Eight Rounds Rapid
Human Punk, 229 Venue, London
★★★★★
 

A LIVE performance by the maverick Southend punk band Eight Rounds Rapid has been a rarity in recent times, but hopefully this reappearance will turn out to be more than a one-off. Certainly the reception they received suggests they ought to get back on the road.

With a coachload of fans making the journey up the estuary to London, there was undoubtedly an element of pre-existing goodwill in the audience. Yet the neutrals clearly also shared in the admiration.

That’s hardly surprising given the intensity of ERR’s live proposition, which reveals strong geographical and familial connections with the amphetamine-fuelled R&B of Dr Feelgood, also from south-east Essex.

Guitarist Simon Johnson is the son of Wilko, and his jagged, pick-less playing style, whether consciously or not, has stirring echoes of his father as he lurches around, frequently pulling the lead out from his amp.

Singer Dave Alexander also has elements of Lee Brilleaux in his make-up, including in his upright, knee-jerking, largely motionless microphone stance, eyes focused on some distant world in the floor.

But there’s also an intangible channelling of John Lydon in his voice, and, of course, a whole load of his own personality as he provides minimalistic introductions (“here’s another one,” “on with the show”) that are fully in line with the deadpan humour that characterises so many ERR songs.

The singer's whining voice and the band’s cacophonous sound, led by the insistent drumming of Lee Watkins and the urgent prompting of their impressive new bassist, the statuesque Mike Weston, might be an acquired taste. But they have the merit of true originality, and with three albums to their name since their formation in 2010, featuring songs of the calibre and wit of Steve and Channel Swimmer — both played to raucous receptions on this night — they have a free-spirited flair that deserves much wider recognition.

If they get out a bit more, then maybe the message will spread.