Opening for ageing Home Counties punks the Members, Guns on the Roof took the stage tonight to a near-empty Camden Underworld. You wouldn’t know to look at them they weren’t top of the bill though, grinding out their brand of aggressive pop punk with energy and conviction, prompting some enthusiastic movement and applause from the modest turnout.
All driving power chords, big choruses and manic jumping around like something out of California circa the mid to late nineties, coupled with a grit and sneer channelled from the scene this side of the pond circa the late seventies, they’re an enjoyable, if none too original outfit and great value for money for those punctual enough to see them. Single ‘Last Orders’ plays especially well, as does their scorching interpretation of ‘Ring of Fire’, for which vocalist Liam Brett takes to the floor to menace innocent bystanders in a punky sort of a fashion.
It’s a shame there aren’t more bands like Guns on the Roof about today, they’re true-to-the-game punk rockers, however unfashionable that might be in an age of synthesisers and indie quirkiness. They might not go far in terms of mainstream success, but they’ll rock out their share of toilets on the way there.
