Friday 25th May - Day One
The 13th Nice N Sleazy festival is upon us. Big Ivan has pulled it off again. The Trimpell Sports and Social Club, yet again is the perfect location for the next three days of Punk and Ska music. The on-site camping lends itself to the holiday atmosphere and the relaxed feel of this festival, set it apart from many other festivals of it's type. The entire team has made sure it will be an incredible weekend and there's many people to thanks for making sure it goes without any drama's. Stu Taylor (STP Records), School of Rock Media (SORM), The Trimpell Camera Club, Security, Catering and the many crew members and volunteers will make this an event to remember. The Line up is incredible and the scene is set so, let's get this party started. (Yes, there was a pre-show last night but, hey ho, let's go)
https://www.nicensleazy.info
Thirteen
Hailing from Falkirk in Scotland, Thirteen have the opening slot at Nice N Sleazy this year. They proudly take the stage and fire straight into their set. The songs have a reflective theme running through them harking back to the glory days of punk but with a modern feel to them. Quoting influences from SLF, NOFX and The Wildhearts, this blend of UK/USA â Punk and Rock comes through in the music. Dolly (Guitar/Vocals) gives a shout out that the bands from Scotland much to the amusement of a few who respond with references to kilts!!! â10,000 Record Sleevesâ goes down well as Dolly brings some nostalgia about his record collection, then âDays Gone Byâ follows on with Craig (Bass/Vocals) and Greg (Drums) provide the solid foundation for the tuneful guitar licks. âTattered Sleeveâ is the next song up, but thereâs no evidence of any sleeves tonight as the band are sporting cut off jackets and T shirts, necessary as the temp gets hotter from now on all weekend! The plug for their current E.P. âSpirit of Resistanceâ introduces the title track.Â
https://soundcloud.com/raymond-thomson/thirteen-10000-record-sleeves
https://www.facebook.com/ThirteenUK
The Lurkers
Rumours were out that Guitarist Dave Kemp was stuck on the motorway as Stuart Meadows was warming up his kit. It was true, Dave, stuck in traffic and driving for over 5 1/2hrs for what shouldâve been an easy afternoon drive. To compound things, the gremlins played havoc with his amp/guitar to the point where Arthur (Bass) had to play stand up comedian by rattling off some jokes. The irony was not lost, Morecambe being the home of one of the best loved comedians in Eric. Arthur does a great job keeping the crowd amused with his impromptu stand up and once the gremlins had been sorted, The Lurkers got into their raucous punk set with some real attitude. âIâm on Heatâ gets the gig off to a flyer and thereâs no respite as Stu fires into the second song âSure and Steadyâ. Mental Health is a subject that will be referenced by many bands over the weekend as Arthur introduces âIn the Rubber Roomâ. A tune from the last album âCome and reminisce if you think youâre old enoughâ is up next and Arthur sings about the hey days and cleverly makes reference to some of the original punk bands, slipping in one liners from their hits. The New York Dolls song âPillsâ is a Lurkers favourite and Dave Kemp delivers the opening lick superbly. Daveâs great rock n roll lead solo during the song makes for a memorable version of the cover. As the audience shout out their favourite songs in the breaks, Arthur goes with âMass Media Believerâ the âBâ side to âFreak Showâ which is up next. Thereâs a great mix of new and old tonight and âShadowâ and âLittle Ol Wine Drinker Meâ close an eventful performance with a spirited display from the threesome. The Lurkers overcome adversity to deliver a cracking live set.
https://youtu.be/yl7mdKsPvbw
https://www.facebook.com/The-Lurkers-243674112460296/
Captain Hotknives
Up next, some delightful Punk Humour and cleverly crafted lyrics from the solo acoustic Captain Hotknives. With song titles âAnarchist Squat Punk Bandâ and âI Skanked my Nanaâ he canât fail to go down well with the crowd. The room is busy and show their appreciation.
https://www.facebook.com/captainhotknives
Drongos for Europe
Tommy Drongo (Vocals) greets the crowd and wonders when the last time they played Nice N SleazyâŚ. It may have been a while but launching into âMay Dayâ, he reminds everyone how relevant the band are to this day with their aggressive anti-government/anti-establishment songs. The passion and delivery are there right from the off as âthereâs gonna be a riotâ has a rousing effect on the audience. Dek (Bass) opens the next song âWhose Armyâ up next has Tommy asking if we we're going to war, who would it be with? The set continues with a âbest ofâ feel as âStand Up Be Strongâ and âWhoâs Got The Powerâ are played with real purpose. âWhoâs the drunkest person in the roomâ asks Tommy as he fires into the next few songs launching the mic at the barrier for the singalongs. âAinât No Way Weâre Backing Downâ has Mac Mayhem (Guitar) thrashing his way through the song chopping chords at the verse until Danny (Drums) and Dek (Bass) are left at the bridge with the crowd in full voice. âFreakazoidâ builds up the frenzy until Tommy announces the last song and âRevolution Timesâ brings the charged set to a close. The Drongoâs never disappoint and tonight was no different.
