1,426 SWINTERFEST 2026, Swindon The Hop and The Victoria, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th January 2026

 

I am resolved this year to get out more locally, take a bit more interest in the Swindon music scene, hopefully with the help of a certain reformed 90’s indie-rock rabble…! Anyway, a pretty decent opportunity to make an early start on this resolution came in the shape of Swinterfest; the brainchild of Swindon Shuffle impresario Ed Dyer, this is effectively the Shuffle’s Winter younger brother, showcasing local musical talent and raising money for the Prospect Hospice in the process. And the debut appearance at this years ‘fest of the aforementioned reformed 90’s rabble ensured a debut appearance from me as well! 

But I skip ahead; my first Swinterfesting came on Thursday evening, as I joined the early comers just after 7.45 in the upstairs room of The Hop, for some lower key acoustic shenanigans to ease myself in. As I arrived, Chippenham native MAC LLOYD was working through some 70’s inflected bluesy folk with some tape loop rhythmic backing. A vibe slightly at odds with his evident youth, he was nonetheless an engaging opener. I then ran into gig friend Jo for a catch up, before she took her floor seated spot and I squirmed forward for my reason for attendance tonight, namely FLO AND THE ESCAPE LANE, on at 8.30. Flo, daughter of course of “live” fave of mine, the excellent Nick Parker, weaved a gossamer-light set of her own compositions around the centrepiece of an excellent cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work”, which positively glowed under Flo’s interpretation. Backed ably by her 2-piece band, including Nick’s partner in crime John Hare, this was a delicately delivered yet absorbing half-hour set from the odd-socked Flo, recalling the likes of Cowboy Junkies’ hushed incandescence or Madder Rose’s slower alt-country moments, and made me make a mental note to turn up early for her set supporting her dad here in March. 

Old posse mate Rog turned up so we caught up, before Ed introduced “local legends” MR. LOVE AND JUSTICE to the stage. Mainman Steve Cox, a mate of Rog’s and a veteran local musical presence, introduced, “the superannuated section of the evening; bus pass rock!” but along with his 2 equally accomplished sidekicks, delivered some highly melodic and well-constructed tuneage, variously recalling the smooth mellow 70’s vibe of Stealer’s Wheel, or the more Beatles-influenced and pastoral latter-day XTC. “Welcome To our Garden” was, oddly enough, a Rupert Lowe diss track (!) with a subtle protest undercurrent recalling Ian Prowse’s work, and closer “What If” was the most strident and rocking number of a very entertaining set, delivered with verve and humour by the gregarious Cox. The first time I’d seen this lot “live”, disgracefully, but hopefully not the last… So this took me up to just after 10, and a chat with Dubs and Paul Carter while the headliners set up. But I decided on an early night instead, so bade farewell, bumping into Rog and neighbour Steve on the way out, to end my Swinterfest Day 1!

I had company for Day 2, as Logan and boyfriend Kristian joined me for an early start to the more rock-orientated Friday programme. However we arrived at 7 to find a slight delay in proceedings, so chatted with Tim and Andy before openers SUNKATS. A group of veteran covers band musos, apparently, their stock-in-trade was more 70’s twiddly prog and 80’s proto hair metal, like ZZ Top without the beards as Andy put it! Well played, sure, but not my thing. But then my “thing” was next up… 

Happily, a decent crowd had gathered for MEZZANINE, on at 8, and Logan, Kristian and I had pitched up at the front, house left. Opener “Turn It Up” was a rampaging statement of intent, a sleazoid new wave anthem played with ferocious conviction, volume… and pace! “The Clause” was a psych/ punk collision and both “Staring At The Sun” and a later “Alien” had propulsive push’n’shove rhythmic nods to the likes of Five Thirty and even The Jam. Prior to that, “Satellite” was a swaggering Stones-like strut, and the Stone Roses backbeat of “Down By The Ocean” was excellent, the most polished and hookiest number in their current set, getting Logan and I rocking out and singing along.

“I can’t believe this is our last song already!” exclaimed an incredulous Andy before closer “Like Your Lycra”, recalling the reaction of another singer, after another superb and equally lightning-fast set, namely Stacy Jones at the end of American Hi-Fi’s Reading 2001 turn (gig 526). “Lycra” itself was a brilliant breathless power-chord propelled punk-pop punctuation point to another fine Mezzanine set, the band continuing to pick up virtually seamlessly after a 30-odd year pause from their 101 days! 

