UNDERCOVER FESTIVAL VII – BOSTON MUSIC ROOM/THE DOME, TUFNELL PARK, LONDON 26-28.4.2019
For this report I’ve left Sussex to check out one of the first music festivals of the season, taking place in the rather urban location of Tufnell Park, in north London. As its name suggests, Undercover Festival takes place indoors, which is why it can be scheduled in April without any weather worries. It’s a small, friendly festival, now in its seventh year, and the focus is on punk and alternative music. Various venues have previously hosted the event, including Brighton Racecourse in 2016.
This year there are two stages, the main one in The Dome (no relation to the Brighton venue), a large upstairs room with a capacity of 550. The second stage is downstairs in the adjacent Boston Music Room, which is just under half the size. An enclosed courtyard links the two spaces, and this doubles up as the smoking area and food court. My first impressions are positive: both stages have substantial sound systems, and the bar staff and security people seem very friendly and helpful.
The programme lists 36 acts over three days. It’s not really possible to see them all, and I‘m not even going to try. I have other commitments on the Sunday, but the ticketing options are flexible and reasonably priced. I’ll try to give you a flavour of the festival by briefly describing the bands I manage to see. Apologies to those I miss out.
Scandal are the first act playing after I arrive, in the Boston Music Room. I’ve seen them before, and they are absolutely wonderful: a band of immigrants, mostly from Romania, although the guitarist is from Brazil. Nothing qualifies you to take an outsider’s stance quite like being a stranger in a strange land, and I admire their ability to write and perform songs in a second language. With shaven heads and copious tattoos they look like types you might cross the street to avoid, but I’ve never come across a group of more open, inclusive and positive people. Their music is joyously uplifting punk with catchy hooks and choruses, and it is fitting that they inspire a lively and vigorous mosh pit with some alarming looking crowd surfing. Fair play to the security personnel, who stay cool and look on as the mayhem unfolds.
Stand out numbers: ‘5 Minutes’, ‘Patrula’
www.facebook.com/Scandal
Upstairs, in The Dome, The Defects are on the main stage. They are a Belfast band, formed in 1979, and play old school punk in the tradition of The Outcasts and Rudi. Their songs are steady paced, and they have drawn a large and attentive crowd, though there’s not much dancing. They close with a thrashy cover of Bob Marley’s ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, which works surprisingly well.
Stand out numbers: ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Is Dead Tonight’, ‘Brutality’
www.facebook.com/TheDefects
Downstairs in the Boston Music Room it’s Brain’s All Gone. The name suggests something pretty heavy, but what greets me when I arrive is an all female trio from Kraków in Poland, who play a wonderful kind of bouncy, joyous pop punk. A quick check on my phone reveals they actually have a record deal with Sony, though they have great songs and a natural charm, so that shouldn’t be a surprise. To introduce the lineup, we have Aleksandra on lead vocals and bass, Wrona on drums and vocals, and Marta on guitar. They look like they are having a lot of fun on stage, and it’s a most enjoyable set to watch.
Stand out numbers: ‘Bound By Blood’, ‘Inny świat’, ‘March Of The Youth’
www.facebook.com/BrainsAllGone
XSLF are upstairs on the main stage. As the name suggests, this is a band fronted by Henry Cluney, the former guitarist from Stiff Little Fingers. Henry is charming and a treasured icon of my youth, and I would hardly begrudge him doing his own thing, but whenever I see fragments of bands that I used to love, I can’t help but wish the members could somehow get over their differences and just re-form.
Stand out numbers: ‘Gotta Get Away’, ‘Alternative Ulster’
The Boston Music Room is buzzing for the arrival on stage of Pussycat And The Dirty Johnsons. They play proper dirty rock ’n’ roll and the crowd loves it. On vocals is Puss, in leopard print trousers (with a tail attached) and platform boots, her hair sprayed into place to look like a cat’s ears. She is as engaging a performer as you might care to imagine, leaping around the stage and making frequent forays into the eager audience. Backing her up are Dirty Jake, a physically huge figure with an equally massive reverb-drenched guitar sound, and Filfy Antz pounding away on drums. Their set is nothing short of spectacular, and the crowd laps it up.
Stand out numbers: ‘Ain’t No Pussy’, ‘Soft Verges, Hard Urges’
www.facebook.com/PussycatAndTheDirtyJohnsons
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Slaughter And The Dogs are the last act on the main stage on the Friday evening, and they turn in a blistering set of glam tinged first wave punk classics. We published a full review of their set in Lewes the previous night. Through The Dome’s big PA rig they sound massive, and they get a warm reception from the large crowd.
Stand out numbers: ‘Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone?’, ‘Cranked Up Really High’
www.facebook.com/SlaughterAndTheDogs
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
The Fanzines close Friday’s live entertainment in The Boston Music Room. They play lively covers of punk and ska classics, and have become a feature at Undercover, providing an opportunity for a bit of extra fun and dancing at the end of the evening. I’m sure my dance moves would be better suited to a younger, fitter person, but I’ve been drinking for several hours, and no-one seems to mind, least of all me. The band, dressed in uniform black and white, are all superb players, and do full justice to the canon of new wave classics that forms their set.
