NOFX / The Loved Ones / Tat

Tat have the honour of opening the show tonight, fronted by the lovely Tatiana DeMaria. Boys like her, girls want to be like her. The Green Day reference is blindingly obvious, but never has it been done so well by a female before.

Not only does DeMaria play guitar solos holding the instrument over her head, she and fellow band members Nick Kent and Jake Reed have all the makings of a successful punk band; the attitude, stage presence and catchy songs.

‘Champagne, Cocaine And Strawberries (Fast As F*ck)’ is their anthem track, whilst ‘I Don’t Wanna Love You’ is a catchy fast track that makes your head and feet move even if you don’t feel like it.



The band have yet to record their debut album, but have already notched up tours with the Bouncing Souls, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes, and on the 2 month long US Warped Tour. The best thing about this set is the fact that DeMaria’s 93 year old Grandma is sat at the side of the stage, handbag on her lap! Now that is hardcore!

Next up are The Loved Ones, just about to start their own tour this week (with Tat supporting them too). They are from Philadelphia, and are not the 1960’s Australian rock group or the Bradford jazz/funk band that you may have heard of.

Singer Dave Hause has a sound of Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan, strong and raspy. The set starts off with songs that do not really get your attention, and I’m starting to think that Tat and TLO should have changed places on the bill. However the songs go from strength to strength, like the riffs in ‘100K’ and the straight-forward vocal delivery of ‘Jane’.



The songs are fast and hard; no frills kind of punk. No fannying about with intros, chatting and fancy solos, just punk delivered promptly to yours ears. The guys' girlfriends may as well have been in the band too, dancing on the side of the stage a little too much in the limelight (DeMaria’s gran knows the score!). Tonight’s a warm up show, as they yell “See you next week!” and leave to a huge applause.

A rare UK headlining show for NOFX now, as they tour the Academy venues after being left off of the bill at the Carling Festivals. With the 1995 album ‘I Heard They Suck Live’ and a new album called ‘They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live!’, the focus on it being a good gig can be forgotten.

With ten albums and many compilations and EPs, the setlist could have been packed with classics from throughout their career, especially given the song length. ('The Decline', weighing in at eighteen minutes, is an exception to the punk rule). After many digs at people in the front row (“Should you be here? You look like a geek!”) and several swigs of some pink looking liquid, we do get the odd song.



‘Linoleum’ makes an early appearance, as does many from ‘Punk In Drublic’; ‘Leave It Alone’, ‘The Brews’ and ‘The Cause’. There’s a bit of tomfoolery as El Hefe knocks into the back of Fat Mike, leaving him and Eric Melvin to laugh about it. The guys have introduced two lesbians onto the stage from Europe (though anyone can say their lesbians if it means sharing a stage with these punk legends) and proceed to let us in on how they “work”.

One thing to mention is that Fat Mike is less deserving of the name these days. Looking a lot smaller in a baggy cardigan and t shirt slagging off President Bush, the whole thing that he built his record label (‘Fat Wreck Chords’) and stage persona around is a little slim on the ground. Mind you after 24 years in a band you can change your appearance and even your name (Slim Mike just dosen’t have the same ring to it however).



Drummer Erik Sandin is not to be forgotten sat at the back under the world’s smallest backdrop (which drops down half way through the show). Finding a girls shoe on the stage, Sandin licks it. Nice. Apparently at the Birmingham show he licked the floor. Somehow I find the idea of the shoe worse...



I have seen better Nofx shows, with more gags and songs. This show did have many repeated starts to songs, but as I mentioned first, what more can you expect from Nofx? I think the idea is to get everyone of a similar disposition in the same place to have a laugh. The band have sold many records, come up with some brilliant songs, and are well respected in the punk world, so what do they have to try for? Some may disagree, but I’m sure Fat Mike and co won’t give a shit.

FUTURE GIGS

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