UK Subs - Nervous Tension - The Nags
Leicester. The Attic. 26/06/03

The Rong'uns were on the bill but didn't play because Gaz had broken his thumb so couldn't play the drums. Nervous Tension were on first playing a good set to a small crowd. I really enjoyed their new stuff, I do like this band. Next were the Nags I can't really review their set cos I was playing guitar for them, but they went down well. Then for the UK Subs, I've seen the Subs so many times but I still enjoy seeing Charlie and his merry men doing their thing. Still as good as ever, all the classics. It's a pity that this venue is so small.
Col

The Wernt - Poundaflesh - Paul Carter
Derby. Victoria Inn 18/06/03

I was looking forward to seeing the Wernt again, it's been a while. As I expected there was a good turn out. First on was Paul Carter doing his thing, one man and his guitar and as always he was very amusing and played a good gig. Next up was Poundaflesh, I'm beginning to get to know their set quite well and this was as good as I've seen them play, tight and fast. Then it was time for the Weren't, you never quite know what Wakey might do! This has to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen. The band started to play then Wakey appeared wearing a washing basket full of washing (he'd cut a hole in the bottom and stuck his head through it). So he sang the first few songs through a load of washing. They played a great gig, no new material but it was good to hear the old stuff live again. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and everyone that I spoke to enjoyed the gig as well, the whole night was good.
Col

 

BOMB BLAST MEN - European tour May/June 2003

Tuesday May 27th
I picked the BBM up from Nottingham; we loaded up the van and set on our merry way to Harwich to catch the ferry. Almost instantly, 20 miles or so out of Nottingham we had an accident on the A1. Not a good start at all!
With no one injured we carried on and eventually got the ferry and arrived at the Hook of Holland at midnight. We then drove on to the venue. Fabrik, Duisberg, Germany, arriving in the early hours to be met by Dirk.

Wednesday May 28th
We were all up and about by midday so headed off for a look around the local area, change Pounds to Euros that sort of thing. It was a very hot day, so we didn't go far. It turned out to be a day of dosing around and playing games of table football, cards, hangman and puzzles one which we couldn't solve. Here it is if you solve it let me know cos we're interested to know if it can be done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connect a Gas, Electric and Water line to each house without ever crossing any lines.

Well back to the gig. A good turn out and a good evening. First on were Telemark, they weren't at all bad very energetic and loud. Then for the BBM to play their first gig of the tour, I have seen the BBM a few time before but I didn't remember them being this good. Totters thought that he was yodelling more than singing for the early songs, can't say I'd noticed. I dare say the video will reveal all. All in all the set was played really well. A good start.

Thursday May 29th
This was the day off for the tour. So we took a drive down to HK2, Delbruk, Germany where we spent the rest off the day relaxing round a Barbecue at Jorg's place. Then out came the acoustic guitar and the Tequila slammers. By about 8.00 that evening we were wasted a lot of beer had been drunk along with 4 bottles of Tequila.

Friday May 30th
Hottest day yet. Not much to do today as we'd got the gear sorted the day before. We were all nursing hangovers. By the evening things were looking good. People started to show up, the barbecue was on the go again and suddenly as if by magic the Tequila appeared. The lads did very well and didn't go mad until after they'd played. First on were The Cameron Fayre and End Is Forever both were good as I recall but I was a bit pissed by this point. I enjoyed the BBM more tonight than last, everyone at the gig was enjoying it. And the band seemed to be happy with it as well. GET THE TEQUILA OUT! Over the two days 11 bottles of Tequila were drunk.

Saturday May 31st
Back on the road for the drive to Hannover, Germany, Another very hot day but also very windy on the Autobahn. We stopped at Jorg's record shop on the way Greed Records. www.greedrecords.de . We arrived at Punks place in Hannover mid to late afternoon, Time to unwind for a couple of hours a bit of table football a game of darts and then the German Cup final on the telly. Then to the gig, Kopernikus, BBM played first and played well I thought. I was very surprised how good the sound is in this small venue. Unfortunately I mist the next band Alliance (France) but I was told by the BBM that were very good. I did catch most of Los Distructos (Glasgow) set which I did enjoy. Quite fast in places and a Clash cover to finish. It was at this gig where we met "THE FUNNIEST MAN IN GERMANY (IF NOT THE WORLD)" as named by Paddy. As soon as he knew you were a Brit he bombarded you with really crap Basil Fawlty impressions and kept giving you all the really cheesy lines from British comedy shows, I love these shows, but this was killing it for me.

Sunday June 1st
Yet another hot day yet another journey this time to Kniepe, Humsbunder, Germany. We got there late afternoon and then had a go at long bow archery which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then for the gig BBM went on first and played really well again, the sound was a lot quieter in this venue but was very good never the less. The crowd were with them again. Next up were Kabayashi, very good musicians and very good at what they do sometimes fast sometimes slow, not really my cup of tea. Next up were Disface. I wasn't impressed to see a band use the classic Discharge logo but with their name as so many bands have. Don't get me wrong I'm a big Discharge fan. To my surprise they were not that much like Discharge. They were a bit slower and more melodic. I quite enjoyed them.

