THE RESTARTS (UK)
Street Punk from London
The Restarts, formed in 1995, are a tight three piece, multi-genre punk outfit based in East London. They play thrashy, anarcho, power chord punk laced with Ska breaks and pogo inducing basslines earning them a loyal following of punk lovers of all ages.
The Restarts have been hammering their way through the squats of Europe and DIY house shows across North America with reckless abandon. They lend amplification to unheard voices, playing benefit gigs for various social causes and keeping the DIY spirit of punk rock alive and well.
Their years of hard graft is recognised by them being requested to play along side such heavy weights as Steve Ignorant's Crass, Jello Biafra & GSM, Millions of Dead Cops, The Casualties, Star Fucking Hipsters and The Subhumans.
After several tours over Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and South Asia and over 9 releases the Restarts have found themselves playing a small part in a large world wide network of DIY Punk Rock. They are punks first, musicians second. They feel the social importance of Punk Rock takes priority over the "marketability" of a rehashed trend.
In 2019 they published a split 7" with the Subhumans and their new album "Uprising".
Reviews
Die RESTARTS spielen vor einem total vollen Saal. Kieran, der Sänger schreit seine wütenden Punktexte in die Menge. Die RESTARTS machen Punk mit klarer politischer Ansage weil: 'there are a lot of assholes out there'. Sie spielen immer noch so zornig, wie Anfang der 90er in den besetzten Häusern."
- Useless Fanzine, Live Review, Rebellion Festival 2012
Gewürzt mit einer ordentlichen Prise Streetpunk strotzen die Songs vor Rebellion und Aggression. Der Sound ist rau, grob, melodisch und sehr eingängig. RESTARTS sind weder müde noch leiser geworden... Diese Hoffnung ist Antrieb. RESTARTS geben mit diesem Album Mut, den eigenen Weg weiter zu gehen, und das ist mehr, als viele Bands heutzutage schaffen."
- Wahrschauer
"The Restarts first crawled out of the North London Squat scene nearly a decade ago. Serial dole scroungers the lot of them, they named their band after the dreaded 'back to work' interviews and set about touting their stroppy four-chord punk to spiky-haired audiences around the world. Yelling out barbed diatribes against the state over chunky metal guitars, they've slowly but surely clawed their way to the top of the underground pile."
- Terrorizer
"This is dance in the basement, spanner in the works, back porch drinking, bomb in the police station punk!!! I never knew Steve Ignorant had pregnancy-inducing sex with all of POISON IDEA, but this is some cute baby they had. Oh, also good people. They played at a house in West Oakland last month, and rocked us with energy and astounded us with their good manners!"
- Maximum Rock'n'Roll
"Abrasive yet catchy UK punk with raw vocals and plenty of chorus sing a longs. The razor blade throated lead vocalist give this plenty of raw edge while through most of it the music has a much more uplifting energy to it... Oddly enough, it seems rare to come across the bands that play straight forward old-style punk rock and so this is a refreshing cause they've been at it for like a decade. Cheers guys. Good catchy shit."
- Slug and lettuce
"I've seen them play many times in London and always rated them pretty highly as a live band but never really got to hear their stuff on record yet. Things have changed now as I got a copy of their latest album. It seems I've been missing out on something very big. This album is the dogs bollocks! This goes right into my top 20 albums of all time I reckon. 12 songs of punk rock how it should be played."
- London Punks.co.uk
"I caught the mighty RESTARTS at Brum punx picnic & they rocked the house down w/ their abrasive punk rock... Raging punk rock w/ honest social commentary shows that THE RESTARTS are one class act!... As usual THE RESTARTS win another battle of the bands."
- Punk shocker, Newcastle Fanzine
"With ex members of Coitus, Armed and Hammered, and Assrash UK, it was no surprise that the RESTARTS kick-ass!! All three members share the vocals and each deliver them powerfully... These guys plan to tour the US this summer!...I can't wait."
