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GALLOWS
Sugarmill, Stoke
13 September 2007

Great value four bands for £8, once again I felt very old (but not out of place), amused by the young peoples “I’m so different / misunderstood” style and attitude (whilst all being the same). Their young person clothes (especially their trousers for some reason? Either incredibly baggy or super tight), ludicrous hair and stylistic stances.

Blackhole, who were very very young and just appeared to be junior Gallows (but with less tattoos), which made sense when you find out they’re fronted by youngest brother Carter.

Lethal Bizzle was cracking, I know nothing about grime, but he (and his crew) were excellent and really got the crowd pumped. He seems to have recovered from being called Jizzy Tissue on Top Gear.

Poison the Well are American hardcore heroes apparently, but they did nothing for me. It was all about GALLOWS.

Because of the very nature of the show, early curfew for club night after they were straight in, no messing. Quite a thing to launch yourself into the crowd before you’ve even started singing (rapidly followed by the bass player) and spent the first song immersed in the heaving crowd.

I’ve always found crowd surfing and stage diving deeply annoying, but when the place is rammed, the whole crowd is packed so tight that it becomes a clambering mass it kinda makes sense (never fear I didn’t dive on anyone!). I got tagged in the mosh pit; someone had a permanent pen and was drawing lines on people’s arms, I’m unsure of the significance of this, but I believe it is a mark of respect?!? People were launching themselves off every surface and ledge, some divot threw himself off the balcony, landing trainer first on my face. Not so good!

I guess you can tell you’ve really been out when you return home with a boot print on your face, covered in blood, beer and god knows what else and the singer goes to A&E ‘cause he split his head open six songs in. Quite an impressive gash(?), but I was frustrated that it was so severe that it curtailed the set (especially before they performed the brilliant but brutal ‘Orchestra of Wolves’. Do a lyric search, I feel unable to post the words here!)

I think everyone should see this band, a real visual spectacle, I’ve been to numerous gigs across every genre but I’ve never seen anything like this before. I guess if I’d had company I wouldn’t have thrown myself so enthusiastically into the mosh?

ROUGH.

On returning home I showered myself off, rinsed away the blood, nursed my wounds and examined my facial markings. I’m very bruised and sore this morning, and there’s definitely a sole mark by my nose.

Rupert Todd