++GIG REVIEW++
Lee Puddefoot brings us this report of a recent show by glamourous punk rockers The Skuzzies. He argues that, with their reggae experiments and speedy riffs, they're carrying on the spirit of The Clash...
Stepping down to the stage area at the Good Ship, you get the impression of a zoo-like atmosphere. As bodies slowly filter down into the sweaty little cubed area, many decide against it - preferring to watch from above. Then, just before 11pm, three men take to the stage looking like they’ve stepped out of the Sunset Strip.
What happens over the next half hour is a turbo charged set of New York Dolls influenced punk rock. Coming across boisterous and ramshackle, it's simultaneously as tight as Russell Brand’s trousers.
"he spits out lyrical gymnastics while the ska vibe continues behind him..."
Each song comes in a short, sharp blast of melody and noise - and none more so than ‘Dissatisfied’, which is all rumbling bass, semi-ska guitar and a fantastic chorus chant of “they’re feeling dissasatified / you see it in every man and woman’s eyes”.
With blistering solos, rock star posturing and beefy rhythms, The Skuzzies are a glam punk ideal. Taking a leaf from The Clash’s book, they experiment with reggae as they introduce MC Scolar for the last few songs. When he joins them, he spits out lyrical gymnastics while the ska vibe continues behind him.
The only criticism of The Skuzzies is that , despite the clear potential to write some great songs, as a three piece you wonder if they could do with an extra guitarist to beef up their sound and let front man/guitarist Jerome loose on them finger bleeding solos.
++ Lee Puddefoot ++
Artrocker rating: 3
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