- Profane Existence
Upcoming shows
No shows booked at the moment.
Band
- Kieran – Bass, Vocals
- Robin – Guitar, Vocals
- Jeremy – Drums
Discography
- 2019 – Uprising, CD/LP, Pirates Press Records
- 2013 – A Sickness of Mind, CD/LP, No Label Records
- 2009 – Mobocracy, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance Split CD, No Label Records
- 2007 – Outsider CD, Dirty Faces Records
- 2004 – System Error LP, Active Distribution
- 2003 – Actively Seeking Work 1996-1998 LP, Active Distribution
- 2002 – Slumworld CD/LP, Active Distribution
- 1999 – Your World, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance split 7″, Magilla Guerilla Records
- 1998 – State Rape, The Restarts/Zero Tolerance split LP, Rejected Records
- 1998 – Legacy of Bigotry, The Restarts/Left For Dead split EP, Dead Records
- 1997 – Just Gets Worse EP, Blind Destruction Records
- 1997 – Frustration EP, Blind Destruction Records
- 1996 – Job Club Demo tape, self released
Also check out:
SUBHUMANS (UK)
Anarcho Punk / Punk Rock
Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and original of the evolving UK punk scene. Musical influences were a mix of Sex Pistols, Damned, and similar punk originators and prepunk bands like King Crimson and Frank Zappa, which led to a style of punk more intricate in its structure than their contemporaries, without losing the base energy and dynamics of punk.
Dick's lyrics, at once socially aware and heavily critical of social norms, placed them in the anarcho-punk area, alongside Crass, Antisect, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians, who released the band's first 3 EPs and their first LP "The Day The Country Died", which became an instant classic.
In '83 they formed their own label, Bluurg Records, and released the "From the Cradle to the Grave" LP after splitting up in '85. By then they'd played 262 gigs including several European tours and 2 in the USA (which was in the 80's a rare achievement for a non-commercially minded band).
Dick went on to join seminal ska-punk-reggae band Culture Shock, and met up with Phil and Trotsky again in Citizen Fish, who have so far recorded 7 LPs of their politipunk-ska songs and clocked up over 1000 gigs across the planet. Then in '98 these 3 ex-Subhumans roped Bruce back in to reform Subhumans, to 'see what it felt like', and, it feeling rather excellent, have kept going with occasional touring and a limited release CD of old unused songs, "Unfinished Business".
Since then, Subhumans have released a new album, "Internal Riot", and toured regularly in Europe, the USA and Australia.
Queens of the Stone Age recorded and released their version of a Subs song 'Wake Up Screaming', and the film director Asia Argento has asked to use Subs music in her adaptation of "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things".
Reviews
"Frontman Dick Lucas is totally engaging. There is a fierce intelligence here in his lyrics, his delivery and his between song banter where his passion for the old school punk political hits home. They play fast and there is a wild, feral energy to what they do. They have this punk rock thing so honed down, so perfect - the fluidity of the rhythm section, mind boggling brilliant bass lines from Phil to let yourself go to and Trotsky's stop start drums that never settle for a boring 4/4 when something more exciting will do are so effective. Bruce's rasping punk rock guitar completes the perfect backdrop for Dick's passionate delivery - he works himself up into a sweatshod frenzy as the band hit the stage in top gear and never leave that level of intensity. If you still need any proof of the intelligence and anti establishment smarts in punk rock then the Subhumans are still out there, still meaning something and still making sense in a senseless world."
- Louderthanwar.com
"Considering how long this band have been going it’s incredible how much energy they still display when they play live. Frontman and lyricist Dick Lucas is still an absolute inspiration. Somehow he doesn’t seem to have aged a bit proving that the anarcho punk lifestyle is obviously good for your health. Incredible band."
