The Borough 18-11-2016

Well what an unusual night it turned out to be for us!

it was a cold night to start off with and the Borough was ready for the punk rock night!

with local rockers Bleach for support on the line up and from what we saw in the borough down stairs, which was a lot of punk rock fans. turned out to be a huge huge let down on the local music scene.

With only a hand full of people, came down to support bleach and ourselves on the night, and after all the work we had put in to our drummer bringing her drum kit from home, myself and mike sorting out the back line and PA system on the night. it was a let down for both bands and the local music scene.

so with the band loaded in and ready to go, Bleach set off their set of wild screaming vocals, ear piercing feedback screaming guitar and thundering drums to the small crowd. 

with a room big enough to hold 30 to 40 people only a 3rd of that was there to watch the bands play. 

Bleach finished up their set and we were in mixed emotions for tonight's set, with being used to playing crowded bars and a relaxed environment. i was quite on edge for the nights gig. i had no clue what or how anything was going to happen during that set.

we kicked off our hour long set with UK Subs CID, going through the set at 100mph in your face punk rock, but still no one showed up. So eventually the gig became a sort of intimate gig playing to the small crowd of local punkers who showed up to support both bands.

all in all is was a night of mixed emotions but still was a great night and more experience for our new young member of the group harmony who is still getting used to playing the punk gigs round the pubs and clubs.

Museum Vaults *Symbient EP Launch*

Museum Vaults *Symbient EP Launch*

Well i don't know how to start this blog off, its been a while since i wrote the last one but here it goes!

Sunday saw us take to the stage for the first time with our new drummer Harmony, with only a few rehearsals with our newest member who joined us in August, there was no pressure to show off our guns!

I was nervous for our first gig, thinking ahead on how to help our drummer during the set in case of something happens and she forgets the song or the set, but Harmony was very nervous herself, with this being her very first band and also her very first gig with a proper gigging band, we were keeping her calm and from talking her through the set and what would or could happen, i would say anything can happen so expect the unexpected!

So we took to the stage (carpet floor) in a very cramped layout with a huge PA system towering over us and a crowd of eagerly waiting punk fans and musicians waiting for us to kick it off. 

We kicked off the set with UK SUBS CID making it a loud entrance to show we're back on the scene!

going through our set list of our original songs and the odd cover and a crowd being pushed back by the volume of the band, we were on top form, with Harmony being cheered and welcomed by the young punk crowd, and flying through the set, i wasn't expecting it but we all put in 100% of hard playing that day, even had to do a encore at the end to fill out our time limit, with that song being Pretty Vacant!

all in all the day was very successful with our newest member of Spitfire Bullets she showed some amazing drumming and performing on the day. Not to forget Symbient's amazing set with them releasing their very first EP, for their final encore i joined them on stage to play a few Ramones tracks "I believe in miracles" and "Blitzkreig bop" ending on the classic track Teenage kicks!

Both Bleach and Symbient played amazing sets on the day with Raish of Bleach performing twice by stepping in on the drums for Symbient as their main drummer Jay had broken his thumb.

we have alot more gigs coming up! so keep a look out on our facebook page

The Black Bull - Supporting The Band for Disease Control and Prevention 28-05-2016

It was another one of those last minute decisions that we had on a late Friday night!
with all the guys having a free Saturday and nothing to do we needed to play a gig for the night
and behold there was an opening at our favourite punk pub the world famous Black Bull!


The Band for Disease Control and Prevention we're playing and there was no support bands confirmed for the show, until a quick phone call to shev soon sorted that out right away!!