Logan and Kristian headed off then, but I was in for the long-haul tonight! Next up was CAREFUL, SPIDER, a 4-piece who came recommended by the esteemed Mr. Geoffrey Head. Their opener “The Line” was a lengthy and metronomic layered backbeat Space/ Krautrock creature, with some interesting shoegaze/ post-punk guitar overlays (I swore I heard a “She’s Lost Control” riff there briefly…!). The subsequent 2 numbers were equally spacious, meandering things, with slow-burn, almost bleak and eerie openings building to noisier crescendos, and set closer “Anomie” gained momentum and speed throughout, again building to a dramatic denouement. Intriguing stuff from a band I’d certainly check out again.

Not sure about the next 2 though; a fiddly set up involving multiple amps and banks of keys delayed the arrival of DREAMWEAPON, who arrived onstage to a stark C&W backing track extolling the virtues of Satan (!). Their oeuvre could best be described as screamo Country, which was painful on the ears for me, so after 1 number Tim and I retreated to the bar. Back in for the subsequent BOSS CLOTH, as Tim grabbed his gear and headed off, but again they weren’t my cup of tea, their heavy pounding riffs and in-your-face half growled, half rapped vocal delivery giving me serious nu-Metal/ Rage Against The Machine flashbacks. Not for me, so again I sought refuge in the bar, chatting to Beef and his mate Jaz, and then catching up with occasional gig buddy Paul from Chiseldon! 

This actually brought us up to 11 p.m. (!) and tonight’s headliners, the hotly-tipped I SEE ORANGE (Ed actually introducing them as his tip for the next band to, “break out from Swindon”!). A 3-piece fronted by Giselle, a tiny yet striking Mexican brunette who apologised for any huskiness in her voice, the legacy of a cold, she led her charges into opener “Allow Me”, an acerbic heavy yet hooky grunge-a-thon overlaid by her distinctive vocal, which veered from an atonal Sioux-alike dismissive drone to a Courtney Love scalded howl. This set the tone for a dynamic, hard-riffing set of robust 90’s post-grunge rockers, variously recalling Love’s band Hole, the smoother insouciance of Veruca Salt, and (inevitably, but as I always say, clip clops = horse) Nirvana. Giselle herself was an engaging frontperson, politely introducing each song with, “we’re going to play [this] for you now,” and explaining the premise behind most numbers. “Di Melo”, sung half-Spanish, half English, was an early highlight; newie “Obsessed” featured a hookier chorus; and whilst a couple of mid-set numbers seemingly merged into each other under all the power chords, closer “Mental Rot” was the set highlight, a sturdy Veruca Salt hooky banger with a more upbeat mood. A little musical variation might be nice, but I’m being picky here; this was a fine set played with power and purpose from a very promising band who I’d happily see again and again, and who may well prove Ed right…

That concluded Saturday’s events, so I bade farewell to all and sundry then hit the road home. Family arrangements precluded my attendance for the remainder of the weekend, but I’d seen what I wanted to, and also added a couple of extra bands to my local viewing list. So, an entirely satisfying Swinterfest for me; resolution well and truly under way!

1,425 THE SKIDS, Au Pairs, Bath Komedia, Friday 23rd January 2026

 

My old school punk rock intro to the 2026 gig year continues, with a return to the boards of my first punk rock loves The Skids! This, the 10^th time of asking but the first for just over a year (December 2024, gig 1,362) sees these veteran Scottish anthemic punkers – now down to the one original member in vocalist, lyricist and “face” of the band, the irrepressible Richard Jobson – go out on tour in celebration of their final “first time round” album, 1980’s “The Absolute Game”. Said album, the third in a shade over 18 months, saw a further progression from their savage yet hooky punk beginnings to a more stylish and expansive Berlin-era Bowie-esque soundscape, infused with a sheen as marbled and epic as its cover, and almost bridging the gap between punk and the imminent 80s New Romantic sound. “Gloss pop,” as Jobbo termed it at the time… Anyway, this tour promised an emphasis on this album and a chance to hear some lesser-played classics (one in particular which I’d been hoping to hear since The Skids returned in 2017), so bring it on… 