Stand out numbers: ‘Where’s Captain Kirk?’, ‘Do The Dog’, ‘Gangsters’
www.facebook.com/TheFanzines
Rage DC play hard and fast punk with massively catchy hooks, and have an energetic and dynamic live presence. They are deservedly popular at Undercover, and shrewd organiser Mick Moriarty cannily schedules them early on Saturday to get the punters in. By 2.45 pm the Boston Music Room is pretty full, and buzzing with anticipation. Compère Keith Woodhouse is cracking jokes about drummer Ziggy’s resemblance to Freddie Mercury, and then we’re off on a 30 minute white knuckle ride of blistering pop punk, with the crowd punching the air through the shout-along choruses. Lead singer Loric leads the charge, pausing only to fire off screeching flurries of guitar from his low slung Les Paul. He is flanked by super-cool fellow guitarist Graham, throwing shapes and spinning on his heel, and bassist Chris, a fizzing bundle of energy who gets some serious air under his energetic leaps. Their set is an absolute joy, and is over far too soon.
Stand out numbers: ‘RIP Mr VIP’, ‘Austerity’, ‘Punk To The Bone’
www.facebook.com/RageDC
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Stone Heroes are a six piece band producing a very satisfying sort of post punk with some excellent songs. Their sound is massive, utilising no less than three guitarists, and on stage they resemble a black clad bus queue. Singer Janine Ray is charmingly self deprecating, for which there is no need as she has a fantastic voice. I really enjoy the set but can’t help thinking it would be even better with a bit more of a performance. To be fair though, it is pretty crowded up there.
Stand out tracks: ‘Smile And Stay Alive’, ‘Be’
www.facebook.com/StoneHeroes
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Surgery Without Research are a four piece specialising in angry protest punk. They’ve been going for nearly twenty years, and there still doesn’t seem to be any shortage of things to be angry about. They’ve drawn an appreciative crowd, and they look great and sound huge up on the main stage.
Stand out numbers: ‘Waster’, ‘We Are The Punks’
www.facebook.com/SurgeryWithoutResearch
Nuffin’ are first wave punks from 1976, and retain their original lineup. They played at The Roxy back in the day, and were featured in a London Weekend Television documentary about punk rock. Since re-forming a couple of years ago, they’ve released an album and developed a very theatrical stage show involving costume changes and plenty of crowd participation. Christopher Brown is an excellent frontman, and guitarist Brian Damage has an equally engaging stage presence. Paul Flynn on bass and Neil Faulkner on drums are the engine room driving a set of brisk and bouncy punk pop. They have a flair for relentless self promotion, so it won’t be too long until you next come across them. I’d love to watch the whole set, but it’s that time of day when the schedules start overlapping, and I really need to be upstairs.
Stand out numbers: ‘Out Of Action’, ‘Mandy Tuesday Wendy’
www.facebook.com/Nuffin’
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
WitchDoktors on the main stage is my personal highlight of the weekend. They are one of the best live bands playing anywhere today, and they deliver a hard driving set of souped-up high octane rock ’n’ roll, with the carburettor spraying punk and garage psych into the explosive mixture. The whole band are superb players and consummate showmen: Andy on lead vocals and sparkly Gretsch guitar, flanked by Tony and Lee in dark shades, on lead and bass respectively, with Joe, showboating behind the drum kit with an unbelievable energy and fluidity. I saw later on social media that Tony had somehow broken the headstock off one of his guitars. I didn’t spot that happening, probably because I was busy dancing with wild ecstatic abandon. That’s how hard they play though. Rock and roll!
Stand out tracks: the whole set really, but if I have to choose, ‘Movie Star’, ‘Neck Tattoo’, ‘New Set Of Wheels’, ‘Common Prayer For The Working Man’
www.facebook.com/WitchDoktors
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Back downstairs, Screaming Dead are taking the stage. They are a four piece who originally formed in Cheltenham in the late 1970’s, and have been back together since 2013. To me, their music sounds like classic old school punk, but with a distinctly gothic horror twist, as their name might suggest. You can’t really miss frontman Sam Bignall, with his mirror shades and white face paint framed by long curly hair. He cuts a striking figure, and the band are rocking hard behind him.
Stand out numbers: ‘Valley Of The Dead’, ‘Resurrection’
www.facebook.com/ScreamingDead
Unfortunately I miss The Restarts upstairs, as by now I really need something to eat. The next band I see are back in The Boston Music Room downstairs.
East Town Pirates, from Ipswich, play lively nautical themed rock ’n’ roll with a hint of Celtic folk punk. It’s infectious stuff, and there’s plenty of dancing. Rikki Rumoldew is a charismatic frontman and a great performer. It’s a cracking set, and I’m glad I caught it. They are joined onstage for the last number by members of WitchDoktors, which is a pretty good endorsement.