Down at the Bull nice and early to set up our gear, we had the usual hiccups with equipment, since our good 'ol drummer hopped in the car with us, saving the journey in two cars, we could only bring what would fit in a tiny Nissan Micra, which is amazing in the list of items we actually fitted in the car. p.s google Nissan micra to see what i mean, its a 5 door one

3 Guitars in cases
1 Marshall amp
2 pedal board cases
1 merch case
1 bag of drum cymbals
1 snare
1 bass drum pedal
1 bass player
1 drummer
1 guitarist/ the driver

eventually we got sorted and kicked off a very intense 45 min long set, of blood sweat and snapping strings, kicking off with our favroite song CID by uk Subs we blasted through the set list and enjoying the view from the stage, and we could see T,B,F,D,C & P watching us perfrom and i spotted lead vocalist Marcia dancing along to our tunes! always great to see that during a show!!

coming close to the end of our set, we we're running out of songs and during the song R.A.M.O.N.E.S pop goes the string on my trusty SG, looks like my heavy strumming did it again!!
so quick guitar swap during the song and carried on, ending on the clash's White Riot!!!

old black strat had to take over for the end of the set

With our set over and sweat dripping down the side of my face, it was a good time to get off the stage and make way for the headliners T,B,F,D,C & P! which i've been wanting to see for a very long time!

they kicked off the set with a very loud track! but i missed a few of the songs during the set as there was a little issue involving a car sitting very very close to my dad's and spent most of the time looking for the owner to see if he could move it....but anyway back to the band.

T,B,F,D,C & P blasted through a great set of originals, and of course their very own version of blondie's 11:59 track which is something you must hear yourself!!

be sure to check out  The Band for Disease Control and Prevention on facebook >>> T,B,F,D,C & P

North East Unity At Graft Night @ The Black Bull 22-04-2016.

Well this was a very exciting night, for myself and Spitfire Bullets, our main drummer boy was unavailable to play the gig as such short notice due to his work schedule so i asked a young lad i know very well called Elliot to hop on the drums and learn our full set within 3 days for the gig, and he didn't disappoint us!

We got to the Black Bull nice and early to load in, have a quick game of pool and an adventure to burger king for something to eat.

poor lad was in the back seat with all the gear

once we got back, Anord were busy setting up and sound checking, soon it would be us to set up sound check and kick off the night of Punk Rock!!

8:30 soon arrived, we hopped on stage, did a quick check on sound tuning, making sure Elliot remembered the set and kicked it off with our opening track CID! taking things slow for this gig we blasted our way through our usual set list of covers and originals within our 30 min set finishing off with a high tempo of Beat On The Brat!!

Anord took to the stage with their Anarchy hardcore angry screams and grunts about David Cameron, being stuck on the dole and Katie Hopkins with a back line of screaming feed backing guitars and awesome Mowhawks. 

Keyside Strike took to the stage as the main headliners blasting out some wall of sound hardcore punk, with snarling vocals wah wah wailing guitars, heavy bass lines and good laughs even covering a few very very short songs such as "You Suffer" By Napalm death

All in all it was a great night as such short notice, its amazing when a group of punk bands can come together and instantly get a gig sorted within a week!!

Spitfire Bullets would like to thank the Black bull, Anord and Keyside strike for having us and a big thank you to Elliot for jumping on the drums for us at last min to play a great set list!!

Be sure to check out Anord and keyside strike on facebook and buy their merch!!!!

  

Black Bull Supporting TV Smith 4-12-2015

It was a last minuet decision and gamble, the Black Bull we're after a support band, and i'd thought id pop our name down for it, and asked the guys if they were free on the night.

Turns out everything went our way for that gig, the guys were free and wanted to play and no other band came forward wanting to perform!

After battling the horrible wind storm from Sunderland getting through a traffic jam in Gateshead we arrived after 7pm, cold and wind swept, we grabbed the gear and loaded in while trying to keep away from the wind as long as possible.

while setting up our gear on stage, the man him self Tim (TV Smith) spotted us and we had a good chat, last time and first time i saw him was at the Toy Dolls gig in Sunderland, at that time i really did not expect i would be supporting him at a gig or even standing there in front of him having a full conversation. the first time i saw him on tv was on the Top of the pops 1977 re runs on BBC 4 singing "Gary Gilmore's eyes"

so our time had come to get on the stage and play, the punters were coming in and we kicked off with CID, and with those spot lights pointing at us we started to get a bit too hot, shooting through the set going through Spitfire then hitting in to high gear with psycho girl, and crashing into Pretty vacant, the sweat pouring down my back and my fingers slipping on the neck of the guitar, we were almost home free but it wasn't long before i came to misread the set list and played havana affair instead of head in the toilet then as we were going through alternative ulster, the worst happened, guitar string snapped on the faithful SG, probably from my heavy strumming during the songs chorus i gave in and swapped guitars coming in just in time to sing the bridge of alternative ulster, we ended the set with Beat on the brat and house of the rising sun, and at the final verse of the final song and out of breath i forgot the lyrics, well that's rock n roll!!!

after the show, we had a few drinks and chatted to Tim before saying goodbye and facing the wind battle home!!