An added bonus was the addition to the bill of fellow veteran post punkers Au Pairs, a band who’d passed me by back in the day but whom I’d latterly come to appreciate more, so I was aiming for an early arrival. I set off at 5.45 for a chilly drive and wander along from the Podium car park, arriving just after doors and grabbing a barrier spot, house left, next to a lovely couple in fellow veteran gig-goers Nat and Mark, Nat having apparently seen The Skids first time round! The arrival of the support interrupted our gig chat, however; The Au Pairs – like the headliners tonight – are effectively the original frontperson plus a backing line-up of hired hands, but said frontperson Lesley Woods was a stylish, black clad visual focus, with the passing years imbuing her old barked, atonal vocals with a gravelly gravitas befitting their tense, often eerie and claustrophobic austere cold war post-punk material. Opener “Come Again” was a hectic, robust Gang of Four-esque chant-along, with the follow-up “Love Song” more off-kilter and rhythmic, with a haunting Patti Smith-esque mid-song break. Also, like Lydon last time out (and indeed, Jobson later this evening), Woods has surrounded herself with excellent players for this ersatz Au Pairs line up; the slow burn, sprawling menace of “Diet” and a later creepy “Headache” featured some excellent bass, and my set highlight, the funky yet prescient “Armagh” was propelled by some fine militaristic drum rolls. The urgent alarm blare and still relevant hook of “It’s Obvious” rounded out a fine support set from Woods and co; a welcome return!

A long queue for the gents (the clientele being about 95% male tonight!) before I was back in place for The Skids’ arrival at 8.30, the band plunging into strident, fist pumping opener “Happy To Be With You”, initiating the first of many terrace chant singalongs tonight. “Is this the first time The Skids have played in Bath? It was always a bit posh for us!” announced the gregarious vocalist before maintaining momentum with the slashing and undulating riffery of “Out Of Town”. “ “The Absolute Game” was [fellow Skids founder and original guitarist, the late, lamented Stuart Adamson]’s finest work with the Skids,” reflected Jobbo, spotlighting current guitarist Connor Whyte with a throwaway, “so no pressure on this guy…!” 

Jobbo was as ever his usual effusive self, regaling us with stories from those late 70’s times touring and promoting “TAG”, throwing himself around with his usual shadow-boxing abandon, and quipping, “we seem to be attracting a younger audience; that guy over there is only 57!” But for me tonight young Mr. Whyte was the MVP; the only guitarist in the current 4-piece line-up, and with obvious big boots to fill, he delivered a masterclass in intricate rock riffery, brilliantly embellishing the likes of the siren cry of “One Decree” and the stately singalong “Woman In Winter”. But it was “Goodbye Civilian”, my hoped-for number, that was my highlight, the squashy synth pulse being replaced brilliantly by Whyte’s grandiose and glorious picking.

The epic “Arena” rounded off the “TAG” homage, building to a huge crescendo outro, with Jobbo delivering his best and most commanding vocal of the night. Then a few old faves in “that U2 song!”, namely a savage “The Saints Are Coming”, the inevitable but still welcome “Into The Valley”, an uncomfortably relevant “Working For The Yankee Dollar” (Jobbo commenting “[this] means more today than when we wrote it at 16 years old”) and an unexpected encore of a pacey and ragged “Olympian” (delivered as folk were milling off following the anticipated set closer “Charles”) rounded off another fine Skids set. My promotor friend Kieran (whom I’d bumped into earlier) was roadie-ing tonight and sorted me with Jobbo’s list (hooray!), before I headed off for an early home arrival just before 11, catching up with “The Traitors” final over a late kebab tea. No treachery tonight from Jobbo and his boys, however; powered by a stellar performance from the virtuoso Whyte, they were entirely faithful to the superb “Absolute Game” album material tonight!

1,424 PUBLIC IMAGE LTD., Trampolene, Swindon The MECA, Friday 2nd January 2026

 

An early start to the 2026 Gig Year – in fact, the earliest start to any gig year ever for me – was a late call and courtesy of my old school friend Keith… I’d actually been umming and aahing about going on the night for this one anyway, a sadly rare gig at the MECA hosted by 70’s UK punk rock icon Johnny Rotten’s loose post punk collective Public Image Ltd., but more for the camaraderie than the music itself! I’d historically never been a big fan of this Rotten lot (in fact, the one time I’d seen them before – Reading Festival 1992, gig 219 – I’d walked off midway through their set, considering them old, out of date and out of touch!) but as the gig wore closer, I thought it might be a fun night out catching up with some old punk mates, plus at least I’d get to hear the seminal 70’s post-punk track “Public Image” “live”… so when Keith texted on the morning of the gig offering a free ticket, I was happy to smile and say thank you!

