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Gig Review: Instant Agony, Iconoclasts, Sex Pretzels, Bleach Brain - Molly’s Birkenhead - 17 Dec 22


The weather outside is freezing, bitter and cold enough to freeze one's faculties. Train strikes are happening, the original venue has a problem with the heating so the gig has been moved to the outdoor stage at Mollys. Log burner type heaters are ushered in to try and generate some warmth. Nice brand new halogen heaters are deployed on stage, not a great start to the evening but the management and staff do a great job to try and make the venue more welcoming. Despite all the issues, the turn out is surprisingly good. One couple from Australia were in attendance along with someone who travelled over for the weekend from Dublin and the gig already had a warm atmosphere with lots of old acquaintances are being rekindled.

Bleach Brain are the opening act. A young three piece band whom I'm led to believe met in University (but don't quote me on that). Fronted by Ukranian born guirarist and singer - Natasha Cherneyshova, this powerful trio rip into action with their own unique style. A mixture of punk/grunge and noise they generate a wondrous aural blast. Natasha's vocals ranging from high pitch screaming to down and out dirge to harmonic undertones. A complete plethora of vocal range. All backed up with thunderous drums and stomach rumbling bass. The music is sometimes upbeat and quick and at others time slow and moody. An excellent opener for the evening. A band to look our for and you can catch them at one of the Funhouse nights at the Outpost Liverpool on Saturday 11 March 2023.

Next up, The Sex Pretzels. Yes you may have guessed it, a Sex Pistols tribute band. And a bloody good one too! The band are Spike (Bite Back) on drums, Rob (MDM) on vocals, Dib (Iconoclasts) on bass and Karl (Band-Its and Half Man Half Biscuit) on six string duties. I'm not quite sure when The Pretzels last played but it's been years since I saw them. Back then they had Alan on drums, Spike was drafted in last minute and he did a sterling job. Rob is very convincing as he portrays Johnny Rotten. Matching his mannerisms, white shirt, black waistcoat, ginger hair. Nailed it. As did the band as they ripped through all the old (Pistol) classics, Anarchy In The UK, Pretty Vacant, Liar, Holidays In The Sun etc etc etc. Halfway through the set Mandy (Iconoclasts and Band-Its) took over on bass duties from Dib. The change was seamless. The band had the audience dancing and pogo-ing away. It was like being teleported back to the late 70's. A very enjoyable half an hour or so that brought back many a happy, rebellious youth, when music was music and mattered. For a while, I was a pissed off angry teenager again.

The next band had created a bit of interest when it was announced they were playing. The Iconoclasts. Formed over forty years ago and one of the original local bands alongside Public Disgrace, Reiner Chaos, Onslaught, Venomous Youth, Instant Agony (tonight's headliners) to name a few. This was to be their first gig in over 35 years! The Iconoclasts made a bit of a name for themselves back in the day in that they temporarily held the record for the shortest time to have a single release from the time of the initial recording to it being pressed. I’m told some of the band members travelled with the master tape via helicopter from Liverpool to London. They had admitted to re-working the songs as they weren't as fast as they originally were but. A special mention to Spekki as she hadn't touched a drum kit for 25 years prior to the band reforming. They delivered a solid wall of sound. Songs like Fight Alone and War blasting from the PA. I never saw them back in the day so I was anxious to see them now. I was mightily impressed. I didn't know what to expect but I wasn't disappointed. Nice mid tempo, solid, tight and a powerful display.

Lastly, Instant Agony who have also reformed this year after what is about a fifteen year hiatus. They reformed to help commemorate and honour the passing of the owner of the only decent record shop on the Wirral - Skeleton Records. John Weaver who was a big supporter of the band and helped them get their first two singles released.


The whiff of nostalgia hung heavy in the Wirral air (mixed with the aroma of wood burning heaters) as local punks Instant Agony, stepped on to the 'outdoor' stage at Molly's in Birkenhead. Reformed, after lying mainly dormant since the 1990's, they headlined the four band line up, which included The Iconoclasts, performing for the first time since the mid 80’s.


The guys were extremely well received by a large, expectant audience, with attendees coming from as far afield as Scotland, Ireland and even Australia, on a freezing winters night, and despite a national rail strike! They were soon warmed up as the band thundered into some of their old punk classics, opening up with the title track from the album 'Exploitation' venomously delivered by frenetic frontman Hocky, backed by the solid power unit of bass and drums, (courtesy of Dave and Anton respectively) and the biting thrash of Tabby's guitar. They ripped mercilessly through old favourites 'Think Of England, Anti Police and News At Ten' along with more recent tracks like 'Not My Religion' and 'Take Control', before it all ended much too soon, with a storming encore of their most enduring and popular 'No Sign Of Life.’


This was blistering performance by a band, who were obviously back with serious intent, and not just a last hurrah. The work and endeavour to reach and even surpass the levels attained in their earlier career, point to a possible longer term future for Instant Agony, and everyone who witnessed this renaissance will be hoping for another 40 years of ‘Agony'......"


Words: Dave Whyte/Liam Trotsky Photos: Dave Whyte


Links:


Sex Pretzels:



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