ROCK NIGHT AT FARRINGDON SOCIAL CLUB 27-11-2015

Back with a bang in the local social club and all in the name of raising money for project Gambia.
A good friend of mine, put this whole event together so he could raise the cash to travel to Gambia.

We loaded in nice and early, trying to keep warm from the freezing cold outside, and getting ourselves set up for the show.

first up was an acoustic act, performing various covers including Oasis and Stereophonics.

We took to the stage all warmed up and revving live a V12 merlin, and blasted off with CID a UK Subs cover we enjoy playing, there was a few sound issues during the set but it didn't stop us playing.
Going through song after song of our originals and covers we ended the set with House of the Rising Sun.

the final act on was lost cause, performing various covers, including bon jovi and zz top.

in the end the the money was raised a raffle was held, and everyone had a great night.

The Rocking Magpie - Spitfire Bullets – New York City and EP

the main feature article is from The Rocking magpie you can see the original article here >>> The Rocking Magpie

The Rocking Magpie

One man's views on the world of Americana, Blues, Country, Ska, Alt. Country & Folk music

Spitfire Bullets – New York City

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Music lands on my desk from a variety of countries; yet very little from my own doorstep in the NE of England. Who knows why; possibly because I don’t belong to any of the cliques that tends to spawn musical cultures; possibly because these bands and singers don’t think I’m any good!

Which brings us the Spitfire Bullets; whose name popped up on a friend’s Twitter timeline and the name attracted me; so I got in touch even though I knew exactly nothing about them.

Before these two discs arrived I tried to research the band; but they remain mysterious and something of an enigma; although a bizarre event on my own Twitter feed unknowingly did bring them to my attention; but I wasn’t to know that at the time!

Spitfire Bullets

New York City (Single)

self-released

The Spirit of ’77 is Alive and Well.

The bands second single opens with the chorus driven New York City; instantly evoking memories of the first Damned LP and too many Toy Dolls gigs. The (unnamed) singer has a raspy voice; which is perfect for breakneck songs like this. The immediate difference between bands like Spitfire Bullets and the Punk originators is that the modern bands can play their instruments and understand the concept of production.

That last sentence gets thrown right out of the toilet window with second song Psycho Girl! Recorded ‘live’ at the CBGB’s of Wearside, Farringdon WMC this track is 110mph Stella Artois fuelled spittle enhanced Punk; with added whistles and feedback.

New York City re-enters the frey with a live version recorded at the same prestigious venue and is virtually unrecognisable as it sounds like it was recorded on a Casio Cassette Recorder just before the batteries died.

These two tracks are as awfully authentic as any Punk gig I ever attended; but not something you want to play on a first date.

Spitfire Bullets

Spitfire

self-released

Pure Fire & Brimstone Punk!

It was the cool band name Spitfire Bullets that first caught my attention; and this their debut single sounds exactly like what you would expect of a band with that moniker.

The title track Spitfire! crashes out of the speakers with some of the dirtiest guitar that I’ve heard in ages; then the singer attempts to swallow the microphone in his attempt to get his message across. The bass and drums hold the show together with gaffer tape and luck; but the end result is a doozy.

Psycho Girl starts with the traditional 1-2-3-4 and you can sense the veins popping out of the singers neck as he screams his love for two skull crushing minutes of scorching Metalic-Punk.

Head in the toilet starts with some deliberate feedback; and the tale of teenage angst wouldn’t have been out of place on a Dogs D’Amour or even those old romantics the Angelic Upstarts; but it’s unlikely to ever get played on BBC Radio2.

Then we finally arrive at the best of the bunch – She’s a Punk! The obligatory crashing guitars get the show on the road; but the produced judiciously uses his fader to allow a good song to be heard as the band get faded down when the singer sings and back up to 11 at other times.