I offered to do the driving (least I could do, really…) and picked the man up at 7.30, parking up in a chilly Euclid Street. First surprise was that this large former Bingo hall venue was already busy, with over 1,000 advance tickets sold for a weekend gig so soon after Chrimbo. Well done Swindon! We grabbed a good viewing spot house right, about 10 rows back, with young openers Trampolene joining us spot on at 8 p.m. “It’s great to be back; Swindon’s just up the road from [their hometown] Swansea… you’re all practically Welsh!” the young, thrusting and enthusiastic singer Jack Jones proclaimed to an inevitable reception of pantomime boos, before getting the crowd back onside with a set of young, thrusting and enthusiastic gnarly, fast-paced punkish indie rock, with occasional forays into late 60’s psych-rock and 70’s glam sleaze. Lots of audience interaction from Jones, asking to swap hats with a front row punter (Jones, of course, not wearing one…) and informing us he’d already broken his New Year’s resolution (“I don’t know what it is about toilet cubicles on the M4!”). An absorbing, moody outlier “No Kisses” was my set highlight, although a singalong number about his Uncle Brian’s abattoir (!) ran it close, in an overall upbeat and well-received opening set.

We kept our spots, being joined by old Brunel face Gary and also running into mate Olly, before Public Image Ltd. took the stage dead on 9, vocalist Johnny Rotten emerging last with a sneering, deadpan, “this is PiL” before the band burst into sinister, stomping opener “Home”, Rotten’s trademark atonal, strident yelping vocals already competing for sonic attention with some excellent resonant post-punk guitar licks from veteran punk axeman and Catweazle clone Lu Edmonds. “Know How”, a punkier blast with Rotten’s vocals delving into stream of consciousness garbling territory, was then followed by the vocalist enquiring, “would you like some more?”, responding to the inevitable cheers with a mock-contemptuous, “cunts!” 

For all his chaotic divisiveness and polarising personality (indeed, another reason why I’d baulked on getting tix for tonight was his recent pro-Trump proclamations, but I ultimately decided to separate the artist from the art; and thankfully, one snidey Starmer comment aside, he kept off the political soapbox tonight), Rotten is a punk rock survivor who knows how to surround himself with a quite excellent band. So even during the songs I found frankly dirgelike (and there were quite a few) in this often freeform, variable set which mixed the brilliant with the banal, I could appreciate some excellent musicianship. Edmonds again took centre stage for the sinister march and descending hook of “This Is Not A Love Song”; strong-armed drummer Mark Roberts provided some strident tribal beats for the excellent, Eastern-tinged “Flowers Of Romance”, and of course that bassline intro, one of the most recognisable in all of rock, was delivered perfectly by bassist Scott Firth for the highlight of the night, the brilliantly hurtling first encore “Public Image”. And throughout it all, Rotten was, well, himself… fixed and dismissive wide-eyed stare, discordant caterwauling vocals, yet commanding the attention; “this is PiL; members come, members go, [but] no fucking surrender!”

Whilst “PI” was my best-of tonight, the subsequent “Rise” ran it close; freeform, bass-heavy and almost dub-like, with the be-suited Rotten, conducting the crowd singalong to the “anger is an energy” hook from his lectern, looking for all the world like a preacher! A savage medley (!) of 3 early “Metal Box” numbers (the “punk rock kill hate” hook of the “Chant” section taking me back to my punk rock St. Marks rec Summer of 1981) closed proceedings, Rotten and the band taking a bow and the singer proclaiming Swindon, “the best fucking crowd so far… Merry New Year, now fuck off you cunts!” So we did, home just after 11. Thanks again Keith, a splendid night both on and off stage; some troughs for this one but plenty of peaks too, and overall a much better showing than I’d feared. Merry (and Rotten) New Year to you too, Public Image Ltd.!

1,423 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, The Wilswood Buoys, Bristol Fleece, Saturday 20th December 2025

 

If 2 Stuffies Xmas gigs in consecutive years counts as a burgeoning tradition, then this one, rounding off my 2025 Gig Year, is definitely a well-established one! For the 5^th year in a row, and 8^th overall of the 14 occasions it’s apparently been held, I’m off to the Fleece for “The Bard Of Purton”, West Country boy and edgy confessional folk-inflected troubadour Gaz Brookfield’s annual Chrimbo “do”, or the “AGM of Lovely People” as he terms it! This year was actually a late call – since my recent retirement I’ve been choosier about which gigs to book, so deliberately sat and watched Gaz’ (my most-seen “live” act, of course) recent Swindon gig sell out – but friend and “Shiiine On” companion Matt had grabbed himself a ticket for this one, and everybody else in the house was out (Rach and Jami at a London Matinee show, Logan on his works Xmas “do”), so I thought, “why not”, grabbing a ticket before this, too, sold out.

