Music Review: Twisted Wheel at The Underground, Hanley, October 15
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I WITNESSED a phenomenon – a feast of some of the best local bands topped off with the rawest rock and roll outfit going right now, the new line up of Twisted Wheel.
There remain very few true litmus tests of the rock and roll band but one sure one is playing Stoke-on-Trent particularly at the Underground – an iron box of a place, plonked on the edge of the city amid wasteland and car parks. The night sold out a week ago and it's already packing by the time first band, Faux Feet, take the stage at 8pm.
By 10pm, the box of the Underground is jammed up. You can't move. I find myself squished up against the disabled toilet door – the only alternative to rubbing ribcages with a tall rugby-player figure.
At 10.15pm, guitarist and vocalist, Jonny Brown, drummer Eoghan Clifford and bassist Stephen Evans take the stage – in every sense of the word, opening with the mortar-blast of She's A Weapon. As to who's doing the most singing, it's hard to say, as the crowd sing back word for word and bodies are already flying.
This is followed by the plucking jounce of Racket – a pure punk popsicle. Beer's flying and the new bassist actually moves! Quite a lot. This is a fight of a song with fervent drum thrashes – the most aggressive fun you can hear. Drummer Eoghan does it like he means it.Bad Candy puts grins on all the punters. What's unusual is that there's as many girls as blokes here and ages range from pogoing 14 year olds in white trainers to groups of 40/50 year olds, nodding and smiling in satisfaction. 'Wheeeel!' is chanted in between songs, not that there's much space for that. When Lucy The Castle comes on, there's not one static body.
Tell The World , a song previously given out as a free download earlier this year, becomes a proper anthem now, with singbacks and Steve's backing vocals adding resonance. Despite the chants, the band move straight into Big Issue. Girls are moshing as much as the men, 50-year-olds punching the air. It appears the bassist is headbanging. People are grabbing each other's hands and swinging around. The bartender is the only one with very little to do.
Better Man is another new song, as fresh off rehearsals as can be, only finished this week apparently, but it sounds like it's been around forever. I've got it – the difference. The melodies have the absolution of passion. There's an uncontaminated ferocity in both delivery and structure which sets them light years ahead of previous contenders.
Jonny is bowled over by the audience response: 'Cheers! Thanks a lot for coming to watch us.'
You Stole The Sun predictably incites total mayhem. It's far too much fun for October. Even the band are in ecstasies, hugging each other. Brown states that this has been one of the best gigs he has ever played. The final song, Oh What Have You Done? is dedicated 'with love to the radio station'. That is Radio Stoke who, according to DJ Rob Adcock, had received 'more calls than for any band EVER before all day trying to get tickets'. The audience is two people deep during the final chorus and the end of set is dominated by the massive cheers.
As soon as the gig's over, people leave on a high. I can't help feeling I've witnessed a phenomenon: the start of something new. I review a lot of gigs up and down the country but this time I feel I reviewed a revolution of the best kind. There was simplicity and easiness in the fun and the music. Stoke, one of the last true rock and roll cities, got what it deserved: a proper, un contained, punk rock and roll band, the only ones who could reinvent The Wheel. I can't wait for their new album.
Bob Garner
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