NICALS, BODMIN (3RD AUGUST)


TURNING SPACE ONLY (above)

ICENI ICEMI (above)

"THE BIG FAT CHARITY PUNK NIGHT"

ICENI ICEMI, TWO SICK MONKEYS, TURNING SPACE ONLY & FIRST JOINT THEORY

^{(Reviewed by One Armed Scissor)}

^{The 5th ‘Summer Nights @ Nicals’ gig was the first to be organised in aid of charity, with all the profits going to Oxfam. Kicking off proceedings a little later than billed were oddly-named St.Ives four-piece Iceni Icemi, a late addition to the bill, and playing their first ever gig. While not strictly fitting the label of ‘punk’, their ferocious intensity captured the spirit of ’76 as much as any other act, with a blend of At The Drive-In’s visceral cleverness and The Bled’s unremitting, throat-shredding screamo fury, underpinned by Bloc Party-like basslines. Iceni have managed to combine Cornwall’s too greatest musical loves, indie and post-hardcore, and injected their own dark, literary anguish and impassioned showmanship into the mix. Don’t be surprised if they’re the first Cornish emo band to really make it big. Their aching melodrama even provided some humour (whether intentionally or not), with one song’s outro involving lead vocalist Joshua and drummer Christopher repeatedly screaming "I love you" and "Shut the fuck up" at each other, in true lovers-break-up style. Not that I want to start any rumours…}

^{Next up were Two Sick Monkeys, all the way from Swindon. If the surprise of seeing two thirty-somethings take the stage armed only with a drumkit and a punked-up bass guitar wasn’t enough, the Nicals crowd seemed somewhat taken aback when frontman Pete Tower proceeded to not only play his bass very much like a lead guitar, but also prove that such things were unnecessary to 2SM’s lightning grooves. The bassist’s admission that "we don’t take things too seriously" was borne out by a humour-packed set, never more so than in a raw, shouty cover of Green Day’s "American Idiot", greeted by a mixture of amusement and admiration. Very much like the rest of the set in fact, as Pete proved himself, at heart, a master entertainer, inducing the crowd to repeat the title of closer "Fuck Off" at them at considerable volume. Musically, then? Trading hoarse vocals and ripping lightning fast through one dynamite tune after another, the Monkeys attracted the obvious Sham 69 and Sex Pistols comparisons (only at about double the speed), but the intense breakdowns and deep bass rumble also brought to mind the likes of Black Sabbath and even Rage Against The Machine. This was the sound of two old pros showing the young’uns how it was done. The crowd lapped it up and, in the aftermath, the band sold out of their album "Curse Of The Monkeys".}

^{The thing is though, Turning Space Only were just as good, if not better. Bringing a legion of followers from their native St.Austell, who finally got the dancefloor going, they delivered a stimulating, eclectic set, with an inventive, superby-coordinated two-guitar collaboration backed up a pure punk rhythm section. "Escape Routes To Ride" recalled latter-day AFI, bringing spacey effects and goth punk vocal melodies into the picture. Closer "Townie Anthem" saw the band at their most inventive, with elements of widdly metal guitar, raw punk, and terrace-chant vocals giving way to a pummelling Pantera-like outro and a final "fuck you" – the perfect send-off. TSO are an old school punk gang of the kind you don’t get any more, while Dan’s magnificent, soaring, Mark Hoppus-on-speed vocals are beautifully juxtaposed with the anarchy raging around him. Treasure this band – the Cornish music scene needs them.}

^{Headlining for the first time in their home town were First Joint Theory, a young three-piece who seem vastly improved every time you see them. Kicking off with an energetic cover of Madonna’s pop classic "Like A Prayer", followed later by a similarly comedic version of "Barbie Girl", the band also provided the beefiest takes yet heard on their own staples, especially anti-capitalist rant "Fuck The Corporation", and "Trust Me", a biting critique of those who try to dishonestly make money out of you. Despite some technical problems, FJT’s raw, bass-driven, early Clash-influenced punk spawned a vicious circle pit in front of the ‘stage’. As the clock ticked past the licensed finish time of 11pm, the music went on, as the band stretched out their big moment as long as possible and sweaty moshers threw themselves around. This is what punk rock shows are all about.}

^{So, four outstanding acts, wildly different but all ridiculously entertaining in their own ways. One of the biggest crowds Nicals has seen recently, and a fantastic party atmosphere throughout. Most of all, though, the superb sum of £160 raised to help people who, unfortunately, generally don’t get to enjoy nights as great as this. If there’s a better rock’n’roll gig in Cornwall this year, I wouldn’t want to miss it.}

(Photos by Akos & David Woodhead)