A trundle down the M4 got me parked just before 7, having to download an app to park behind the Fleece, then meeting Matt and wandering into the Seven Stars for a pre-gig catch-up. So by the time we wandered in at 10 to 8, the place was already full and the folky support duo Wilswood Buoys were rounding off their opening set. They were pleasant enough at the “Swindon Shuffle” recently (gig 1,401) and the couple of numbers we did catch were okay too, “Moving Away” a jolly ditty about losing a mate to a relationship (!) and set closer “Save The Queen” (about a drinking game, allegedly!) featuring some intricate guitar plucking and a singalong chorus.

We squeezed forward to a decent viewing spot a couple of rows back, house right, then Gaz and the boys took the stage prompt at 8.30 to the strains of a church choir singing Christmas hosannas, Gaz immediately kicking into “RIP Inner Me”, a nonetheless jaunty newie from recent, rather Gaz-by-numbers release “Waiting For Wisdom” (which if I’m being brutally honest, hasn’t really made too much of an impression on me on initial listens), lamenting the changes which accompany getting older. “Loud And Clear” was however much more like it, a brisk, rocking anthem and an early highlight, Gaz exhorting the slightly hesitant crowd to, “move forward; I promise I won’t spit Lucozade on you!” 

The Lucozade seemed to be out of necessity rather than preference, with Gaz initially quite croaky in his vocal delivery, and making increasing recourse to said bottle by his feet during the initial stages of this set. Despite this, he was his usual enthusiastic self, backed up ably as ever by the folksy ramshackle delivery of The Company Of Thieves, and consequently the new material in particular made much more sense “live”. After a fine early “IOU” which featured some excellent keyboard work from the esteemed Mr. Jon Buckett and some lovely outro audience harmonising, “Caravan Bingo” was excellent, preceded by a lengthy exposition as to its subject matter, and a later “Dance Of Ned Fallor” was an acerbic yet entertaining diss track to “those robbing bastards!” the Swindon Ford car dealership Allen Ford (note the anagram!). However the subsequent “Afterthought”, preceded by a heartfelt message about mental health, was powerful, purposeful and almost punk rock in its frantic delivery, and the highlight of the night for me.

After a poignant “Getting Drunk For Christmas”, a tribute to Gaz’ old Vic mate Jock, the singer suggested, “let’s raise the mood a little; here’s a song about a dead soldier!”, the subsequent “Tale Of Gunner Haines” not only raising the mood but the roof with a huge singalong. Old frantic fiddly-diddly favourites “Diabetes Blues” and “I’ve Paid My Money” kept the party mood high before one final newie, the reflective title track “Waiting For Wisdom”, featuring the Wilswood Buoys on a doctored £20 glockenspiel! With time running short, Gaz eschewed the encore pantomime and powered through with singalongs to “Land Pirate’s Life”, “Bigger Man”, and finally the “West Country Song”, rounding off another fun and singalong Gaz Fleece Christmas party. I bade farewell to Matt and simultaneously bumped into old school friend Nicky, so after being rather unceremoniously moved out by what I considered at the time to be overzealous and borderline rude stewards (but which, I subsequently found out, were acting quickly to clear the venue due to a medical emergency), Nicky, her friend and I hit the Seven Stars for a catch up, before I headed off at 11, home at midnight with a Jimmy’s Kebab (another tradition!) in tow. Happy that I did make the late call on this, a fine way to see out the 2025 Gig Year with a West Country Christmas celebration!

1,422 THE WONDER STUFF, Vent 414, London Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Friday 19th December 2025

Is it a tradition if it’s only happened 2 years on the trot? Um, let’s say yes, it is… flippant 90’s Indie rock legends and “live” staples of mine, The Wonder Stuff, were again sadly absent from last month’s “Shiiine On” bill, main-man Miles Hunt instead flying solo at the Festy he’s largely made his own. If I were to get my Stuffies “live” fix in 2025, then, it would mean a repeat of last year (gig 1,364) and another Xmas Getaway Friday trip up the Smoke to Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the nearest a small 3-date Stuffies “live” Chrimbo jaunt came to the ‘don. So I sorted tix for this one, being joined by wingmen Rich and Tim, Tim’s company tonight being largely secured due to Miles announcement that Vent 414, his post-Stuffies edgier and shoutier 90’s US alt-rock inspired project, would support, in advance of new Vent material next year! 

