Reviews/Press

“Punk is still a vibrant and youthful social ideal, as relevant today as it has always been. Punk, or at least the influence of punk, still exists as strongly as it ever did and is still as much about progression and subversion as it ever was. The music has changed, the style has moved on and the aesthetic has progressed, but there still exists a small group of outsiders that retain the energy of the original punk movement.”
Punk: a directory of modern subversive culture
If we’re talking grass roots, then StageFrite’s shows at the function room of the Woodstock Pub in Stonecot Hill, are without question exactly that. Financially they may not be able to compete with some of the better established shows and venues, but in the simplest terms – musically – they are way up there. You see, StageFrite book some great bands. Sure, not all of them are yet polished gems, some are still finding their feet, whilst others are reliving the exuberance of youth gone by, but all of them have great tunes and more importantly great energy, and a never-say-die attitude. Here the punk ethos lives large.
Crisis Journey weren’t initially scheduled to play the show. Due to an unforeseen issue with another band on the bill, the three-piece offered their services at the eleventh hour and so take to the stage determined to warrant their inclusion. Immediately the most striking thing about the band is their look. They appear to be painfully young and yet play with purpose and aggression and no little hint of comedic value, as the song Techno Fish, which appeared to be a lament on the death of a friend’s goldfish at the hands of the guitarist, demonstrated. A later chat with the band revealed their influences to be a clutch of household name pop-punk bands, yet on stage we saw a far harder-edged, classic punk style, which we believe should be nurtured. It suits them.

It would be obvious and therefore dull to invite lazy comparisons to Nirvana for the next act, so we’ll dispense with that immediately and simply assess what we saw and heard. Like Nirvana.....sorry, like a certain three-piece band, who shall remain nameless, The Hangovers are a three-piece trading in growling vocals and heavy/soft dynamics. However, what sets them apart from other bands trading on this well-worn pattern is their appreciation and talent in tying these sonic polar opposites together to create some rather fine songs. Yes, there are touches of various other three-piece bands – Supergrass, the Stereophonics et al – yet, interestingly they add an occasional dash of The Beatles psychedelia to the mix, though whether this is by fault or design isn’t clear. One thing is though - if all hangovers are like this we’ll certainly drink to it.
We’re then offered a slice of hardcore punk impossible to ignore. 16 Guns play at a furious pace, feedback wailing,snarling vocals and cracking snare drums.
Here are a proper, unapologetic punk band, taking no prisoners and caring little for what anyone thinks of them – the vitriolic Sod The Neighbours is just a taste of the type of evening one might expect in their company. If at times the unrelenting guitar feedback between songs did start to grate, one could quite reasonably believe that this was little more than a ploy to provoke and challenge the audience (or the locals). Sod the neighbours, indeed!
The Boys from Brazil move things in a different direction with a set of expertly played cover songs, ranging from The Strokes to Kings of Leon. The gathered audience appreciated the chance to slow things down somewhat, dance to music of a rather less bellicose nature, and in that the band onstage delivered. They were as tight and disciplined a cover band as there are out there.
By the time Rage D.C. hit the stage the crowd were ready once again to tough it out to a quality punk act. Rage may throw the correct punk shapes and the standard uniform is all present and correct, but they offer a lot more by way of quality songs of their own design. There are splashes of all the classic British punk bands in there along with the odd dash of American heroes – Rancid being the obvious contender. Still, it’s refreshing to see a band refusing to give in and playing music that they believe to be as important and vital as ever, even if the populist view sees the likes of Green Day as the height of the punk movement.

There's always something refreshing about seeing a gig that's clearly a labour of love. It's never really about the money taken on the door or the amount of alcohol imbibed by the paying crowd, it's about the music and nothing less. For many, this is the way it should be. Maybe the coffers will never be full, perhaps the money men will never get their fill, but whilst there are people out there still putting on shows that draw the sort of talent we saw at the Woodman, then the punk aesthetic lives on. Let's just hope that with time and a good word StageFrite gathers the sort of attention that the music richly deserves.

Courtesy of The Surrey Scene, 4th September 2009

Promoter Stagefrite will be putting on its first music spectacular in Croydon on Saturday having upped sticks and set up camp at Scream Lounge.
Mayday Madness will feature Mad Mush & The Evidence, Rage DC, 16 Guns and Rogue. It is the first time Stagefrite has put on a show in Croydon having been forced to relocate from Sutton after all its regular bases there were closed down or became too expensive. Since forming in 2008, it have put on shows throughout Surrey and has earned a reputation as a promoter who works with bands by not adhering to a pay-to-play policy. Last year it set up a partnership with Music Art Design, a premier music, promotion and web design studio that has helped it to grow to the point where it puts on two gigs a month, one metal and one indie.

Scandinavian rocker Mad Mush has released two albums on his own label and played gigs all over Europe.
He will be joined on Saturday by his band, The Evidence, with whom he is recording 40 songs for three albums, the first of which was due for release this month.
Rage DC are regulars at Stagefrite shows and were formed in 1996, with the current line-up being together since 2007. Lead singer and founder member Loric was previously a member of 1980s punk band the Skrews.
Punk band 16 Guns have been going on and off for 27 years and will have copies of their recent four track EP available on the night while female fronted Rogue are ready to bust your eardrums with their punk, heavy metal, rock and roll attitude.

Courtesy of Croydon Guardian - article by Graham Moody ...