. An hour of traffic jam later and we were nearly past Croydon. Eventually we arrived in Brighton and navigated to a parking space close to the venue outside our mate Ralf Opiate Records' flat. War All The Time, meanwhile, had decided to go to the beach. We had other things on our mind, namely RedVeg vegan junkfood and dropping in to see Buz at the Punker Bunker. A couple of pounds (weight) heavier and a couple of pounds (money) lighter it was time for a beer and before you knew it, it was gig time.
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The venue was hilarious. It was like being in someone's bedroom with a corridor stuck on the side but with added pillars in everyone's way. So, we had to remove the furniture to make room (see pic). Alex from Zandor Records who was down with the War staffed our 3 distros packed onto on a couple of tables in the hallway upstairs. A true gent. First up were the cheeky "come and play our cardboard box sized venue" lads from Constant State of Terror. One guitar light they still managed to deliver the goods. And the size of the venue made for a nice intensity. Not such a crazy venue after all.. and it did sell Weston's Organic so can't be all bad..... |
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Whole In The Head brought the noise to the assembled hordes but realising that Mark's snare was bust, we had to borrow one. By about 6 songs in the bass drum skin split. We tried to carry on without it, but it just threw our timing out. Like a lightning flash, Sned was stood there with a bass skin in his hand and a big grin. The music stops, the bass drum is on the floor, and in a very short space of time the skin is fixed. What a legend! Before you know it Whole In The Head is back with a vengeance.] War All The Time ripped the room like a Crack of Thunder. They laid it down like it needed to be. A wall of noise that totally filled the available space. There's not a lot else to say except if you haven't seen this band, you need to. After the gig it was session on at the pub and back at Bill & Geraldine's. |
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Up at 8.30 to get to the car before the traffic wardens, we hit the road, using the back route to avoid the crowds arriving for Gay Pride. Having run the M23, M25 and some of the M4 we realised that we needed: a) a poo b) some breakfast. A bit of local knowledge led us to Sainsbury's just off Junction 11 of the M4. The toilets were excellent. Their attempt at vegan breakfast was shit.
Feeling a little battle weary, we decided to recharge our batteries with some earth power, so we headed to Avebury for a picnic and some antiquarian rambling. War All The Time had a date with a train and had to be in Bristol by 2 o'clock before they played a gig at the skate park. When we eventually arrived at the skate park it was full of punks and skaters sunning themselves and injuring themselves to the tune of Ghurka.
Things ran late as things do, and we disappeared off to the venue. Well, more precisely, War All The Time went to the venue with the gear and left Martin Einon the Prince of Punk to guard it while they went to his house for food. Apparently last time someone put on a gig at the Queen's Head in Easton, the P.A. got nicked while their back was turned. We disappeared to Punky's, where we were staying and some of us braved a bastard hot chilli while others got the old touring favourite, Chinese and Chips! After a quick can of beer, and the arrival of Michelle, we headed up to the venue. Although the garden of the boozer was littered with casualties from a day's cider drinking (this is the locals not the punx!) it turned out to be a trouble free gig. And free in as well.
Jesus Bruisers are a band we have failed to hook up with despite numerous attempts so it was good to finally see them. Unhinged is a word that springs to mind. But more large smiley mentalist than "I'm gonna stab ya" mentalist. A mix of mid paced punk rock and crusty skank.
With so many old faces to see, we had to be dragged into the venue from the garden to play, having completed our "2 bands in a wendy house" tour photo session. We played a cracking little set, if a bit chaotic. Jamie entered the spirit of the pub and flew about like a loon and stuff went crashing everywhere, which seemed to go down well with the crowd of assembled hecklers. And the they seemed to like the noise too. Special mention goes to Graham who put our split 7" with War All The Time out. By the smile on his face we were either good or comical....c
War All The Time finished off the night with another cracking set. Now Rob really does look unhinged when he is singing, especially his special "mixing a giant cake" move, or is it winding up a giant noise machine. Cos that is what War All The Time are - a giant noise machine. Not a noise machine powered by giant people y'know (although.....) but a machine that generates a giant noise. Totalitar you have competition! They seemed to get better every night, and also being a cracking bunch, we were sad to see them disappear back to the North.
More Brighton pics:
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