21 April 2019 – Healthy Junkies/Ragged Charms/Public Service Announcement – Phoenix Bar

There was a three band ‘punk’ influenced event at The Phoenix Bar, High Wycombe on Easter Sunday 21st April 2019 featuring Healthy Junkies, The Ragged Charms and Public Service Announcement.

Entry was a bargain £5 for the chance to see live three bands with differing influences but all with a passion for live music – as always, I urge you to support your local live music venues in High Wycombe and the surrounding areas.

Easter Madness at The Phoenix, High Wycombe – Sunday 21st April 2019
Featuring The Healthy Junkies, The Ragged Charms and Public Service Announcement

Headliners Healthy Junkies are a London based band with a punk/garage sound.  They have been on the live circuit for close to eight years and appeared at The Phoenix in March 2018. Their relentless hard-work has also seen them deliver a wealth of recorded output – including four albums – the most recent ‘Delirious Dream’, released in October 2018.

The band consist of Nina Courson (vocals), Phil-Honey-Jones (guitar), Dave Whitmore (bass) and Pumpy (drums) and provide an energetic mix of punk, metal and pop.

Looking for a reference point for influences, their sound has been compared to the likes of Sonic Youth through to Transvision Vamp, with perhaps an underlying nod to Nirvana. Don’t expect anything but pure on-stage energy and a slick delivery in the process.

Here’s a taste of what expect

Opening the evening were Public Service Announcement.  They are no strangers to The Phoenix, having first played there in 2017 and most recently, a headline slot on 15th March 2019.  The band consists of John Fleming (vocals), Pete Colverd (guitar) Dan Comben (bass) and Al Lane (drums).  John and Pete are former members of High Wycombe post-punk outfit Basta Roc and played their first gig as Public Service Announcement in April 2017 during a charity event in memory of Gareth Jones.

Public Service Announcement
Dan, Pete, John and Al

Nearly two years on and the March 2019 gig marked the release of their debut EP – a five track beauty called ‘The Beginning’. The band originally started out playing a mixture of covers and re-works of Basta Roc songs.  However, the writing bug appears to have kicked-in and the EP boasts tracks to be proud of.

The five tracks are: ‘What’s Happening’, ‘Come Back To Me’, ‘Five Years’, ‘When We Were Young’ and ‘Magnificent One’. Catchy tunes that stick in your ahead and with subject matter related to all ages.  I urge you, at the very least, to take a listen to ‘Come Back to Me’ – written about struggling to cope with relatives and friends with dementia related illness.  I was genuinely blown away when I first heard this played live at The Red Lion in Chinnor in August 2018.

On stage in the lead up to The Healthy Junkies were The Ragged Charms – a band making their first live appearance in High Wycombe but with a number of connections to the historically musical town.

The band were formed a year or so back through a collaboration between lead vocalist Ali Jones and guitarists Carlton Mounsher and Johnny Crees.  The trio had previously worked with The Deadbeat Apostles but branched out to form their own sound and eventually added Andy Chalk and Neil Peters on bass and drums respectively to complete the rhythm section of the band.  The five-piece made their live debut in January 2019 at The Isis River Farmhouse near Oxford.

The Ragged Charms
Ali, Carlton, Johnny, Andy and Neil

And so to the connections with High Wycombe: Carlton Mounsher went to school in High Wycombe and was in what is considered to the first punk band from the town, Deathwish.  Deathwish first gigged in October 1976 and famously/infamously (delete as appropriate) supported Generation X at The Nag’s Head in March 1977.

Andy Chalk also has a history of playing bass in 1980’s High Wycombe based punk/new wave bands but has more recently launched the Punkarolla radio show on Wycombe Sound in November 2016 and briefly played bass for High Wycombe punk originals, The Xtraverts, during 2017.

Drummer Neil Peters comes from a slightly more recent local pedigree – playing with Straylight Interstate in the late 1990’s and then Subrosa5 as we moved into the 21st century.  Neil is no stranger to gigs in High Wycombe having played the Phoenix under its original ‘Roundabout’ name, plus outings at The Antelope and The White Horse.

All this adds up to a version of The Ragged Charms that include an eclectic mix of sounds with influences drawn from Black American music through to traditional blues and straight forward rock ‘n’ roll. Ali’s vocals perhaps give their sound a sub-conscious comparison to PJ Harvey but they have enough variety in their output to let you make your own mind-up.

