TAC Benefit: Report & Review

somerset | media and culture | news report Saturday June 04, 2011 00:51 by Taunton Activist Collective taunton at riseup dot net

Officer Down headlining their first show in Somerset at The Blake Arms, Bridgwater

Thank you to everyone that supported!

We all had a great time last Saturday and raised enough money for the collective to print hundreds of newsletters, make more anti-cuts banners and even fund a new Somerset Punks Zine. Merchandise was on sale from a new Anonymous/Old Hat distro featuring a benefit compilation for Active Slaughter guitarist JJ, 51st State cds and Sickpig’s new range of badges, stickers and patches. Additionally Officer Down brought their EHC distro and lots of literature was taken during the night including our new newsletter, “no comment” (a defends guide to arrest) and 1831 from Bristol Afed.

SICKPIG debut gig review

For weeks, SICKPIG has been the word on the street for anticipating crust-punk fans around the Somerset area, and even literally, with stickers appearing upon street lamps, college walls and even cop-cars; much suspense was built towards their debut gig.

Formed earlier this year, by ex-members of hardcore punk bands The Infirm, She Said Shit, and drummer of Taunton based chaotic riotska band Po-Lice, SICKPIG have proved themselves to be the new age of thrash crust-punk in the increasing Anarcho-punk scene in the South West.

Their first performance together, at the Blake Arms in Bridgwater, on the 28th of last month, was a great introduction to the band; attracting over 40 impatient fans who had been waiting to discover just exactly who SICKPIG are, and what they’re about.
Playing alongside 51st State and Officer-Down, it is safe to say that the SICKPIG punks outdid any expectations, with their radical lyrics and anti-state, anti-fascist, and ‘smash the fake’ credo.

Erupting the evening with ‘Blind Slavery‘, the band connected with the audience; sharing the same anti-capitalist angst and evoking a sense of rebellion. Maintaining The Infirm’s fearless attitude and metallic insomnia, balaclava-wearing lead-singer Virus broke through the silence with infuriated screams, which the audience could relate to their own sense of anger and hate, and bassist Faytality re-emphasising the band’s anarchistic beliefs, with high-pitched cries of resistance.

Psychedelic solo’s from thrash metal guitarist Mad-Dog, had the crowd entranced and gripping to every mentally-disorientating note, with shit-kicking, bass-bashing beats from Trent penetrating the fervid atmosphere.Head-banging, fist pumping and emotive brutality, the crowd was soon absorbed in SICKPIG’s mind-set; fucked off with the world and ready to fight back.

Surrounded with Anti-Cuts and Taunton Squatters Solidarity banners, the band envisaged a defiant front, with songs such as ’No Prisoner’ and ‘Parasite’ reflecting the bands apathy towards society, the strive for free-will, and their own message to ‘never submit, stand up for what you believe and stay aware of the brainwashers…’.

It was clear to see that the band had already gained a solid following; with consistent chants of SICKPIG disrupting any silences and the stall endowed with a considerable amount of merchandise from the SICKPIG miscreants; the well-known stickers, patches and badges waiting for enthusiastic fans at the door. Displayed next to the Taunton Activist Collective (TAC) newsletter, guests were exposed to a true representation of the growth of the Anarcho-punk movement in the past year, and just exactly WHATcan be achieved when undergoing the D.I.Y motivation!

The climax peaked at the end of the turbulent set, when the band roused the spirit of solidarity with ‘Anti-Capitalista’, referencing chants by European anarchists, and dedicated to the London Black Bloc that happened back in March. Capturing the prosperity of free-spirit and the punk community, SICKPIG left the audience thirsty for more rage-provoking, militant tremor and enthralled to what is to come from the ardent four in the future.

Video of SICKPIG’s full set coming soon on Anonymous Promotions facebook.