- Caughtinthecrossfire.com
"Even some 13 years since their previous release, the Subhumans manage to pull an incredible crowd, that is more than willing to join in with many of the songs: affirming the true test of whether a band’s appeal is more than just contemporary. Original fans may feel a little cheated to see 25 past songs included but it serves as a reminder of the quality of music in the not so distant past and will certainly introduce a younger generation to the punk that inspired a whole new musical scene. It seems quite incredible that the Subhumans have managed to produce a record so encompassing of their musical careers, yet take that music to even higher levels. This 5th Fat Wreck Chords 'Live In A Dive' release has to rate as one of the best so far. Quite simply: we need more of this around!"
- Pennyblackmusic.co.uk
"Die beiden ersten Alben der englischen Subhumans sind für mich absolute Meilenstücke des britischen Punkrocks."
- Ox Fanzine
"Wie unglaublich gut SUBHUMANS sind! Dieser extrem bissige, politische Hardcore der Achtziger, gemischt mit Offbeats – eine Killer-Kombination, ein absoluter Höhepunkt für mich. Und Dick ist der Meister der auf den Punkt gebrachten, unpeinlichen politischen Ansage."
- Ox Fanzine, Live Review Rebellion Festival 2016
"Nun waren sie also endlich auch beim Sommerfest-Open Air präsent. Und wie. Vom ersten Song an gaben die Briten dem inzwischen zahlreich versammelten Publikum richtig Zunder. Bei Stücken wie „Waste of Breath“, „This Year’s War“ oder „Apathy“ (siehe den Clip weiter unten) gab’s dann sowohl für die Musiker als auch für die Fans kein Halten mehr. Dick sprang, hüpfte und tänzelte auf der Bühne ohne Unterlass -immer in Bewegung, der Mann (und eine Herausforderung für alle, die versuchten, ihn zu fotografieren). Dabei schrie er voller Leidenschaft seine pointierten, die Gesellschaft und Politik aufs Korn nehmenden Texte heraus, das Publikum moshte im Zuschauerraum, die Mutigeren (oder durch Alkohol Schmerzbefreiten) versuchten sich im Stagediving. Für mich war die Show Fest für Ohr und Auge zugleich: Einen Performer wie Dick sieht man nicht alle Tage."
- Rockstage-riot-rheinmain.de, Live Review 2012
"Wer hätte gedacht, dass uns die SUBHUMANS noch mal ein Album bescheren? Denn Gerüchten zufolge taten sie sich nur wieder zusammen, um live zu spielen... Erst vor kurzem haben sie ihre Europa-Tournee beendet, und sie klingen immer noch so wie in den Achtzigern. Das gilt für ihre Gigs und auch für das neue Album. In den über 25 Jahren hat Sänger Dick kein bisschen an Energie und Ausstrahlung verloren. Auf jeden Fall hört sich „International riot“ nicht anders an, als die Klassiker vergangener Zeiten und steht ihnen in nichts nach. Also Anarcho-Punk vom Allerfeinsten mit vielen eingängigen und melodischen Parts. Vom politischen Engagement her wurden sie gerne in einem Atemzug mit Bands wie CRASS und CONFILCT genannt. Nur, dass die SUBHUMANS um einiges geradliniger vom Sound her waren. Ihre politische Einstellung und ihre soziale Ader zeigte sich auch den Fans gegenüber, so waren Konzertkarten immer erschwinglich und auf ihren Platten stand „pay no more than 3,5 pounds“. Doch dieses Verhalten sorgte nicht nur für glückliche Fans, die SUBHUMANS waren nie so erfolgreich wie zum Beispiel die SEX PISTOLS oder THE CLASH. Sie sind sich eben immer treu geblieben und haben sich nie verkauft. Ach ja, so geht es auch. Ich bin jedenfalls sehr begeistert vom aktuellen Machwerk der SUBHUMANS, das in einem schönen Digipack daherkommt."
