Bring The Noise

Does all music these days sound like noise?

Stuck on a name gigs 24/07/19
Last night I got treated to some good old fashion noise, underground punk and metal gig. In depths with the band and the crowd on a hot summer night. My ears were bleeding to the aggressive sounds being played. Vocals ripping through the microphone, thumping drums and bass, ear-piercing guitar.
Packed into a tiny room the band were at our feet nowhere to escape, I’m stood with my new bandmates drinking cheap beer and sweating it out again. Watching the crowd move, and the bands move in a violent motion.
By the end end of the night, one of my friends is head banging and moshing to some crushing music.

Back in Nottingham, unemployed and trying to settle back into the city. The midlands gave birth to some very crushing bands, a whole genre of music. Is it the weather? The people, anger or disappointment that causes such groups to create extreme, abrasive music.
The rest of the metal heads and I need something to lick our wounds from the disappointing announcement of our new prime minister.

Stuck On a Name Studios Nottingham, located in the old streets of Sneinton. Home to many rehearsal rooms. The gig venue is actually a rehearsal room which adds to the intensity. For a few years now SOAN has been hosting gigs covering genres between punk and metal. Heavily influenced by DIY culture, they insist you bring your own beer because there is no bar. Everybody uses the same toilet, no stage just a P.A system the crowd surrounding the band it’s a tight space you re almost stepping on people. On a summer night like this, it becomes a sauna.

When we arrive, with our cheap beer, people are stood outside, it reminded me of people queuing outside the Job centre. Everybody apart from us is wearing black or dressed in a band t-shirt, but who cares, it’s about the music. Sat on the street like punk squatters drinking and talking getting know each other.

The first band of the night Throat punch, a power violence band from Lincoln. Power violence a subgenre of hardcore punk. A genre that I’m not familiar with but still and the group do want to punch you in your throat with a cowbell which adds an exciting sound to the mix.
The songs are short and snappy, but it gets the crowd going, my ears start to ring. I manage to get some earplugs ( thank you Vinnie) you may need them for the share destruction of this band.
The first band and already I feel sweaty.
Outside the crowd is growing, and it is sweltering inside.

Feral state a D-beat punk band from Leicester, they remind of Discharge. The music has similar rhythms. Fast, punk chants together with the distorted guitar. It is a wall of sound punching its way through the audience. Everybody is dripping in sweat; one member of the audience is passing around a portable fan.

Human cull three-piece Grindcore band from Bristol, who have a few split releases and are touring with Axis of Despair playing a few shows around the country.
Human cull does not hold back, they wanna eat you and spit you back out, the music is punishing. The drummer is even providing vocals, they blast through songs. I watch the crowd move, mosh, and head bang. Any kind of movement to this extreme sound.

These smoke breaks are much needed only to get away from the sauna of madness. I’m starting to feel tired at this point this type of music is exhausting and in this heat your lucky if you’re still standing.

Axis of Despair is described on the flyer as savage Swedish grindcore. The lead singer is just wearing a denim waist jacket with band badges, he makes a joke about how cold it is in the room. At this point, you’re either drunk or collapsing due to dehydration. violent head banging as the crowd are treated to some Grindcore grooves from Scandinavia.
The band even stop to pay tribute to the late Rutger Hauer who had sadly passed away that evening. I mentioned it earlier, but nobody cared ( the joys of technology).

Axis of Despair was a joy to watch my favourite band of the evening, I later discovered that they had released an album last year on southern lord records.
The crowd are hungry for more as the band start to pack away at this point I’m ready to leave its been a full three hours of intensity at which point clothes are sticking to me.

Outside it’s empty just me sat on the curb, getting some air into my lungs while I process the night. There are many things to admire about tonight the fact that it was a cheap gig, I had the choice to bring my own alcohol. I didn’t know what to expect when I saw everyone outside the venue, but everybody we spoke to was very friendly, which made the gig more enjoyable.
There was no barrier between the band and the audience, which made the experience more inclusive.

The underground scene is much still alive. I’m curious to explore it, I have much respect for Stuck on a name for there DIY spirit. This is nothing new, of course, but right now, I believe this kind of independence, creativity, and culture is very much needed right now.
Events like this bring people together they often show us what we have in common a sense of community.

The bands themselves are also bringing that same DIY ethic and energy, and creating some very entertaining shows. Breaking down the barriers to show us that yes we do play music but after the show, we are still like you, so for next hour lose yourself and forget the life you know.
I hope Stuck on a name continue to put on shows I’m looking forward to the next one already, but this can only happen if we support our local scene. This applies to any genre of music, the opportunity for artists and get inspired. In all the nonsense we might find ourselves in maybe it doesn’t hurt to make a little noise.

D. Mooken

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