REVIEWS

The Speedfreaks Ball, Hemsby 11-14 November 2005

We had been looking forward to this for months, the chance to see some of our old favourite bands and check out some new ones too. Just days after the Winter Warmer Scooter Rally had left Pontins was to be invaded by a mass of Punks, Skins, Psychos and Rockabillies. We arrived at 2.30pm on the Friday and was chuffed to find our chalet was in staggering distance of the main hall. Dropped off our stuff and thought we’d pop in for a mooch around the Trader’s Hall for 5 minutes but ending up having a few beers and chats for several hours. During which time the first two bands of the night, Guns on the Roof and Crashed Out, performed. Although I didn’t actually get far from the bar to watch them I liked what I heard and it was nice not to have support bands on that you cant wait to finish.

Finally managed to nip back for a wash and brush-up and headed back in for The Coffin Nails. Hadn’t seen them for many years and they have certainly improved with age. They played some of my old favs, Myra Hindley, Wind Up Dead and Uncle Willy. There was a fair few in the pit too for such an early evening appearance.

Next up were The Hotknives who had everyone up skanking and singing their hearts out to classics like Dave and Mary and Don’t Go. By now the place was heaving.

I was really looking forward to the next band, Goldblade. I’d been told they are one of the best live bands around on the circuit and promptly bought a few of their cds. Brother John has got to be one of the most energetic front men I’ve seen. Memorable songs were Psycho, Hometurf and Strictly Hardcore which could all be Scooter Rally Anthems in their own right.

Kings of Psychobilly, The Meteors, were the headliners for tonight. Didn’t get to see all their set but the wwwc were out in force and ensured it was one of the biggest pits I have seen in years. We called it a night at around 1am but after the bands finished the djs carried on with the bars staying open til 5am for the die-hards.

Woke up bright and early the next morning to witness the party animals only just returning home to their chalets. The day was spent in a very civilised manner starting with a cooked breakfast and continuing with afternoon tea with all the regulars on the Speedfreaks forum. Headed over to the main hall at 3pm to see the start of Saturday’s bands. First up was Jaxy and the 3 57s, fronted a cute little lady from the States with a surprisingly powerful voice. Then continuing the psychobilly genre with Thee Exit Wounds, who I do think sound much better live than they do on cd. Both bands pulled good crowds although it was too early in the day for anyone to be wrecking.

Headed back to the chalet for tea and the England match so we missed Discipline but we made sure we were back in there to see The Long Tall Texans. Had only seen them a couple of weeks before but I could never get enough of this band. Who could fail to be impressed at their catchy sing along tunes and ever smily Mark Carew.

Missed Argy Bargy and most of 999 as we were on raffle ticket selling duty. Thanks to all who dug deep and apologies to all the people I asked twice.

Time to grab another beer in time for the Skabilly Rebels (headed by Roddy Radiation of The Specials) giving us a hybrid of ska and billy including a fair few Specials songs.

Midnight saw the welcome return to England for my very favourite band the Guana Batz. I have never seen a bad set from these guys, but tonight they were amazing. Pip said that it was just like being back at The Klubfoot, the atmosphere was electric and the pit was just as big as the night before. The band seemed to be enjoying it as much as the audience. They said they’d probably return in 2007 for their 25th anniversary but let’s hope they wont leave it so long. When they’d finished my previously shattered body was now buzzing and there was no way I could sleep so we caught up with a few more people whilst The Damned were on. Everyone I spoke to on the night and since (including non-psychos) have said that without a doubt, the Batz gave the most outstanding performance of the weekend, and judging by the amount of people wearing Guana Batz tshirts and hoodies over the weekend I think they’ve gained a few more fans.

Got woken up late the next morning by Mik hammering on the door to say they’d found a pub for us all to head off to for Sunday Roast. Made sure we were back early enough to catch Ed Tudor Pole. I was a big Tenpole Tudor fan way back when and was looking forward to seeing his solo set, despite expecting to hear something totally different. The man is a real Rock n Roll Legend. Up on stage alone with his tatty old acoustic guitar, he totally had the audience enthralled with his new solo material and a couple of old Tenpole tunes. The grand finale was when he got his band (made only 10 minutes before comprising of one of the Pork Dukes and Theo from LTT) for Swords of a Thousand Men. How many people can boast of getting the crowd wrecking at 3.30 in the afternoon?

Didn’t get to see Pork Dukes, The Lurkers or Section 5 but wanted to catch The Go Getters, a rockabilly band from Sweden. Again had heard good things about this band from my overseas friends and they turned out to be another one of my favourites. Good rockin tunes with even a couple of Ramones’ covers thrown in.