Given last year’s 3 hour+ journey plus horror stories of 26 million extra cars expected on UK roads today, we set off just after 4. However, our journey was instead astonishingly quick, getting street parked up near Bush Hall at 6.15! After a wait until parking restrictions lifted and a KFC tea for the boys, we hit the quiet early doors venue at 7.20, with Milo leading his Vent 414 comrades – old Senseless Things bassist Morgan Nicholls and Pete Howard, ex-Clash/ Eat man and current incumbent of the Stuffies drum stool – on at 8.05, remarking, “it’s been 29 years since the 3 of us were on stage together!” I wasn’t much of a fan of Vent back then, which was a little harsh… they weren’t the Wonder Stuff and never purported to be, so it was a bit unfair of me to compare! I was therefore more receptive to the Stuffies “evil twin” this time around, enjoying the hard-hitting rock beats of opener “Laying Down With”, and particularly the off-kilter, almost Eastern flavoured intro and yearning, pseudo-anthemic hook of “flop” single “Fixer”, which was actually rather tremendous. The newer numbers in this 7-song vignette mined the same vein; drum-dominated, darker, more aggressive and propulsive, with sinister and dramatic bass flourishes from the accomplished Nicholls. That said, I wasn’t a fan of the dour and repetitive closer “Lucinda Comes In Many Colours”, but overall Vent were better than I’d anticipated and (slightly) feared. Tim loved them though, so that worked!

The floor was suddenly rammed after Vent, though, feeling more like the “sold out” gig it was, with “quick” loo trips somewhat of an oxymoron, although not as bad as Stereolab last week… Still, we were glad for 9.10 to roll around and The Stuffies to take the stage, bounding into a boisterous “Red Berry Joy Town” but hitting some feedback at its’ conclusion, Miles murmuring, “looks like we’ve got a technical problem already; Erica, we might be back on the acoustic circuit!” Nonetheless, “On The Ropes”, next up, got me breaking my pre-gig no-mosh assertion and joining the ebullient yet largely good-natured singalong mosh, particularly with Miles requesting “a little extra [singing along] as we’re recording this for a live album!”

So this was once again an inclusive, immersive set of largely familiar singalong indie bangers from the canon of this beloved band, delivered with accomplished ease (once the techy gremlins were quickly chased!) by this excellent current line-up. That said, after a brilliant early set section including a poignant “Piece Of Sky”, a rampaging “No For The 13^th Time” (which even prompted Miles to comment, “fucking ridiculous!”) and an evocative “Caught In My Shadow”, the set, for me at least, hit an ever-so slight lull in the middle, the touching tears-in-the-Guiness folky Irish lament “Sing The Absurd” notwithstanding. However, I’m being really nit-picky here, judging them against their own recent stratospheric “live” standards, and honestly, by the tremendous virtuoso fiddle-led “Here Come Everyone” (Miles announcing “we’re onto the home straight – it’s going to get very messy from here!”) normal service was restored and I was back in the beaming mosh for this set highlight, Miles remarking, “you fucking beauties!” at its’ conclusion. 

“Size Of A Cow”, “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Unbearable” were inclusive raucous anthemic singalongs, leading to set closer “Give Give Give”, Miles conducting the audience in the hook singalong as the band left the stage. A 3 song encore of a rollicking “Can’t Shape Up”, the unexpected hurtling luge ride of “Poison” and the usual thunderous stomp of “Ten Trenches Deep” closed proceedings; a quick list then we hit the road, grabbing a Tesco meal deal on the way. However we weren’t as fortunate on the journey home; if a circuitous SatNav route through 20 mph-restricted Chiswick wasn’t enough, a 7 mile “Convoy Vehicle – Do Not Pass” blockade travelling at 10 mph between Maidenhead and Reading added much frustration and 45 minutes to our journey home, my eventually dropping Rich off at 1.15. Bah! Still, that was pretty much the only real blot on another excellent Stuffies night out. Same time again next year? Then it will be a tradition!

