If you spend a night in a sweaty mosh pit at a hardcore punk show you have to bare in mind that the next day in the office will suck big fucking time! And those suicidal tendencies I’m having this morning are not because of the bruises all over my body…. It’s all caused by the fact that punk rock and hardcore punk shows are making me feel so ALIVE, bringing back beautiful memories of my early 20’s, when music wasn’t as mainstream as today and everything related to it was more romantic.
No Spotify, no YouTube, sometimes not even the Internet. Just Compact Discs and Cassettes. I still possess the glorious one that introduced me to this world: Straight Ahead by Pennywise on side A and Ballads from the Revolution by Good Riddance on side B.
Also going to gigs was much more fun: you firstly had to find the money, then a car, then a friend keen to drive until Milano, Genova or Torino, then a little shop to buy beers and then, most difficult part, the venue!
I think we reached the bottom of the barrel when we got lost on our way to Fat Wreck Tour in 2003. When we got there the gig was over, the fans have left and the only people in the venue were the barman of a deserted bar and some Mad Caddies and Lawrence Arms members playing dices. They obviously laughed at us, but just before the sadness in our faces was about to turn into tears, they invited us to their table and we spent the entire night up to no good with our new friends.
Time to leave Memory Lane now and start talking about these Fucked Up Canadians and the immense gig they played yesterday.
Damian Abraham and co. had the brilliant idea to start the show with Echo Boomer, the opening track of their new album Glass Boys (Matador Records) followed by Queen of Hearts. I’m not complaining about that, it was the best start they could have possibly done, but I’m not exaggerating in saying that the floor almost collapsed.
The rest of the night was all about mosh pit, sweat, crowd surfing, beers and great songs like Black Albino Bones, The Other Side, Led by Hand, Sun Glass and Paper the House.
I need to mention as well the fact that the singer Damian was never on stage! That dude can’t stay away from the action and from the love of his fans to a point that he spent the entire time in the middle of us, hugging everyone and smiling like a little child when people were kissing his bald head.
I also managed to give him a big hug when the concert was over and you can really tell there’s nothing fake in that incredible human being!!
Great night, Great show, Great bunch of Fucked Up people!
Bibs&Tips: The Kings Cross Honest Burgers branch is literally 45 seconds walking distance (Angel direction) from La Scala… and we all know how good their burgers are!
Bibs And Gigs 