Band info links

Healthy Junkies

https://en-gb.facebook.com/healthyjunkiesband/

https://twitter.com/HealthyJunkies

http://www.healthyjunkies.co.uk/

 The Ragged Charms

https://en-gb.facebook.com/RaggedCharms/

Public Service Announcement

https://www.facebook.com/PSArocknroll/

7 July 2018 – Public Service Announcement + support–Phoenix Bar

Local band Public Service Announcement returned to The Phoenix Bar in High Wycombe on Saturday 7th July 2018 for a FREE entry gig, including two support acts.

Public Service Announcement plus Crossways and The Meantime Collective
Phoenix Bar – High Wycombe – 7th July 2018

Public Service Announcement debuted in April 2017 and in the following 12 months or so played High Wycombe and surrounding areas a number of times. Their most recent outings prior to 7th July date were appearances at The Animals Rock Festival at The Dashwood Arms in May 2018 and a slot at The No More Heroes Punk Festival at Wycombe Arts Centre in June 2018.

They have recently added around six self-penned new numbers to their set, complementing cover versions of ‘Tommy Gun’, ‘Staring at The Rude Boys’, ‘I Fought The Law’ and ‘Ready Steady Go’. Their set also typically includes two or three Basta Roc favourites as a throw-back to the days of the band that featured current band members Pete Colverd and John Fleming.

Support act Crossways are described as an ‘alternative indie rock band’ from Chesham, while The Meantime Collective get the tag-line ‘blisteringly fast, ska infused punk rock.’ They are a three-piece from Brighton.

Read more about the bands via their respective Facebook pages:

Public Service Announcement

https://www.facebook.com/PSArocknroll/

Crossways

https://en-gb.facebook.com/CrosswaysUk/

The Meantime Collective

https://b-m.facebook.com/TheMeantimeCollective/

PLEASE SUPPORT THE LIVE MUSIC VENUES IN HIGH WYCOMBE

Here is a taste of what to expect from Public Service Announcement.

Their version of ‘I Fought The Law’ from The Animals Rock Festival

24 March 2018 – Healthy Junkies + 3 more bands – FREE event at Phoenix Bar

The Phoenix Bar in Bridge Street High Wycombe hosted a four band FREE event on Saturday 24th March 2018.

24th March 2018 – FREE four band event at The Phoenix Bar – High Wycombe

Details of the bands – taken from The Phoenix website, read as follows:

Healthy Junkies

Parisian Lead singer Nina Courson met British guitarist Phil Honey-Jones in 2009 in the now defunct venue Punk in Soho. Both of them were in separate bands at the time, but it wasn’t long before ideas of their own and a new-found mutual volatility raised its wretched head and they started to write songs together. The shared influences of the likes of Iggy Pop, Nirvana, Blondie, Killing Joke,Sonic Youth, Bauhaus and Bowie played a big part and Inspiration for lyrics came from far and wide, blurring the lines between autobiography and fiction. They played their first gig together at an all day punk festival in Brighton in September 2010 where the promoter ran off with the money and Healthy Junkies only got to play for 15 mins before the festival shut down. Since then the band have played all over the U.K. including several appearances at the mighty Rebellion Punk Festival and their self-hosted monthly night at The Unicorn, Camden, London, called Punk’n’roll rendezvous – and have toured Europe regularly. Healthy Junkies were featured on a New York radio station and talk show in October and are laying the groundwork for an East coast US tour next year. On stage Nina interacts with the other band members and entices her audience in a way that has become the trademark of their live shows. Record releases include their debut album Sick Note in 2011, The Lost Refuge and Box of Chaos (STP Records) and the E.P. ‘Hair of the dog’.

http://www.healthyjunkies.co.uk/

PollyPikPocketz

PollyPikPocketz are a double-vocalist rock band from London. The two front girls Ally and Myura formed as a songwriting harmony duo in 2014. Frog joined to help produce their tracks and soon they were churning out songs like lyrical machines, developing songs that were metaphorical, humorous, full of fun and sung with angst. A year and a half later Pollypikpocketz evolved dramatically when Mat joined as the guitarist, bringing an improv-style that chose “awesome sounding ” over technical. Frog, previously a singer, found a new direction playing bass for PollyPikPocketz. The group today have a take-no-prisoners punk-rock feel. Their live sound has been described as “an intense, passionate performance that is in your face but with genuine emotion and laughter. Flowing harmonies and unique lyrics, that are tongue in cheek but always written from the heart. Incomparable to a single genre.”

https://en-gb.facebook.com/pollypikpocketz/

Who Killed Nancy Johnson?