- Blueprint-fanzine.de
"Die Subhumans sind für mich nach Crass die zweitwichtigsten Vertreter des UK-Punk. Genau wie Crass gehören sie zu der Gruppe von gesellschaftskritischen- anarchistischen Bands , die sich strikt dem Kommerz verweigern. Kritik an der Gesellschaft ist ihr Hauptthema, die Texte und die Songs sind eigentlich unterbewertet, gemessen an Ihrer Aussagekraft und Genius."
- Dinnerfornoone
"Die Jungs, pardon, mittlerweile doch etwas in die Jahre gekommenen Gentlemen verstehen einfach ihr Handwerk und vom ersten Ton an tanzte der Mob im gut gefüllten Club ausgelassen Pogo. Und wer bei solchen Klassikern wie „No“, „Mickey Mouse is Dead“, „Evolution“, „Society“, „Apathy“, „Waste of Breath“ oder den jüngeren Hits wie „Too Fat, too Thin“ oder „Point of View“ nicht mittanzen oder zumindest mit dem Kopf mitnicken muss, der hat auf einem Punkkonzert nichts verloren. Da wurden Fäuste nach oben Subhumansgereckt und der Schweiß lief in Strömen – im Publikum und auf der Bühne."
- Rockstage-riot-rheinmain.de, Live Review 2015
P. BENTHAM & THE DINNER LADIES (UK)
Garage / Kitchen Core / Punk Rock
Liverpool artpunks Pete Bentham & The Dinner Ladies are at the vanguard of the current UK DIY underground scene and have built a strong following across the UK and Europe.
They fuse the raw rock and roll of The Cramps with the invention of The Fall and the pop sensibilities of X Ray Spex to produce their own "Kitchencore" sound.
Their songs are witty and quirky tales of northern working class life, featuring goth postmen, sensitive lorry drivers and their heroes such as Yuri Gagarin and Marcel Duchamp. Always original, funny and poignant.
They have played hundreds of shows and festivals such as Rebellion Festival, Sound City and Great British Alternative Music Festival, toured the UK and Europe and have released five albums and two EP's. Their latest album "What's On The Inside Has to Come Out" on 9x9 Records was released in November 2022 to rave reviews.
This is Kitchencore!
Reviews
"It’s an utterly joyous spectacle. The songs are defiant yet fun odes to rebellion, with the likes of ‘Do the Don’t providing a suitably fun two-fingered salute to conformity. There’s a tune about being a ‘Hip Potater’ and a blistering, Billy Childish-esque tribute to their hero ‘Marcel Duchamp’. The set ends with the two dinner ladies having a mock fight on the floor and in the middle of the audience. If we weren’t already standing I’m pretty sure the band would have got a standing ovation."
- Soundblab magazine
"Check it out. Its easy to see why they are a great band to have at any festival, as they bring with them energy, up beat rock songs to have any crowd dancing about."
- little indie night
"Classic Liverpool Rock & Roll. Songs about things you've observed and experienced. Fun and upbeat."
- Sound City
"Third album from Pete & The Dinner Ladies, the Liverpool based ‘kitchencore’ outfit who with this offering have produced their most accomplished release to date... somehow The Dinner Ladies have not just pulled this off, this is a triumph – played with due respect but also with that ‘fuck you’ punk attitude that certainly Syd Barrett expressed; I get the feeling Barrett would chuckle if he had heard The Dinner Ladies, instantly responding to their free-spirit DIY take on rock ‘n’ roll."
- Louder Than War Magazine
"It’s a shame John Peel is not with us any more as Pete & The Dinner Ladies would certainly have been taken to the great mans heart and been regular favourites of the twilight airwaves. This album has pretty much been on constant repeat for the last month and protest has never sounded so great. This should feature highly in the end of year best of albums that we so love to compile and read about."
- Never Loved The Shovel Blog
"Best performance of the year thus far due to nothing more than the aforementioned points and the downright commitment to the cause. A fitting exclamation mark to a fine day that provoked much thought and much pleasure."