Stand out numbers: ‘Voodoo Pirate Rock ’n’ roll’, ‘Ship Of Fools’, ‘One For M’Lady’
www.facebook.com/EastTownPirates
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Menace are well into their set by the time I get upstairs. They are a first wave punk band with an amazing back catalogue of anthemic shout-along classics. They are still producing new material and include some numbers from their latest album, ‘Social Insecurity’. Most of the lead vocals come from original member Noel behind the drum kit. Reminiscing between songs about the Roxy era, he tells us he is 65 years old, which makes his energetic performance all the more impressive. Guitarist and vocalist Finn is centre stage, whipping up the crowd, and is flanked by bassist Rob and guitarist Harvey. Someone has told them that the customary stage invasion for ‘GLC’ is not permitted tonight, but needless to say it happens anyway.
Stand out numbers: ‘C & A’, ‘F*ck You’
www.facebook.com/Menace
1919 produce a curiously satisfying doom-laden kind of post punk. It’s mostly medium paced, so the only dancing is a languid shuffle from side to side, but they have an attentive and appreciative audience downstairs. The band has a long history, and did well to carry on after the tragic death of their guitarist and founder Mark Tighe two years ago. Frontman Rio Goldhammer is strikingly mesmeric with his black eye makeup, and it’s a thoroughly entertaining set.
Stand out numbers: ‘Retrograde’ , ‘Revenge’
www.facebook.com/1919
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Penetration are a band I didn’t really get into back in the day, but they are clearly held in warm affection by a lot of people here, not least by television presenter Chris Packham, who has shown up with a film crew to make a documentary about them. The large space of The Dome is almost full by the time I get upstairs, and the band are getting a great response. The music is the poppier end of post punk, and most enjoyable. Vocalist Pauline Murray is particularly charismatic.
Stand out tracks: ‘Future Daze’, ‘Beat Goes On’
www.facebook.com/Penetration
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
I knew if I stood here long enough there would be a Brighton connection, and here they are: our very own Piranhas Four. If you haven’t caught them live in the Brighton area yet, you won’t have to wait long for another chance, and some of their numbers are familiar from Top Of The Pops back in the day. It’s bouncy ska pop, with witty lyrics, and as a Sussex resident I feel it’s my duty to dance through their entire set. The legendary Bob Grover shares vocal and guitar duties with Gary Browne, while sax player Bon Bessom bounds around the stage, grinning broadly as drummer Ken Brotherstone and bassist Stu Wagstaff lay down that infectious rhythm. It’s a lot of fun.
Stand out tracks: ‘Boyfriend’, ‘I Don’t Want My Body’, ‘Getting Beaten Up’, ‘Tom Hark’
www.facebook.com/PiranhasFour
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
The large room upstairs is pretty full by the time I get up there to catch Chelsea. This first wave punk band are regular visitors to the Brighton area, and we’ve reviewed their recent gig in Lewes, so not much to add here, other than they were on top form and frontman Gene October put in a magnificent performance.
Stand out numbers: ‘No-one’s Coming Outside’, ’Urban Kids’
www.facebook.com/Chelsea
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
I was considering just staying upstairs to wait for Sham 69, but thought I’d nip down to check out the amusingly named Sp*nk Volcano & The Eruptions. I was glad I did, and I ended up staying for the whole set. They play a lively, entertaining and quite joyous comedy punk, with ear-worm tunes and very witty lyrics. You can’t miss Sp*nk Volcano (who also plays guitar in the band Dirt Box Disco). He wears a weird balaclava style mask covered in safety pins, and performs in a studded leather jacket and his underpants. This is visually quite alarming, but he exudes charm and is a naturally comic raconteur between songs. The band were really giving it some too, and those who stayed downstairs got a real treat.
Stand out numbers: ‘Hanging Round The Shops’, ‘Ram Raid’, ‘Nobhead’
www.facebook.com/Sp*nkVolcanoAndTheEruptions
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
Sham 69 had nearly finished their set by the time I got back to the main stage, but judging by the enthusiastic dancing down at the front, it had been going well. They were certainly the highlight of last year’s event. This line up features original members Jimmy Pursey, Dave Parsons and Dave Tregunna, who all look in pretty good nick, plus an incredible showboating drummer called Robin Guy. It’s a great end to the evening’s live entertainment.
Stand out number: ‘Angels With Dirty Faces’
www.facebook.com/Sham69
Brighton & Hove News previous gig report HERE.
I’m kicking myself for only doing two out of the three days, as there’s still an impressive list of bands playing on Sunday. It has been fantastic entertainment though, and if you’re into punk and alternative music I can’t recommend Undercover Festival highly enough. Well done to Mick Moriarty and all the team who work so hard to make this event happen. The dates for next year have been announced, and there’s more information on the Festival’s website.
www.undercoverfest.com
The next Undercover event will be taking place in Woking in Surrey on 13th & 14th September. Details on flyer below and for further info and tickets, click HERE. 
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