AReading-based high-energy original punk/post-punk band with a growing reputation as an incendiary live act, Who Killed Nancy Johnson? formed in 2015 and began gigging in 2016. Their 2017 EP Cops and Robbers was followed in 2018 by Flat Earth Theory, and an album is in the works for later in the year. They have played in Europe and have radio appearances and support slots for name bands under their belts.

https://www.wknancyj.com/

Freakouts

A four-piece punk band from Surrey, Freakouts formed with the idea of inspiring carnage. Their raucous live shows make them ones to watch as they are beginning to break out of the hills and take the rest of the UK by storm. They’re loud, fast, and in your face.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFreakouts%20/

 Please support live music in High Wycombe

Check out the Phoenix Bar website below for their latest gigs

http://www.thephoenixbar.co.uk/

Please post or send your reviews of the gig – see contact page for more details.  Thanks

10 March 2018 – Blunders, Yur Mum and more – Phoenix Bar

A FREE entry five band ‘punk’ spectacular took place at The Phoenix, High Wycombe on Saturday 10th March 2018.

The Blunders – Phoenix Bar flyer for 10th March 2018

To give you an idea of what to expect the following was posted before the gig – in no particular order and with descriptions as quoted from their respective websites/social media outputs – here’s a list of the bands:

The Blunders

“Hard hitting biting lyrics with a driving yet understated beat that lets you scream at the worlds faults while dancing ya arse off.”

They impressed at The Phoenix on their previous appearance in November 2017.

https://en-gb.facebook.com/theblunders/

Yur Mum

“London based DIY grungers. Yur Mum bring their brand of high energy rock and roll”

https://www.yurmum.com/

Static Personality

“3-piece indie post-punk explosion hailing from High Wycombe. Our message is audacious, bold, subversive, witty and is an exciting new branch to the post-punk alternative indie”

https://soundcloud.com/staticpersonality

Carter Daze

“Woking’s favourite rebel sons Carter Daze’s DIY approach mixes a punk ethos with rock ‘n’ roll storytelling to create a diverse sound that’s somewhere between ‘Blue Album’ Weezer and ‘Up The Bracket’ Libertines, with a socio-political twist. With a whole host of gigs coming up across Surrey and London this spring, their live show is always intense, chaotic and not to be missed!”

https://www.facebook.com/CarterDaze/

DC Spectres

“3 Piece Garage punk/trash…fusing 60’s garage and 70’s punk with side orders of surf and Klub Foot rhythms.”

https://en-gb.facebook.com/thedcspectres/

 Please support the live music venues in High Wycombe

9 February 2018 – Rage DC, Black Bullets, DSA, Slow Faction, Useless Easters – Phoenix Bar

Bracknell rockers Rage DC topped a five band event at The Phoenix bar in High Wycombe on Friday 9th February 2018. Entry was just £5 and was billed as ‘An evening of good old Punk Rock’n’Roll.’

Rage DC and plenty of support at The Phoenix on Friday 9th February 2018

Plenty of info on Rage DC via their Facebook group, including links to the supporting bands too.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1525034564461719/

Due on first at 7.30pm were The Useless Eaters – they are a punk covers band and are no strangers to High Wycombe having played several times at The Hobgoblin (since renamed back to The Three Tuns).

Read more about The Useless Eaters on their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/TUEUK/

Running Order

  • Rage DC 10:30:00 PM 11:15:00 PM
  • Black Bullets 9:45:00 PM 10:15:00 PM
  • Slow Faction 9:00:00 PM 9:30:00 PM
  • DSA 8:15:00 PM 8:45:00 PM
  • Useless Eaters 7:30:00 PM 8:00:00 PM

Please support live music in High Wycombe

Check out the Phoenix Bar website below for their latest gigs

http://www.thephoenixbar.co.uk/

25 November 2017 – Pussy Cat and The Dirty Johnsons – Phoenix Bar

Another great night down The Phoenix Bar, High Wycombe, on Saturday 25th November 2017 when Pussy Cat and The Dirty Johnsons headlined a ‘punk’ influenced event. Scroll down for two self shot videos from the gig.

Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons – Phoenix Bar High Wycombe – 25th November 2017

 

Headliners Pussy Cat and The Dirty Johnsons have been described as ‘Punk-Rockabilly-Grunge-Glam rockers’, while East Town Pirates describe themselves as a ‘voodoo pirate rock and roll band and have also been likened to a cross between The Pogues and Motorhead.

Other acts were: The black bullets, The Blunders, HatePenny and The GOGO Cult.

Venue Home page 

http://www.thephoenixbar.co.uk/

Here are two self shot videos from the gig

Ship Ahoy – East Town Pirates- live at The Phoenix Bar, 25 November 2017

One of the Boys/Hell Bent – Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons – Live at The Phoenix Bar – 25 November 2017

Please support your local live music venues in High Wycombe

 

8 December 2017 – Public Service Announcement plus support – Phoenix Bar

Locally based Public Service Announcement are scheduled to make their fourth appearance since forming earlier in 2017 with a headline appearance at High Wycombe Phoenix Bar on Friday 8th December 2017.

Public Service Announcement – Phoenix Bar – Friday 8th December 2017

The band, who include former members of 1980’s punk outfit Basta Roc, debuted in April 2017 before a fully blown debut at The Phoenix Bar in June 2017. They went on to play BledFest in September 2017 and will return to The Phoenix Bar for some ‘Xmas Shenanigans’.

Support on the night is set to be two more punk bands – Nottingham based Interplanetary Trash Talk and Northampton based Crash Induction.

Doors Open 7.30pm – Admission £5 – In aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

Links

https://www.facebook.com/PSAPUNK/

https://www.facebook.com/interplanetarytrashtalk/

https://www.facebook.com/CrashInduction/

30 June 2017 – Public Service Announcement/The SD5 – Phoenix Bar

Former members of Basta Roc took new band Public Service Announcement for a live airing at The Phoenix Bar (Bridge Street, High Wycombe) on Friday 30th June 2017, with support from The SD5.

Public Service Announcement/The SD5 – Phoenix Bar – Friday 30th June 2017

PSA, who include former Basta Roc members Pete Colverd and John Fleming, played a short set at a charity gig in April 2017 in memory of Basta guitarist Gareth Jones.  The band is completed by Al Lane (drums) and Dan Comben (bass).

They say they will be: ‘Featuring songs of Basta Roc, stripped down and lovingly restored as well as new compositions and classic songs for your musical pleasure.’

 More info at: https://www.facebook.com/PSAPUNK/

Support came from The SD5 – London based and according to their Facebook page, are: ‘Purveyors of fine garage rocking psychedelic beat grooves.’

More info at https://thesd5.bandcamp.com/

Facebook event page:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/events/684242595118743/

 

 

24 June 2017 – No More Heroes III – Phoenix Bar

High Wycombe punk legends The Xtraverts opened the third ‘No More Heroes’ all-day event at The Phoenix Bar in High Wycombe on Saturday 24th June 2017.  They played a short set as a way of thanking the other bands for helping to celebrate lead singer Nigel Martin’s 60th birthday.

Nigel Martin’s wonderful birthday cake on show at No More Heroes III on 24 June 2017 at The Phoenix Bar

Also scheduled to be on the bill were:

  • Satellites
  • Rebel Station
  • Feckin Ejits
  • Ambition Demolition
  • 5 Go Mad
  • Acid Attack
  • Shag Nasty
  • Nuffin’
  • Murderball

 

No More Heroes III – Phoenix Bar – High Wycombe – 24 June 2017

The event follows two previous successful No More Heroes events promoted by Nigel Martin. The two day 2016 bash included Xtraverts, Pussycat and The Dirty Johnsons, East Town Pirates, Dragster, Rage DC and Healthy Junkies.

The 2017 event saw The Xtraverts take the stage at about 1.30pm (yes, in the afternoon!). After a short rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ by the other band members, Nigel took to the stage as the band crashed through four numbers – old favourite, ‘Police State’, plus both sides of their new single (’21st Century Motorbike’ and ‘Wild Boys, Wild Youth’), before finishing with their classic, ‘Speed’.

If you have any pictures or videos from the day, you are welcome to post them in the comments section below or send links via email.