‘Back in the day’ an observational song like this would actually have been played on Radio 1; certainly by John Peel; and possibly by the likes of Kid Jensen; but today? Highly unlikely; which is a damn shame.

So, there you have it The Spitfire Bullets keeping the Punk flag flying high in a time when the world needs more shouty music.

https://www.facebook.com/spitfirebulletsband

Spitfire Bullets new track and Whatever68 Radio.

Its been a good few months, since my last post about the corner flag but just as professor farnsworth quotes "Good News everyone" and its good news aswell!

with it soon coming to the end of 2015, the time has come for us to start slowly writing new songs for our very first album!! and to kick it all off you can check out our new song "I Don't remember" on SoundCloud just click the link >> *I Don't Remember* did i mention its also a free download too!

so with new songs coming along and plans for a album to be recorded next year, we also have a live interview on the 18th Novemeber on the Whatever68 Radio show, since this radio station is in the good 'ol US of A we will be doing the show live via Skype and chatting to punk princess lisa about the band and many many things! be sure to check out Whatever68 Radio

Acoustic solo supporting Logoz 8th August ashington

well i haven't had time to blog but here it is finally.

a few weeks back i played my very first acoustic solo supporting Logoz for me not gigging for a while it was a breath of fresh air.

soon i arrived early after looking for a car park space i caught the boys of logoz setting up the amps
and guitars, all i had to do was put in a battery and tune up my 40 year old acoustic praying the thing
wouldn't break during the set.

after about a hours hanging about it came to 8:15 and for my time to shine,

though feeling nervous, i didn't have the time to think about it i was more worried about the guitar dying, i kicked off the set with Ramones rock away beach then sliding in to 5th gear with cretin hop a personal favourite song of mine (as you can tell the whole set was mainly Ramones) while playing 4 original spitfire bullets songs for the first time acoustically, everything seemed to just go perfect, the full 20 min set ended with not a Ramones cover but a misfits track!! Astro Zombies which am sure shocked Peesh when i played it.

Peesh took over on stage with his personal solo acoustic set from his acoustic calendar challenge

these songs are just great to listen to, even performing his own version of only fools and horses hooky street track before slipping in a cover of the minder theme tune. all in all the whole set was great, the crowd was enjoying it the drink was flowing and the main band logoz hadn't even kicked off yet!

Logoz took to the stage with their amplified 100mph in your face punk rock, blasting out the tunes nice and loud (my ears were ringing for 2 days)

soon after the show, we all had a good chat then set off home.

on the 27th you can catch Spitfire bullets playing live and loud down at the corner flag with support from guilty and scilence fiction 

Radio Northumberland, Gigs and more

Recently our old drummer John had rejoined us to continue the adventure in Spitfire Bullets

In more recent news Rob was live on Radio Northumberland talking about upcoming gigs,
spreading the sound of spitfire bullets to the Cubans and attending the live radio Northumberland
under the dome event and hanging out with the guys from Logoz

GIGS GIGS GIGS!!

Spitfire Bullets have a gig coming up at the Sunderland local bar the corner flag on the 27th August with a small line up which will be announced on the face book page.

but if you can't wait till then be sure to head to Ashington to catch rob doing a one off solo acoustic
after finding a guitar small enough for rob and having to fix it up, hes strumming away and practicing a list of covers and originals for the set.

thats all for now folks but keep checking in for more updates

FORKSTER'S Daily Band Review - Spitfire Bullets New York City

July 24th 2015 Intro on Spitfire Bullets at FORKSTER

 Forkster did a review of our new Single you can see the original article here >>> Forkster

FORKSTER Introduces

Punk Rock Magnificence with that ‘Back In The Day’ Era Charge Vibe

 Spitfire Bullets

Genre: Authentic Punk Rock/Rock N’ Roll Goodness!
Location: Sunderland, England, UK