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https://youtu.be/FyhQIxzKGDM
https://www.facebook.com/drongos-for-europe-251933998393/
999
âHello friendsâŚ. Alrightâ screams Nick Cash (Guitar/Vocals) before 999 get their set off to a blistering start. Early favourites âInside Outâ, âHit Me and âFeeling Alright With The Crewâ get the set off to a great start as Nick is thankful for a good crew at Nice N Sleazy. âLie Lie Lieâ up next and shows the band to be on form with Guy Days (Guitar) showing off his talents with some great punk/rock n roll licks. âSome of the Places I Used to Goâ and âBoys in the Gangâ draw upon the bands influences and keep the gig on track. Itâs Arthur (Bass) and Stuart Meadows (Drums) second appearance of the night having played with The Lurkers earlier as they begin the recognisable âTitanic Reactionâ from the 1st Album. Guy takes over on vocals for âI Really Like Youâ and Arthur demands the crowd have a pogo! Stuâs furiously tight drumming drives the song along at pace for the 2 minutes it lasts. Nick starts the next song with a howl warning the audience that the big bad wolf or Donald Trump might get them! âLittle Red Riding Hoodâ is followed by the frantic âNo Pityâ. A new song âLast Breathâ from the bands last album keeps up the tempo with a singalong âLa,La,Laâ chorus and great drumming from Stu at the bridge with some heavy toms/kick to help the singalong. Nick thanks the crowd for their support over the years, making comment that theyâre still there after all these years. An enthusiastic crowd are rewarded with a great version of âEmergencyâ with Guy thrashing out the robotic chords to suit Stuâs powerful drumming, âIâm back in full attackâ sings Nick and heâs not far wrong as 999 have given a great performance tonight. Nick asks the crowd for a singalong to âNasty Nastyâ and they oblige with a rousing âWhat the hell is wrong with youâ!!!! The song bursts into life and 999 turn the clock back as band and crowd show their energy. Guyâs guitar solo and Arthurâs driving bass match the urgency of Stuâs drumming. The hits keep coming with âHomicideâ as the set nears the end. Nick thanks the crowd for a great evening before they launch into an encore of âMy Street Stinksâ â âLong live the musicâ is Nicks parting cry and they depart.
https://youtu.be/FM6iDRHlbFE
https://www.facebook.com/999Music/
Litterbug
Local band Litterbug from Blackpool bring their highly energetic, manic thrash pop punk sound to Nice N Sleazy. Quoting influences from The Pixies/Buzzcocks/Nine Black Alps, their sets starts off at a furious pace with some incredibly tight drumming and edgy bass complimented with great short sharp chords reminiscent of the early punk songs of The Buzzcocks âtimes upâ but sped up. Stuart Diggle (Guitar/Vocals), Andy Higgins (Bass/Vocals) and Cas Streetly (Drums/Vocals) form this frantic trio who were formed in 2005 and have honed their performances since then. âIntrovertâ, âProzac Zombieâ and âI will Not Explainâ get their night off to a great start and some great banter from the band with the audience keeps the evening going. A shout out for Paul Carter as Stu dedicates a song to the well-known punk practitioner as they sing âDonât Changeâ. Thereâs time for punk fanatic Dave Colton to get the band to pose for a âGet Well Kazâ picture for his daughter whoâs recovering from surgery. Back at it and the tempo gets faster towards the end of the set before itâs brought to an end with âPetrol Situationâ. A great set well delivered by Litterbug so check out their upcoming gigs.
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https://youtu.be/Tbq16_bT5qg
https://www.facebook.com/litterbugblackpool/
Slaughter II
Itâs gone midnight before Slaughter II take the stage, some delays earlier in the evening have meant Edweena Banger (Guitar/Vocals) takes the stage to the die-hards that are left to see the headline act tonight and they are in for a treat. The heavily 70âs influenced rockânâroll is delivered by the three members of Slaughter II, Brian Grantham (Drums) an original member of Slaughter and the Dogs and Rick Sullivan (Bass). The set opens with âNow I Knowâ, âThe Bitchâ and âBoston Babyâ without interruption before Edweena takes a breath to welcome themselves to Nice N Sleazy. The âMystery Girlâ is up next followed by ââLove In New York Tonightâ which has a real flavor of The Stooges to it. MC5/New York Dolls wouldnât be out of place on the bill tonight if they were to follow on but for now, we have âWhat You Do to Meâ to singalong to before âGod Save Us Allâ, a song from the latest album. âRunawayâ and âItâs All Over Nowâ keep the crowd bouncing with a great version of âWhite Light / White Heatâ going down a storm with the faithful audience. Edweena now brings the âhitsâ with âAre You Ready Nowâ and âCranked Up Really Highâ being instantly received by the crowd as they crash around until the seminal penultimate song âWhere Have All the Boot boys Goneâ bring the set to a near frenzy. The crowd demand an encore and âCalling Meâ seeâs the band end on a high.Â
https://youtu.be/HS2As3yh2T8
https://www.facebook.com/Slaughter-II-899561546850816/
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