This is probably the busiest I have seen the Tower of Song since I have been going to these Draculas garage gigs and it is no doubt due to the quality of the two bands playing today who have both been massive in the local and national punk scenes for years.
Drongos For Europe
The local crowd are well up for the Drongos set especially as they don’t seem to play Brum as often as some might like. There are many familiar faces here today including Dek Drongo and the unmistakable figure of Mad Graham, who must be on a visit from London. There are also many members of other punk bands in attendance including the excellent ‘Leach Bleeders’
Drongos Anthem ‘Wake Up Call’ starts the set and the band sound as tight as ever. Next track ‘Untamed’ has machine gun drumming and some cool guitar licks and these provide a full-on opening to the set with the local faithful joining in from the off. The sound is spot on as ever and the atmosphere is great as the rallying cry of ‘Mayday’ keeps the momentum up. ‘What About Us’ in delivered with venom as Tommy Drongos prowls the stage with trademark stare with Ramblin Erikk and others at the front singing and punching the air.
‘Contaminated’ from album ‘Cage The Rage’ with its singalong chorus has some great backing vocals and ‘Who The Fuck are You’ is hard not sing along to. ‘Black Cross’ from their first ep kicks in and is as good as it’s ever been. The older members of the crowd appreciating they still play these classic tracks. They seem relaxed as a band these days and there is a fair bit of banter on the stage.
‘Any Street Any Town’, has some brilliant lyrics and ‘Athens is Burning’ is another classic examples of their story telling re playing in Athens in the middle of a Riot. – ‘Burn It Down!’ rings around the room. The set is relentless and ‘Freedom’ with its complex bass line, driving rhythm and lead and massive chorus would be hard for anyone not to get involved with.
‘Don’t Wanna Be Like You’ leads nicely into the classic ‘Hope and Glory’ as long time Drongos bassist Dek Drongo takes the stage to provide some great backing vocals and a fitting end to the set.
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Menace
Menace are a class act with some great players and they take us through a mix of old tracks and some newer stuff with class playing throughout and killer choruses rammed down your throat.
They kick off with a cranked up version of ‘Screwed Up’ from the early days and follow this with another early track ‘Insane Society’. More recent track ‘Monkey’ follows and is a brilliant singalong. It’s great to see the newer material is still very Menace. The band are on top form and ‘Don’t Wanna Be Angry’ is a topical tune dedicated to all those who get pissed off with many things in life.
The classic ‘Electrocutioner’ is delivered with some venom with crazy tom riffs from Simon Edwards battering the kit and the guitar and bass are played to perfection. ‘Party Animal’ keeps the singalong going with people leaping around the front. ‘Blame of You’ is nicely dedicated to the Ramblin Erikk who hasn’t stopped singing along since the gig started.
Wicked versions of ‘Leave Me Alone’ and fan favourite ‘C&A’ keep the intensity going with the band belting out the choruses. They launch into punk anthem ‘I Need Nothing’ with killer guitar solo and mix newer and older material seamlessly. The clever ‘Death and Taxes’ leads nicely into the unmistakable opening of my personal favourite ‘I’m Civilised’ (how the fuck was that not an A side).
Menace have always written great songs with choruses that other bands would kill for. The home straight of the subtle ‘So Fuck You’ and the punk classics ‘GLC’ and ‘Last Year’s Youth’ concludes the set with the crowd in full voice, drawing a great afternoon to a close.
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Shout out to Dave Checkley, Lyse and Rob and the sound guy for bringing the Dracula’s Garage gigs back to the Tower of Song. They are great shows in a place that prides itself on good sound and equipment and long may it continue.