Find Their Music at: Their YouTube

********************

The Intro-Fork Tidbit on The Spitfire Bullets:
The Spitfire Bullets are an exhilarating rock n’ roll that hail out of the UK in Sunderland, England. This rocking trio bring and authentic punk rock era brilliance in ‘now present’ rock and roll music times. They have recently released their exceptional single ‘New York City’ that will ‘thrill and chill’ any true punk rock music appreciator. In my case, they exceptionally ‘roared and soared’ my ear rock module orbits with sizzling riff chord jolts, throttling mighty vocal stances, stomping huge low-end bass booms and stickman actions that are ‘bringing and swinging out the rock bounce backbone immensely. This is a glowing example that punk rock still deserves to be recognised as a rock music that still can be made respectfully satisfying in modern rock era times. On that note, these rocking cats should really excite the ear rock catalogs who love their rock musics with ‘loud and proud’ 1970’s rock/punk energy and reminds you of bands from the RAMONES to The Clash. They ‘rock it out’ huge, ‘class rock n’ roll’!

For More on these rockers:
Their Website

Forgotten Records REVIEWED: Spitfire Bullets – New York City July 22, 2015

Sunderland local Record Label Forgotten Records did a review of our new Single you can see the original article here >>> Forgotten Records Spitfire Bullets

Here's what hey made of it

Sunderland punk act Spitfire Bullets recently released their single ‘New York City’. Here’s what we made of it:

Spitfire Bullets are an act I always enjoy watching, not for the short and sweet song structures, ruthless guitar sound, or aggressive vocals – but for the defiant perseverance to even attempt to execute all of the aforementioned things in 2015. They are nearly 40 years out of place.

‘New York City’ delivers on all I expected, but is no less satisfying. At just 1:57 in length, the track is as long as a punk song probably ever needs to be. A vocal hook is established early on, with a simplistic chord structure and a surprisingly elaborate guitar solo pushed in to add variety, because why the fuck not?

The song probably doesn't do the band’s schizophrenic live sound any justice, but that’s punk music for you.

THINK TANK 28-03-2015 THE RAMONAS

Spitfire Bullets @ THINK TANK

Newcastle 28th march 2015

Supporting Dead By Dawn and The Ramonas

Before i start to review this gig.

none of this would have happened with out the help of Luke

who took up the offer of playing the drums with only two practice sessions of 7 hours in total managed to help us blast through the set that night.

with a cloudy day over the North east and the little Spitfire Bullet mobile all loaded up with the gear we headed off to Newcastle to support one of the most amazing all girl Ramones Tribute band The Ramonas.

finding the venue was easy just working out how to get in was tricky after working out which secret back door to open by pressing a call button and accidentally locking connor and sophie outside not knowing how to open the door again we managed to get into THINK TANK. with the stage already christened with the Ramonas back drop and back line, there was a feeling that we had gone back to 1975 to standing in CBGB'S where the 4 guys from forest hills began to make a mark in history.

after sound checking tuning up and double checking everything our time on stage was 7:15pm

I had a feeling we were all nervous for myself it wasn't the first time i supported a tribute band going back to 2012 the early line up of Spitfire Bullets supported the well known Sex Pistols Experience. But with only a short few hours of rehearsals with a temporary drummer i worked twice as hard playing to a small crowd while attempting to cue the drum changes, we kicked off with stepping stone with screeching feedback and grovelling vocals we tore into the next track of battle cries of the song SPITFIRE!!

With no thought i dedicated the next track Psycho Girl to all the crazy one direction fans slitting their wrists over some karaoke singer leaving the group, i mean come on all one Direction fans are pretty psycho. Then crashing through with a cover of pretty vacant and our newest song New York City a short and fast tribute song to the city, CBGB'S and the Ramones.

With the band going at 100mph of snarling vocals over driven amps and crashing and pounding for cymbols and snare we ended our 30min set with a old classic house of the rising sun, with a slow and chilled out intro from the original animals version into a sonic blasting cranked up snarling punk crazy version (it really gets you hammering the guitar like mad)

next up was Dead by Dawn a crazy psycho-billy rock"a"billy horror band with a huge double bass a green sparkaly gretch and female fronted ghoulish vocals they kicked off with a full set of horror ghoulish original songs including a one called "Psycho Girl" (different to ours of course) while adding in a misfits cover of London Dungeon.

