Pacer - Say Anything (Bouncing Souls cover)
London Shoreditch South Of The Border (Everything Sucks club)
January 21st 2011

One of their main influences as well as the band who own Chunksaah (the label in the US that put out Pacer’s first EP), it seems apt for the four-piece to cover New Jersey’s finest punk rockers. And how! With a rawer, more hardcore feel to this classic Souls track, they give it the respect it deserves while putting their own mark on it. Here’s hoping it gets recorded at some point too. All together now, “I wish I could say, that I have no regrets today!” Smiles.

(Source: strikeachorduk)

Pacer - Rediscovering The Telephone
London Shoreditch South Of The Border (Everything Sucks club)
January 21st 2011

Dave, Su and I were lucky enough to get our good friends in Pacer to headline at Everything Sucks last Friday and, as always, it was a fun and energetic performance. Yes, two of them used to be in UK melodic hardcore heroes The Steal but Pacer are fast making their own mark as one of the best punk bands in the country, with a sound that throws together the sound of influences such as Osker, Lifetime, the Bouncing Souls and the Descendents. Opening with this blistering track from the band’s essential ‘No.1’ EP, this video was the first song of their set and was filmed by Faridah (thanks you. X). Expect another couple of videos from this set in the near future. FUNDAY TIMES. 

(Source: strikeachorduk)

Slow Science - Arctic Radio Broadcast
London Shoreditch South Of The Border (Everything Sucks club)
January 21st 2011

The last night of Slow Science’s short but sweet UK tour before Jon goes travelling for five months was thankfully at Dave and my gig/club night Everything Sucks. It was one hell of a lot of fun and this song from their ‘You’re Welcome’ EP shows why, even though they’ve only just started, it’ll be tough to wait out the time until Jon gets back so we can hear more material and see them live more. This song is another great song, with powerful, passionate vocals, stunning guitar lines and a driving rhythm. Jon, we’ll miss you so have fun and come back soon. Kingston will be weird without you. 

(Source: strikeachorduk)

The Social Club - Somewhere Between The Rut And The Groove
Kingston Fighting Cocks

Featuring ex-members of skate punk favourites Captain Everything, The Social Club are an all-together more indie/pop punk rock prospect, with heavy nods towards Weezer, Motion City Soundtrack and other ‘nerd rock’ bands. However, thankfully the quartet have the songs and the personality to pull it off (waaayoh). Cheap cock jokes aside, they clearly love every second of playing these songs and they’re such upbeat and infectious keyboard-infused rockin’ good time tunes that it’s surprising they have as much fun as people watching. Now, if only the album would actually get a release…

(Source: strikeachorduk)

Slow Science - So It Goes 
Kingston Fighting Cocks
January 11th 2011 

The latest (and in my opinion the best so far) band from one of the nicest men in the world, Jon Doses, this London/Kingston based four-piece feature ex-members of a number of bands, including Serf Combat, Black Tax, The King Blues and Heroic Doses. I think they’ll appeal to any fans of these previous bands, as well as people who love Superchunk, Fifth Hour Hero and RVIVR. Anyway, this was Slow Science’s EP launch show (their third ever gig I think) and this track is not only my favourite but also the last song on the new EP/demo/nugget of gold, ‘You’re Welcome’. It’s a thrilling closer that flows and ebbs from an indie punk sound into an anthemic closing chorus and instrumental outro. Basically, it’ll blow your balls/tits off… in a good way. 

(Source: strikeachorduk)

Dave House & Frank Turner - Aside (The Weakerthans cover)
Kingston Fighting Cocks
January 8th 2011

What a way to start the New Year and the new version of Strike A Chord UK! Tonight was a great gig with Kingston’s finest, Dave House, and his namesake Dave Hause (or is that “Dave Many Prostitutes” after he argued that it was pronounced ‘whores’?).  This was one of the highlights for me. Hause took a break while the UK’s most popular folk punk Frank Turner joined Dave House for a rousing sing-along of this Weakerthans anthem. Boom. Two of the country’s finest punk singer-songwriters teaming up. So much fun!

(Source: strikeachorduk)