Goldblade

The Lemon Grove looks fairly deserted in front of the red lit stage with both set ups for the bands already in place and a beefy looking stack of speakers are drapped in skulls and crossbones. It's like the Mary Celeste tho as the punk outfit Gold Blade take to the stage and nearly fall straight off the other side as with all the kit there's not much space left for the band.

The Goldblade boys aren’t put off though and launch straight into ‘Fighting In The Dancehall’ and although the crowd is small this doesn’t seem to phase the crazy eyed ex-Membranes frontman John Robb who repeatedly angles the microphone into the crowd for the small knot of loyal fans to yell the lyrics back to him.



The basslines and drums are incredibly tight and the rhythms are enough to gain the attention of those in the bar and the numbers rapidly multiply. John and the boys appear to have no idea where they are though, asking if there’s anyone in the crowd from Shepton Mallet. “No? Oh I thought that was near!” The brothel-creepered one leaps between the supports of the barrier and constantly offers the mic for a sing along as brother Pete looking with angular sideburns rather maniacal joins him, firing his guitar at the crowd as they launch into ‘AC-DC’.

Eyes now ablaze and the rhythm section setting up infectious psycho-punk grooves, John strips off to the waist for ‘Psycho’ and starts a preachin’ at us, his brothers and sisters! Askin’ who’s fans of Keane or Will Young and lookin’ around at the grizzled faces of guys from the local punk scene, you can see them tellin’ their kids to stay quiet.



It’s good to see so many youngsters here, but there’s a whole generation missin’, the ones of University age, (we’re on the University grounds) Daddy’s trust fund clearly isn’t being spent on Newcastle Brown ale tonight.

Frontman Robb, loves the word tepid, calling the crowd tepid and promising to warm us up so that when we leave we’ll be at room temperature, guaranteed. It’s a bit too depreciating as this is loud accomplished punk and they are terrific to watch. Both brothers are bundles of energy with sweat pouring from John after a while, “I’m knackered!” he yells as they launch into ‘Who Was The Killa’ and I’m fairly sure he wasn’t kiddin’!

New song ‘Jukebox Generation’ is well received and the crowd has filled out enough and even a few bemused students have turned up to dance about and suddenly everyone’s caught by the beat and pockets of the crowd are dancing.



‘Do You Believe In The Power Of Rock 'N' Roll’ and ‘Strictly Hardcore’ are terrific tunes and I’m amazed I haven’t seen Goldblade more on the festival circuit, they’re a highly entertaining live act with a bundle of great tunes and loads of energy. They certainly achieve a hugely tepid crowd come the end of their set and there’s a fair few sweaty guys bustling at the bar to cool off with a tepid pint before Stiff Little Fingers (see separate review).

FUTURE GIGS

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