1,421 STEREOLAB, Mombojo, Oxford O2 Academy, Saturday 13th December 2025

 

This was pretty much Logan’s shout, and actually mainly thanks to the film “High Fidelity”… after “discovering” this film a couple of years ago, Logan obsessed over its’ soundtrack, which included left field, avant garde 90’s indiepop band Stereolab’s “Lo Moob Oscillator”, so when “The Groop” (as they were known in their heyday) announced a post-hiatus tour and new album (apparently their first in 15 years), we sorted ourselves out for both! I liked them fine back in the day, saw them once in their own right in 1994 (gig 279), but was never a huge fan. Their keyboard led metronomic sonic template was very particular and idiosyncratic, evoking either 60’s Sci-Fi soundtracks and transmissions from the outer limits, or alternatively, sun-dappled Parisienne balconies and alleyways, and 60’s French language B Movies portraying impossibly beautiful mademoiselles in severe black bobs, skimpy black negligees and tear-smudged mascara hurling pillows and abuse across high-ceilinged bedrooms at unshaven men in unkempt suits who just shrug, take a drag of their Gauloise and pour themselves another Pernod… Erm, sorry, that was quite the tangent… anyway, I liked bits and bobs, but was happy to indulge Logan in checking them out “live”.

Given it was the weekend, Logan’s boyfriend Kristian was persuaded to join us for his first actual gig ever! We set off at ¼ to 5, waiting 10 minutes in that difficult Tesco car park but ultimately getting a spot, then going for a pre-gig Chinese in the recently renovated Rice Box, where I’d taken Jami before the Front Bottoms gig (gig 1,308)! In about 10 to 7, grabbing a barrier down the front, extreme house left, but breaking to chat with Keeley guitarist Lukey and his mate! Support Mombojo were on prompt at 7.30; a Brazilian collective, their metronomic rhythm suggested a World Music version of Stereolab, albeit funkier, more jazz-like freeform and less cohesive than their obvious idols. Buoyed to simply be here, they weren’t my cup of Brazilian coffee but were entertaining enough, with the last couple of numbers – a more impassioned one with “woah-oh” choral hook and a pan pipes-like synth refrain, then a final melange of almost early Human League staccato synth rhythm merging into a wah-wah-led punky outro! – their best ones for me. 

A quick loo trip in this horribly-laid out venue, annoying a few folks in this sold-out crowd as I navigated my way back, before the undulating synth pattern of new album opener “Mystical Plosives” heralded Stereolab onstage at 8.30. The smooth melody and harmony of newie “Aerial Troubles” kicked into gear, powered by the synth rhythms of keyboardist Joe Watson, who appeared to be sat behind the controls of the Starship Enterprise (!), and the still-statuesque vocalist Laetitia Sadier’s hazily drifting vocal overlays. Sadier fended off cries for “French Disko” (my fave ‘lab number, sadly absent tonight) with a severe, “don’t start!” before the languid lounge music of “Transmuted Matter” (“where you take shit and turn it into gold..” informed Sadier) then segued into a brilliant, harder-edged “Peng 33”, racey, punky and ultimately my set highlight.

The Groop were on fine form tonight, switching between those retro sci-fi and French B Movie vibes with effortless ease, and delivering a much more dynamic and upbeat set than I expected. Sadier was also a surprisingly effective frontperson, handling some technical gremlins with patience and grace (“I don’t know what’s going on tonight…who did that?”), augmenting her languid tones with some startling trombone (!), and commenting on the state of the world with, “capitalism is a wound, which leads to fascism is a wound… but all wounds can heal…” before the lengthy mid-set focal point of “Melodie Is A Wound”, its’ groovy pastoral opening speeding up towards a punkier outro, the song then collapsing in on itself before reconstituting into another savage clattering crescendo! The 2 parts of the subsequent “If You Remember I Forgot How To Dream” were bouncy Eurodisko and eerie pulsing pseudo-goth in equal measure, before da ‘lab hit the Parisienne vibes again for a fine, dreampoppy “Miss Modular”. 

“Ectoplasmic Creeping Eruption” (their song titles actually say more about the band than I ever could!) was a crazy Sci-fi transmission with a groovy outro degenerating into a weird noise fest, Logan and I commenting that “live”, this lot often seem to just enjoy making odd noises in their songs for shits and giggles! Then the coruscating synth riff of “Electrified Teenybop” was an excellent set closer, a weirdly anthemic instrumental recalling The Colourbox World Cup Theme for me. A 2 song encore culminating in a groovy “Cybelle’s Reverie” and profuse thanks and a cry of “Fuck the patriarchy!” from Sadier (before checking with the blokes present if we’re cool with it… yup, we are!) rounded off an overall entertaining and much better than expected set. Grabbed a list before the drive home got us back in the ‘don for 11.30. Welcome back Stereolab; happy to have you back on this form, and by the way… great shout Logan!

