The Dwarves / The Underground / Stoke on Trent
A trip to Stoke on Trent to visit one of the best grass roots venues around, the Underground in Hanley. The Underground has promoted tons of amazing Psychobilly and punk shows over the years keeping the music alive and relevant, hosting the likes of The Meteors, King Kurt, Demented Are Go and many many others. Tonight, they were playing host to US hardcore punk legends The Dwarves.
First up in support are The Two Step Goodbyes. You’ll have come across them before if you’ve followed us for a while….. a psychobilly/ garage-punk/ rock’n’roll band from Stoke with Simon Frain on guitar, Kev M Kalski on standing bass and Billy Bob Haywood on drums.
Honestly, go listen to their EP 10,000 Volts – Its one of my all time favourite Eps with three outstanding tracks Going Blind, Bolt to the Brain and the brilliant Roll the Bones (live).
Their style is a fusing of classic psychobilly but with some raucous riffs and pounding tribal drums, the result is a gumbo of rock ’n’ roll noise with a right twang and a bang!
Next up are local band The Blasted Oak, led by guitarist Ike Reed. Sadly, I’m told that tonight is their last show in this form, with stand in bass and drummer. I have to say, it’s a real shame as Ike delivers a powerful set of dark reverb laden guitar riffs, the style being somewhere between grunge and doom. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I hope Ike can carry on in some other form.
And we’re ready for The Dwarves to hit the stage. The American punks were originally formed in Chicago, Illinois but since 2009 have been based in San Francisco, California.
Originally a garage punk band under the name Suburban Nightmare, they developed their style to become one of the leading hardcore bands around, before settling into an eclectic punk rock sound emphasizing intentionally shocking lyrics, and notorious for their ‘lively’ live performances.
Formed by singer Blag Dahlia (Julius Seizure, born Paul Cafaro), and guitarist HeWhoCannotBeNamed (Pete Vietnamcheque) the line up has changed a number of times over the years, including John Freese (now of the Foo Fighters) drums on a number of their albums. IN 2004 they released “The Dwarves Must Die”, which featured guest appearances from Dexter Holland (The Offspring) and Nash Kato (Urge Overkill). It was on this album that Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age) first appeared, and he is now part of the live band.
The wild days may be behind them now, but The Dwarves remain an incredible, talented and solid live band. With the likes of Nick Oliveri on bass the rhythm section is tight with pounding drums and throbbing basslines throughout, and Blag Dahlia strides around the Underground stage egging on the crowd and getting them to sing along in the mic.
The set is an hour long, and just flies by. An amazing set and a night to remember !