- Fungalpunk fanzine
"We were starting to flag at this stage but Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies rev it up with an entertaining set back at the Art Academy and prove punks not dead, it just wears a shiny 80's suit and is surrounded by Dinner ladies, it also proves that you can write a decent protest song without being a po-faced navel gazer, or tortured poet with a shit beard. “Do The Don’t” “Part Time Punk” and ” Hip Potater” are all crowd pleasers, but if you listen and pay attention you’ll find that behind the “fun” façade Mr Bentham’s got plenty to say and raises some very salient points."
- The VPME, Live Review
"To have spent many a gig in the company of Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies is not going to prepare you for just how good they sound, just how wickedly delicious and note-worthy they are tasty a band when allowed the freedom to wax lyrically in an anarchistic scrumptious style... The idea of David Bowie performing it with David Gilmour is one to feel goose bumps appear, to hear Pete Bentham and The Dinner Ladies play it is to almost understand the gender blurring of fun, slight majestic sleaze and sex appeal that runs through each line. You can only imagine the curly haired music genius who shone too brightly would have raised a smile towards the band, for it is a piece of art."
- Liverpool Sound and Vision
"Their infectious fusion of ska, folk and, er, circus music (that’s the only way to describe it, honest) seems a good enough reason to work off Pete’s (legendary) free Veggie Scouse via the medium of boogie... Pete begins by inviting everyone to pray for more good weather 'so we can riot in shorts and t-shirts'. Comedy is as much a part of Pete's act as the music; he enthusiastically explains the meaning behind songs, such as 'Nature', which was inspired by a conversation with a self-righteous hippy...
By the second encore, it's turned into a right old organic cider-fuelled knees-up; everyone obeys Pete's command to kneel on the floor before leaping back up for one chorus. Despite a lone stage invader almost spoiling proceedings, the show is a triumph."
- Purple Revolver, Live Review
"When all of the band kick in, the sound is tremendous; Pete thrashing away on his guitar trying to wear out the scratch plate (and his elbow); Gabrielle bashing the hell out of the drums. Marigoldy thunderously playing the bassiest bass possible and John 'The Caretaker' Lewis going cross-eyed trying to inflate either the sax or clarinet. The crowd loved them... Those diehards resisting the kitchen assault were all to be reigned in with the totally interactive 'Hip Potater'. Here, Pete had the crowd in the palm of his hand, ordering them to shout back the words 'Hip Potater, Hip Potater' at his command. A truly marvellous spectacle… You must give this band a listen, preferably live."
- Roomthirteen, Live review
"Wow, ich bin echt begeistert und habe mir das Album zum Besprechen sicher 10x angehört."
- Kink Records
"Bentham und Co. schaffen es, sich von allen Genrekonventionen zu lösen und Pubrock mit der Tanzmusik von Holly Golightly zu verbinden, Chuck Berry und Punkrock zu kombinieren, Saxophon und Klarinette einzubinden, eine entschärfte Version von THE FALL in Richtung KINGS OF NUTHIN’ zu lenken, mit einem kleinen Schlenker Richtung TOY DOLLS, und dabei dann doch nie wie eine der hier erwähnten Bands/Musiker zu klingen..."
- Ox fanzine
"Ihre Scheibe 'Hip Potater' läuft bei mir schon den ganzen Sommer lang... Trotz der frühen Uhrzeit ist sehr viel Publikum anwesend. Live sind sie eine Spur härter und schneller. Ein richtig guter Auftritt."
- Useless fanzine, Live Review
CITIZEN FISH (UK)
Anarcho Punk / Ska
Since 1989 Citizen Fish has been touring the world: turning gatherings, benefits, and social gigs into an international never-ending weekend. They have created a blend of punk, ska, and straight up rock'n'roll that appeals to the sing-a-long music fans and even the "muso" musician types that typically dismiss punks as not being able to play their instruments.
But it's not so much the fact that these dudes are the most talented musicians in England, it's what they say and how they say it. In a fun loving, all inclusive way, Citizen Fish (and their previous outfits Culture Shock and the legendary Subhumans) have brought working class radical politics to generations of questioning minds. Leaving aside the typical screaming rants of boring political punk bands, the Fish offer a hopeful, danceable alternative.