Change of pace again and old ska favourites The Riffs had everyone up skanking but I missed most of their set as I got waylaid talking to people again.

Old Klubfoot regulars, with the original line-up, Restless, were next,. Despite most of the band having flu, once they’d sweated out the first couple of songs, the set really picked up momentum. Loads of the old classics and of course we were treated to the Restless stage show of both brothers playing the upright bass and a drum solo from Ben Cooper. I think Mark was still amazed that the audience still wreck to Restless.

By now I was really flagging but was advised to stay and watch The Business. I’d never heard any of their stuff before, but what a performance. It was great to see some many arms in the air while the crowd chanted away to their songs. Definitely want to check out some of their cds now.

Unfortunately I missed Bad Manners as I’d got to the stage where I my legs were buckling through sheer exhaustion, and had to go to bed, but I have been assured they finished The Ball off with a real party.

I have to say this has been the most unique and enjoyable weekends of my life and I’m still on a high from it now. Obviously I wasn’t going to enjoy every band there but the scheduling was spot on, enabling you to catch all the bands you wanted and spend time chatting and chilling the rest of the time. Many people made this weekend so special, all the Speedfreaks crew, the forum regulars, old and new mates from the scootering and gig scene, the security, the film crew, the bands (especially the Guana Batz), and all the lovely people who came up to me to chat. See you all next year!

Speed Freaks 2005

This is me first time doing a review, so if it is crap that’s why….!!!!! But I am thinking the towel boy can do them, so can I.

Been waiting for this festival for a long time so here is me re-view of the weekends mayhem, some of the names may have been changed to protect the guilty.

Friday
Set off from Staines at around 9.30am to get train to Liverpool Street to met me drinking buddies for the weekend Mad Terry and Chris arrived there for opening then showed our respects for the fallen during the war at the 2-minutes silence. Then it was off the rattler to Norwich picking up Millwall Rob in Stratford on-route. Nice train journey with plenty of booze being drunk on the way. Arrived Yarmouth at around 2.30 so got a Sherbet straight to Pontins, check in, change of clothes as I knocked of open can lager all over me jeans then down to pub too meet Marc, Watford, Dalb, Lee-Lee and anyone else who was there. Wasn’t long before Ruslip Ripper, Towel Boy, Glenn was with us as they were getting there from Manchester as they was lucky enough too see Rejects & Section 5 the night before. The on-site pub we was in closed at 5.30 so it was off to the main hall so some tunes and more booze first falling fowl to one of Ripper’s practical jokes and watching Jon tell his life story to the camera crew.

Gun’s On The Roof
Seen these lads before a couple of times now and they are very good soiled band who really can play. I really think they can go quite far. Think maybe they also wanna try and mix there set up a bit as after 30 minutes it did kind sound the same, but they are only young so got plenty of time to sort that out.

Crashed Out
The Geordie boys very good sound and set did have to miss a couple of songs as me services were needed elsewhere but was impressed with what I saw, as only seen Crashed Out once before. Brought a copy of there new CD and that sounds pretty good I must say.

Coffin Nails
Been a fan of these since I was at school and they really delivered the goods tonight and really got people going played really well, nicest people you could meet also.

The Hotknives
Tried to get into them but couldn’t do it just not for me. People did seem to like them though. So was off to the bar and have a butchers at the merchandise stalls etc.

Goldblade
Another band I have seen countless times, but they always deliver the goods and tonight they did that yet again. There new songs matched up with there older established stuff no problem at all. People who had never seen them before were very impressed is the general message I got.

The Meteors
Great set with plenty of old stuff and with some great new stuff. Not sure how they went down with everyone there but I really enjoyed them and had to get home and put “Fire Fire” on me CD player. Great pit going on also, excellent seeing people coming out with busted noses and black eyes.

So after the music it was back up to the bar to separate the men form the boys in the drinking, drinks were flowing and good tunes playing in background then at 4am they decided to close the bar’s…..!!!!! So off over to Moz & Fish’s digs as they made error in saying they had a case of booze back at there’s Mad Terry, Sid, Chris Wright and Decca Wade came along and we demolished there booze in no time, so off we went over to mine and Sid dig’s as there was a White Lighting type cider in the fridge chilling nicely, leaving Moz and his bird and picking up Keith from Goldblade on-route.

Saturday
Cider gone it’s a march off to the shop to get more supplies of lager, cider & sausage rolls and then off too Mad Terry’s Digs to see what Chris is up to, common sense would tell you he is sleeping, but it’s us we are talking about so common sense is all out the window.

