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The Crown and Anchor, lovingly known as the CRANKER, opened the evening’s festivities with the punk three piece, Wolfpack. It had been a stinking hot week, 44C during the day but this was Wolfpack’s second performance in the last few hours. In fact if you have a look at these guys Facebook page you will see that they play gigs as regular as some us have main meals. They recently supported Scottish punk superstars The Exploited and I’m kicking myself that I missed that one. I would have been going to see the Edinburgh boys smash it out but after tonight’s performance I would have been equally keen to have seen Wolfpack if I knew then what I know now. Same week they supported the Misfits and have also supported the Dead Kennedys in the past. So they have been around punk royalty in their three short years of existence.
Wolfpack do not muck around. If they had a song which was longer than 1 minute 30 seconds it would be considered an epic. Now I’m not sure how many songs they did play, could have been 4 or could have been 44. I didn’t see a setlist, it was just into to it, finish, into it, finish and so on and probably done from memory. It was a joy to watch and took you back to the days of the Buzzcocks and The Ruts when it was uncool to do anything onstage but whack it out.
The band consists of three members who look like they come from three different bands. But when they crank into it they are one band all grinding it out. The music is punchy and the vocals are delivered by Tom on drums. This is the point where I normally crap on about drummers and this is one of the best performances I have seen from a drummer in a long while. Drumming in punk bands has to chase what little melody there is and Tom was all over that like a rash. The playing was intense and the facial expressions would have given Keith Moon a run for his money. It has Ramone intensity but it was all over the kit and not the simple metronome that some punk became. Best wank free drumming performance I’ve seen for a long time.
So I’m doing my thing, taking photographs and trying to work out if we are up to song 26 as we pass the 20 minute mark in the set. I’m constantly being bumped and my photographs look like a snow globe that been shaken. Jake from Dead City Ruins is bopping away next to me because this band is so good and there’s not much else you can do because the intensity is infectious. Its machine gun riffs and antics on stage. Tom is hypnotic to watch and somehow expresses the lyrics while he plays which is great to watch. How many songs have passed since the front row took their eyes off him, probably 20, though I’m not sure.
Now in a night of surprises the band announce that they do this for the love of it and any money they make they donate to charity. That’s how they work and that’s why they exist. So let’s get this straight. I pay money and get entertained but the band gives the money to a charity of their choice? How awesome is that! Even if you have had a complete brain fade and didn’t enjoy Wolfpack, something I think is unlikely, then you are still donating to a good cause. It’s a no-brainer guys, you can’t lose. But the chance of you not liking this music is zero, so it’s a win-win.
Even if you aren’t a child of the late 70’s or somehow missed the punk revival, I am urging you to check out Wolfpack. They played a blinder at the CRANKER and well worth the donation money. Great work guys and an awesome night of some of the best punk I’ve seen in a long, long time. Someone please get Wolfpack onto the SLF tour so I can see them again!
Here’s a punk style summary of the night. Too many songs to count. Punchy. So much fun. Good cause so see them when you have the chance. Goodnight Adelaide
Wolfpack are:
Tom – Vocals/Drums,
Kane – Bass/Vocals,
Jefrey – Guitar
Reviewed by: Craig Grant
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