And finally The Ramonas took to the stage using the sound track from the good the bad and the ugly (clint eastwood film) they walked on stage with silence ready to unleash a lighting war. with the chant heard around the world BLTIZKREIG BOP! playing through two classic albums in track and album order Ramones and Leave home within 30 min's they blast through both albums just like the Ramones did in CBGB'S with a crowd of encores they went through classics such as kkk took my baby away, cretin hop, i wanna be sedated. 

in the end of the night when everyone left, we got a few good pics and had some good conversations 

Johnny Ramone and Rohnny Ramona

Spitfire Bullets

Ramonas and Spitfire Bullets

The Ramonas

15-01-2015 The Three Tuns with the Iron Hearts

its a cold thursday night, my car's heater fans are busted and the band was all over the uk literally!!

nothing like chaos before a show!

With Connor calling me up telling me he is in work in Wales! and our ed sheeran lookalike drummer craggsy busy doing a university exam, a plan of action and precision was required for this night.

The Iron Hearts

Spitfire Bullets

it begins with a phone call

(not the actual conversation happened but it was close)

Thursday 14:00hrs   

(rob is green Connor is Purple)

"Rob its connor am at work today i'm in wales but al be back in time to play tonight can you pick my bass up and take it to the tuns i will be getting a lift there"

"what the hell wales!! ok al pick it up no problem man. Why can i hear sheep in the back ground"

"cheers and what sheep there's none here" (baa baa) "Shush you"

and just like that a plan was being worked out.

1. pick connors bass up
2. get my gear
3. head to the Winchester and have a pint and wait for the whole thing to blow over. 

but like shaun of the dead. plans can go wrong.

Heading home from work i picked up connors bass headed to my place and picked up my gear

while feezing my ass off from the icy wind we headed straight over to the tuns, amazingly we were the first band to show up.

7:30pm

finding out we were on at 9pm connor was somewhere in a van on the M1 and craggsy was still in uni

the iron hearts turned up and we had a good chat with them about gigs and veunes while sharing stories of how long the bands had been going for.

8:45 pm 

i can't remember if this was the time but our drummer turned up with his gear ready to set up

since we were first on my gear was set up as well as connor's but there was no sign of connor.

9:30pm

there was a change of plan and the iron hearts went on first with no sign of a bass player we got worried our connor was killed or kidnapped (turns out he wasn't far away)

so the Iron hearts went on first and played a killer set of original songs as a 4 piece band they kicked out some loud noises. their guitarist is one crazy guy.

round about 10:30 just as the iron hearts finished off their set in comes running a long haired person from the cold exhausted and tired, Connor had arrived. Late but least he was alive which is a good thing.

we started getting our gear set up on stage while connor caught his breath and had a quick rest, 

tuned and sound checked we kicked off with our adrenaline fuelled set one song after the other like a high speed train crashing through a station. During our song Head in the Toilet the ending solo i ended up walking off the stage to give it a bit edge since there was only a few of us in the room and plenty of space to walk about, The iron hearts guitarist came up to maybe give me a hug while playing (there is a photo of it further down) and his sister who came along shouting out "do a solo" so i gotta give what they want and a full blast guitar solo for the small audience was done!

in total for the show it was a great fun exciting and exhausting night with a band that only just got together in time on the night from work and university to play a 30 min set we some how managed it
and get some great reaction.

if you wanna check out The Iron hearts check out their facebook >> The Iron Hearts

myself and the iron hearts guitarist

  

Rock N Roll Radio

Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go

Rock'n, rock'n'roll radio Let's go!

i never expected the band's music to be played across the airwaves but here it is being played live on 3 radio stations!!

Radio Northumberland on Keith Newman's unsigned punk show every Monday night.

Radio Boise in Idaho USA  DJ Frankenbyan's return of the disco witch's hunt radio show.

EGH Radio on the unsigned bands show.

these are great radio stations and great radio shows to hear REAL music, you know Rock, metal, Punk the real stuff not that commercial crap that's always on FM and AM radio stations, they play what you wanna hear and will play the best of unsigned local bands and unsigned bands from across the pond.
be sure to check out these stations