This was a well put together bill for a great Saturday night out at the Dublin Castle with three bands who all go together. We arrived just before Damage Uk kicked things off, in a suitably angry way, with Cyber War a good speedy punk song that really wishes we could go back to simpler times. Palace Of Justice is an old classic that screams out for the real criminals to be brought to the Palace of Justice to receive the punishment they deserve, while Brian Damage's vocals were suitably bitter and twisted he encouraged us to sing along to the chorus.
Brian made clear just what World Of Total Surveillance was about while asking us all to film the band obviously, with Marco Giacomelli's guitar getting at the paranoia of always being on camera leads too. The Chains Of Austerity seem to be gripping us all more tightly with Paul Flynn afraid to waste any of his bass notes.
Cauldron Of Fire seems to be what we are currently living through, with Brian spitting fire in all directions. They wished we didn't live in a world that was at Code Blue perpetually, while Reg Charles spry beat drove them along. Brian announced that Soldiers On Our Streets was another song about war, in this case about the huge number of ex-servicemen and women who end up homeless and in trouble.
Brian had fun with So Far So Good while they hoped that the evening would continue to be good, while he battled it out on guitar trading licks with Marco while they all looked like they were having a blast. They then did a cool cover of the Pretty Things classic Rosalyn that they acknowledged was more in a Pin Ups style. A Right To Protest is currently a crucial message that needs to be rammed into the heads of politicians the world over, that most of us disagree with the direction they are taking us in and we must be able to protest against the pointless slaughter.
Chaos Of The Clampdown was a riot of guitars and righteous sentiments for finding a better way to live, before they closed with a great singalong version of Bobby Fuller's classic I Fought The Law that pretty much the entire audience joined in with, a great end to the set.
Next on were Eddie Roxy & The Adjacent Kings his new band since Department S wound down. They opened with Whole Lot Of Shakin' that had plenty of energy and Eddie throwing a pose or two as the guitars really started to go rockabilly. Traveller was all about how Eddie wants to see things through his eyes, while the band sounded like they were speeding down the highway. Going Left Right was the first old classic of the set and it sounded great as most of us sang along.
Eddie was than claiming he Did You No Wrong while he was out of his head, here's hoping that was the case, Muddy Water is a great tribute to one of the all time greats. Angel slowed things down nicely before the bitter and twisted Ball & Chain really allowed all the bile to spill out, while they still seemed to be having a riot on stage. Wonderful Day is seemingly harder to have than ever currently, but they were determined to have a blast.
Eddie then told us it was 45 years since he first played Is Vic There? And it still sounds brilliant, this was a fun speedy version. They then played a classic punk cover of Kylie Motherfuckin Minogues Can't Get You Out Of My Head that easily got the biggest singalong of the evening, like it had been written by Joe Strummer. Let's Go was speedy good fun for having more adventures before they closed with Never Surrender that currently is a pretty crucial message.
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After a short break it was time for Guitar Gangsters to blast the doors off, back with the bands original drummer Steve Brewer behind the kit, they opened with Turning The Tables that had plenty of edge to it, Fifty Dangerous Things could be a list of one weeks presidential statements, rather than the things Pete Ley actually lists. Class Of 76 celebrates everything good that came out of that tumultuous year complete with one of Phil Ley's most forceful basslines.
It's A Shame is a phrase that seems overused currently, so it should be all about the sentiments they have. United We fall is a clarion call to all the sane sensible people left on earth to bring down the murderous regimes trying to destroy the world currently and have a total blast while doing so. Pete made clear that Tarantino's Son was written by drummer Steve Brewer as they rampaged through it and at the end went straight into a dark moody version of Miserlou.
I Used To Be Cool is an anthem for anyone who misses the days when having a flat top and wearing creepers signalled to the world you were cool. Fortune Favours The Brave is a very loaded phrase that they hope is about trying to turn your dreams into reality and becoming a legendary live band. Obsession the band have a few of those and the speedy riffing and tight as can be drumming nailed it.
When The Razor Cuts is clearly about getting a flat top rather than a tribute to the brit rock band of that name. Nothing To Shout About has a real current feel, most of us wish that the advice was taken by all our so-called leaders.
They then played the bands main anthem Shut Up (And Get Me A Drink) solid advice, most of us totally agree with, everyone sang along to the chorus, they then closed with Undefeated which is how they are as a good speedy psycho-punk band, who everyone needs to see playing live.
The Dublin Castle made sure they got an encore, not that they left the stage and they then launched into The Aftershow that encouraged us all to carry on drinking with them late into the night. They the gave us there favourite Punk cover with a great version of Be My Baby that had plenty of fun and games in it, before they closed the show with Going To London a song that feels more like an opener, but still this was another great set from Guitar Gangsters who are always worth seeing.
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