Last Updated on March 5, 2023
Originally published in Beat Motel issue 8
I’d seen quite a lot of promotion for this gig so was surprised to find only a modest turn out when I arrived at the railway, but many of the usual faces were in attendance and spirits were high regardless.
Local boys THE DEAD BATTERIES were the first to take to the stage, plowing through their fast and furious set of RESTARTS influenced street punk fairly quickly to a sadly slightly disinterested audience. The interplay between drummer Simon’s high pitched snarl and bassist Mitch’s lower, more gruff shouts is still working very well and the new material they’ve been playing recently is the best they’ve ever come up with. Unfortunatly tonight was just not their night and they came across as a little lacklustre.
Next up were colchesters ska-core kids SNITCHO AND THE DINOSAURS, a band who’ve been going from strength to strength over the past couple of years, having developed their sound into something more unique with the addition of synth’s into the mix, a touch which is really working and seems to have turned them into one of the most promising young bands on the east anglian punk scene. In typical Railway fashion, the set was plagued with complaints from the management (who went to the extent of standing in front of the stage with a decibel metre!) that the music was too loud but it didnt matter too much as the lads played a tight, energetic set and went down very well.
Bournemouth’s THE EXTINGUISHERS were next up with a set unfortunatly plagued by equipment problems (as well as MORE complaints from captain killjoy about volume levels) which put a downer on an otherwise solid sound. Bassist Chris was particularly impressive.
Evesham boys OFFICER DOWN genuinely seem to be one of the best touring punk bands around at the minute, having taken their slightly LEFTOVER CRACK / CHOKING VICTIM influenced punk/hardcore/ska sound all over the UK in support of their soon to be released debut album on TENT CITY records. Tonights set was filled with energy, you could really feel the enthusiasm for the music coming off this band and it was beyond annoying that their momentum was continually interrupted by the pettiness of a venue that claims to be Suffolk’s best but repeatedly treats bands like crap. If you get the chance to check these lads out at any point, then do so; their modern, socially conscious hardcore punk checks all the right boxes and you’re sure to be hearing more of them soon!
- Briggs