Monday June 2nd
Hottest day so far! And quite a long drive to Zoro, Leipzig, Germany. It was a hard journey for all with the heat. Arriving was good though! I've always liked this venue very much. This seemed an unusual line up tonight but I'll get to that in bit. The BBM went on first, not a bad idea when you're at Zoro as the first band doesn't usually go on until well after midnight, in fact the first time the BBM played here they tell me they didn't get on until 4.30 in the morning. They played well, great sound for them too, Bloody loud! Then it all went hazy for me, well drunk was I. With no real intention of watching the following acts. Next up two American Emo Bands. American, Emo & Band, put these three words together and I instantly loose the will to live. I think one of them were called The National Blue. I didn't watch them so I can't say what they were like. I saw a bit of Atom & His Package, what is this guy about? One man with a keyboard doing some kind of holiday show act but to punks. I suppose it was amusing to a degree but I went out side to sit down. The evening was fun though.

Tuesday June 3rd
A week since we left England. Only a shortish drive today 2 hours or so to the next gig, Semtex, Berlin Germany. We were in no hurry to leave Leipzig, so we ended up spending most of the day dosing around Andrijana's place. We arrived at Semtex at about 7.30 aided by some excellent navigating by Lambert. We had food, set up the equipment and then the gig started. This is a good little venue but the room that the gigs are in is very small so you more hear the bands than see them, But that's ok with me. First band were Racak. They were brilliant. Loud and fast and played really well. Then BBM did what they'd done every night so far playing their set tight and fast, but most importantly had fun at the same time.

Wednesday June 4th
Not quite as hot as it has been but still hot and we've got the longest drive of tour to do today. Berlin to Groningen (Holland) 350+ miles. It was a long boring journey but we arrived at the venue, Orkz, in the early evening. The BBM were the only band to play this evening. Not many people turned up but still it was a good gig. The BBM played a good set yet again and then played some more. They weren't going to let them leave the stage. Great party after the gig as well.

Thursday June 5th
Not such a bad drive today, less than 2 hours to get to the venue, Schlachthof, Bremen, Germany. A good venue unfortunately not a great turn out but enough people to make a good night. Two bands tonight, first Toxic Avenger, they look quite young and played a good set with a lot of humour. They went down well with everyone. Then BBM came on and did their thing as good as I've seen on this tour. (I won't mention that Paddy decided to leave out half of a song). All in all both bands played really well and everyone watching enjoyed it.

Friday June 6th
Again not that far to go today, the Lobusch, Hamburg, Germany. When we arrived it was late afternoon We got the gear set up on the stage, BBM did a short sound check. Then the other band who were playing that evening, CIS decided that they didn't want to use Lambert's drum kit. So they brought in this gleaming drum kit and towers of gleaming amps. They then fucked around at doing a sound check for more than two hours, we got sick of hearing this racket so we went for a wander round the Reeperbahn. CIS played first. All that gear, more than two hours to sound check. What a waste. There's little doubt that they are competent musicians but their song writing seemed more to show off how good they thought they were. Now the gig tonight was being recorded. The BBM really pulled something special out of the hat tonight. This was without a doubt the gig of the tour for them. I can't wait to hear the CD of this gig. Crowd participation all the through the set.

Saturday June 7th
A fairly long journey today, Carlo Levi, Liege, Belgium. By now we were all a bit tired, it's the last night of the tour. Three bands tonight. First BBM went on they played there set very well again to a small but enthusiastic crowd. A good end to the tour for them I thought. Next on were an American band called Impulse Items. Not bad at all, the sound wasn't with them at all. Next up were another American band called Submachine. These boys were great their set was energetic and fun to watch, including a cover of Motorhead's Iron Fist. After the gig all three bands had a laugh and a drink together. The perfect end.

Sunday June 8th
The journey home. We set out of Liege at about midday for a steady trip to the Hook of Holland. After a short time the horizon became very hazy. As this haze got closer it started to look like a scene from the Wizard of Oz, horses were stampeding, the air was thick with debris. I pulled to the side of the road and waited until the cyclone had passed. I've never seen anything like it. After it had cleared enough to go on our way Paddy was trying a little too hard force his farts out and followed through. Luckily we weren't far from a service station so he cleaned himself up and we went on our way. We got the Ferry at 16.00 and watched The Matrix Reloaded on the boat. What a load of shit it is. Pretty quiet for the rest of the journey home. I dropped BBM off in Nottingham at 23.00. Well that's my diary of the Bomb Blast Men European Tour 2003.