
Once again, punk stalwarts Peter and the Test Tube Babies saw the year out at the New Cross Inn in Sarf London, this time bringing along newer acts Meathook and Bamboo Vipers along for the lark.
The Vipers opened the show with a set of interestingly titled and/or themed songs such as ‘Champagne Socialist’, ‘Andrew Ridgeley Moment’, ‘New Kinky Dimension’ and the macabre Cambodian holiday brochure that’s ‘Democratic Kampuchea’. The set was all the more entertaining for frontman Shaun Morris being seemingly half cut throughout it. Sadly, they were nowhere to be seen by the time I’d acquired the cash to buy their EP; presumably, they’d gone elsewhere to get (even more) ratarsed.

Popping out to grab aforementioned cash meant I missed the start of Meathook’s set, which was a right pain in the arse as they’d kicked off with ‘No One’s Safe’, one of my favourite songs from their 2016 album Piece of Me; another is that title track, which indeed got an airing. Other standouts included ‘Fallen’, ‘Bad Day’, and the set-closing ‘Broken Bones’, all played with a ferocity and heaviness bordering on the metallic by the trio of Jay on drums, Neil on bass and backing vocals, and frontman Tat on geetars and vox. Sadly, they didn’t play ‘Two Sides’, another favourite of mine, though that’s understandable, considering they’d have had to have yanked guest vocalist Johnny Doom, of Deathfiend and Police Bastard fame, down from Brum for the full effect. Shoutout to Sarah on the merch stand for sorting me out a free English Dogs album, featuring Tat on bass, with my Piece of Me CD.

Tat, ever prolific, once again assumed bass duties as one of Peter’s Test Tube Babies.

As ever, the set featured many a favourite track, with the likes of ‘The Jinx’, ‘Spirit of Keith Moon’, ‘Never Made It’, ‘Every Second Counts’, and sweary singalong ‘None of Your Fucking Business’ making welcome appearances. Less setlist-familar additions included anti-marriage anthem ‘Unlucky Day’, a cover of Focus’ ‘Livewire’, and the sexploits of ‘Oral Annie’, always up for a “five-man deal”. Banter was as abundant as the setlist, Peter and drummer Sam Fuller once again delivering the bulk of it, and I managed to pick up the latest solo venture by lead guitarist Del “Strangefish” Greening too.

In short, another great year-closing gig from Peter and his miscreants (though one with a younger, rowdier crowd than usual). Always a pleasure, and I’m sure this year’s upcoming won’t break the cycle on that account.
~MRDA~
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