Whereas other bands have fans, admirers, and flavor-of-the-month teenyboppers hoarding to their concerts, Citizen Fish have established an open and always growing family. The idealistic unifying tone of Dick's lyrics, coupled with the catchy driving riffs of the band, allow the Fish to appeal to a wide variety of folks.
Familiar dancing faces in every town, beers and vegetarian meals, and local activists filling the gig halls with information, ideas, and inspiration for positive change is what Citizen Fish are all about.
Reviews
"Its scary how much a sound this rare and aged can suddenly be dragged kicking and screaming into modern relevance.
CITIZEN FISH are a wonder of nature, they should not be able to inspire these feelings, being as they are 'just a punk band...'"
- Subba-Cultcha.com
"There is nothing diluted about Citizen Fish’s musically delivery – As expected of a band with such an extensive history they have got better with age; the Fish now deliver some of the finest ska-punk around, each separate ingredient would in its own right be regarded as exemplary – the blending of full on hardcore with jaunty brass-fuelled ska is joyous; the brass is warm, subtle even, it doesn’t, like many other ska releases overpower the music – this at times is even soulful!"
- LouderThanWar.com
"Referenzklasse in diesem Sektor sind und bleiben OPERATION IVY und CITIZEN FISH, und die simple Regel ist: Mach es mit deiner Band so gut wie die – oder lass es bleiben... 'Goods' ist das achte Album der 1989/90 gegründeten Band, deren markanten Frontmann Dick Lucas man vorher schon bei SUBHUMANS und CULTURE SHOCK singen hören konnte. Die klassische Schlagzeug-Gitarre-Bass-Besetzung wird um Posaune und Trompete ergänzt, der Offbeat ist immer wieder, aber nicht konstant zu hören, die Wechsel zu treibenden Punk-Parts sind sehr geschmeidig, und die Bläserparts sitzen perfekt... Die große Stärke von allen Bands, denen Dick Lucas seine Stimme verlieh, waren schon immer die Texte, und das ist hier nicht anders. Keine wohlfeilen Plattitüden, sondern smarte, politische Analysen, das zielgerichtete Hinterfragen von (Fehl-)Entwicklungen in der Szene wie der Gesellschaft allgemein"
- Ox fanzine
"As a whole, this album fucking rules. I didn’t expect anything less from these dudes, as most things they’ve released have been SKAtastically entertaining."
- PunkWorldNews.com
"Their set was energetic, skilfully imposing with its Ska rhythms, jabbing beat and suitably refreshing lyrics. Led by Dick Lucas, the band turned back time, beyond their early 1990 humble beginnings, to the late 1970’s, early 80’s message of non-conformity and free thinking acceptance. The post-punk phase may be all but consigned to certain bands, which regretfully don’t get the air play they deserve, however this fusion of Ska/punk/rock was very well received and immensely enjoyable... The tracks were pulsating and intense and Dick Lucas bounced and weaved throughout it all. Songs such as Habit, Back to Square One, the brilliantly observed HD Riot and Human Conditioner were simply excellent."
- Liverpool Sound and Vision
"As with his other band the Subhumans, Lucas adds political rants and social commentary into Citizen Fish at every opportunity – often blaming the introduction of television as the result in the decline of human development, however whereby the awesome Subhumans are a straight to the point punk outfit Citizen Fish are more uplifting with their horn section and ska-influences making you feel the need to dance along as they blasted through songs drawn heavily from their 2011 release “Goods” as well as earlier recordings. The venue at around one hundred capacity was rammed and although it was stupidly hot the condensation dripping off the walls added to the atmosphere, after all this was good old fashioned ska-punk at its finest and Citizen Fish had the crowd literally bouncing as you felt the floor vibrate underneath."
- Mr Teeth Reviews