Drink was flowing but not as quick as before, also Decca, Chris and Keith had enough and went back for some sleep leaving me, Terry and Sid & Fish. Around 11-ish Tosh arrives after his marathon walk to Terry’s room only to find Terry is running about in his Union flag boxers and surgical mask, then is back up to the pub to see what is happening. Now this is all where it stats to get blurry and people are telling me I should get some sleep and even that voice in me head is telling that also but I solider on.

I missed seeing Jaxy & The 3 57’s (though looking at the pictures of her I wish I walked round there to have a look) & Thee Exit Wounds

Discipline
A great band in the studio in fact one of me favourites, but I am yet to see them pull it off live and tonight was no exception I am afraid.

Long Tall Texans
Now here is a band I wanted to see as drove to Brighton the other week too see them and it was so packed I left early. So was really looking forward to seeing them but can I remember any seeing them Can I bollox I might have been there not sure.

Argy Bargy
Watched them from the side of the stage and as normal they delivered the good in fine fashion all the songs you would expect to be there were there ending up in there usual cover of Sparrers Argy Bargy sending the huge crowd into a frenzy. Well Done fella’s now where is me pint

999
Standard set played really well good sing along stuff, but nothing I have not seen many times over the years.

Didn’t see Ska Billy Rebels as it was time to socialise at the other bar for a while and take in the tunes of the ska DJ playing till midnight, plus wanted a sit down as been on feet for most of the day.

Guana Batz
Now never really got into these that much in the past, but was told to check them out as heard they are the bollox live by a few people and they were right. They really played give it there all and you could see they enjoyed it and the crowd loved it too. Can’t wait till they play again.

The Damned
Anyone that knows me will tell you that I really like The Damned but recently have really gone off maybe was a over-kill of seeing them who knows. So not seen them for a year or so and was quite looking forward to seeing them once again. That all changed when they came on sounded like all 5 band members were playing different songs at the same time, they was all over the place and the same old set they have been playing for 5 years now pretty much. Was going to see them again in London so but won’t bother will stay in and save me cash.

So went back to the and joined Chris, Rob and Terry in some drinking, then back to the room for some more post-gig drinking till 7.00am and thought it was time to get some sleep.

Sunday
Woke up at around ten and was lucky that Sid had got the camp bed out in the front so didn’t have to see him first thing, lied around till mid-day showered and took a stroll down to the luxury quarters to try and ponce some breakfast from someone, no joy but the Section 5 chaps had some coffee so we drank that while catching up with Eastenders on there large luxury TV then Fitz poped in for a chat and a brew and before we knew 2 hours had flown by. Right so off to the merchandise stalls to spend me hard earned on CD’S DVD’S etc then getting ready for the band of the weekend to get on stage, but before that caught a couple of songs by the Lurkers, Arthur did well as he was in a right state on the Saturday night.

Section 5
Heard how good they were in Manchester on the Thursday so was really look forward to this, did they disappoint did they bollox they went through classic after classic staring with Every Saturday and ended with a Sparrer cover “take them all” which went down a storm and in the middle were We Won’t Change, Hard Life, Voice Of The Street, We Shall Rise Again and many more . Section 5 are better than ever at the moment and you wanna really get out there and see them. Band of the weekend for me.

Right back to the chalet for supplies and a drink change of top then into the other bar for a beer with the chaps and before we know it it’s 11.30 and Business are due on very soon.

The Business
I was looking forward to seeing these again after what we can call a dodgy patch, heard they was very good in Rome the other weekend, but too be honest I was very let down by what I got here tonight. Intro music finish and the band are not even all on the stage so get a couple of minutes and then it starts. Didn’t think they set they done was very good for a band that have around 7 albums out there why do they have to play nearly every song from “The Truth” Mick was on good form and didn’t forget the words that often and had good crowd banter. Robin drummer was super best drummer I have ever seen. I think they should have a few more rehearsals learn some other songs, as there are plenty they can do and get to the tight solid excellent band that they used to be, as this isn’t The Business in my eyes.

Bad Manners
Great end to the weekend turn the place into a huge giant party with everyone dancing and singing along, was very impressed I must say.

Stayed around in the bar for a while but was a long weekend and the drunken idiots in togas were really starting to get on our nerves and didn’t want to ruin the weekend for people by causing grief with them so we went off for one last drink in me chalet then to sleep.

Wanna say was best weekend away to in a long time I have been to and want to thank the organizer Mick and the bands and not forgetting the punters that made it all possible.

Munnsie