1,420 MEZZANINE, Ursa Way, Swindon The Victoria, Thursday 11th December 2025

 

Before Abstraction Engine, before Raze* Rebuild, before Nudy Bronque, The Shudders, even You Are Here, there was 101… The first “local” band (i.e. from Swindon, unsigned and largely plying their trade around the pubs and occasionally clubs of the town) that I properly took notice of – indeed the first such band to merit a gig blog entry in their own right! – 101 were a post-grungy mix of strident guitar noise, quiet/ loud Pixies-ish dynamics and a clutch of fine hooks to boot, more than enough to attract me along to attend a half dozen of their mid-90’s sets. The fact that my close friend (and subsequent Best Man at mine and Rachel’s wedding) Tim strummed the low notes for the band was an added bonus! Their journey however came to an end in Autumn 1997 (gig 362), vocalist/ guitarist and songwriter Andy Ashley deciding to “give it a rest”, with the loose intention of reviving the band under a new guise in future. Didn’t think it would take 28 years and an apparent chance meeting between Andy and Tim in a field (!) for this to happen, but still…

A few rehearsals and one false start later, the band – now rebadged as Mezzanine – were finally ready for launch, booking their first gig “proper” (one run-through in Andy’s barn notwithstanding!) at the Vic on a dank and drizzly Thursday. So I drove up the hill and hit the venue about ¼ to 8, meeting Tim plus the boys from his “other” band The Shudders, who’d turned up for moral support. Renewed acquaintances with Andy and met drummer Simon, who’d apparently also drummed for The Dollyrots (although not at that landmark BFS support gig in 2016, gig 974 and Logan’s first gig!). This took us to 8.30 and openers Ursa Way; their first gig as well, apparently, this painfully young bunch were billed as Britpop-inspired, and their material reflected this, with a couple of dull Oasis plodders for starters before a better and more upbeat “Chasing The Sun”. Fair play to them for giving it a go as a band, as Shudders drummer Jim noted, but they lost several points for me due to their “Swindon Shit-town”, which seemed unnecessarily white-privilege whiney. Guys, if you don’t like your town, do something about it, create a scene, whatever, don’t just moan about it!

Anyway, they and many of their college mates laudably stuck around for Mezzanine, as did the Shudders guys plus Tim’s sister Michelle and her mates, arriving just on the witching hour of 9.30. So a hardy score or so welcomed opener “Turn It Up”, a startling sleazoid opener with an almost Cramps/ Iggy/ 70’s NYC growling primitive punk hook, setting the tone for this early set selection. “Staring At The Sun” was an early highlight for me, almost Doors-like albeit through a slight 80’s Goth filter, before a muffled weird radio transmission heralded 101 oldie “Freon 5”, the slow-burn intro build to a riff-heavy, grungy crescendo more how I’d remembered 101’s musical template, Andy’s comment of, “we used to play together back in the day a bit,” referencing those times. 

So, a slight departure/ development of the band’s sound to these ears at least, perhaps, but this was still a dynamic, hard-edged yet tuneful alt-rock set as expected, delivered with the hoped-for power and purpose of old, and also a surprising level of cohesion, if their claims of only having practised a couple of times this year (!) was anything to go by. A shout out from Andy to follow them on the usual socials (which clearly worked, given that their facebook following subsequently rocketed up from single figures to 32!) preceded the massive chorus of oldie “Alien”; “Down By The Ocean” was the poppiest number of the night, featuring an almost “I Am The Resurrection” drumbeat and a particularly strident vocal from Andy; and after an unplanned, herky jerky “Aspirin”, the heavily reworked best number “Lycra” (formerly “Like Your…”) was tremendous, a rampant four-to-the-floor powerpop anthem and a serious contender for my top track of 2025 (oh yes!), closing out a splendid, well rocking 40 minutes.

So, overall a triumphant return for these 90’s favourites in their new identity. Chats and compliments afterwards before I hit the road, promising to return for more Mezzanine shenanigans in the new year – their appearance at January’s SwinterFest at the Vic, for starters! After sadly waving goodbye to a “live” staple in October Drift last time out (gig 1,319), the return of this old favourite to my gig itinerary, albeit under a new guise and slightly different sonic template, is very much a development to be welcomed. Happy to have you back, chaps!