Brocker Are Anything But Shambolic At Album Launch

by | Oct 25, 2019

Tucked away on Acton Mews E8 in a railway arch is the rather splendid Signature Brew Taproom & Venue. Selling a selection of craft beers, this is also a very cool music venue. In attendance this evening is quite a diverse selection of people including a small pocket of psychobillies, punks replete with armfuls of tattoos, hipster types, and quite a few normal people. The turnout is actually rather healthy for a school night and everyone is here to see Brocker.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

Brocker are a punk rock band hailing from St Albans, who have just released their third self-produced album entitled Shambolic and it is to celebrate this event that the assembled have turned up. For the first, and perhaps the last, time the band will play the entirety of their new album from start to finish.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

The set kicks off with Machine. I’m not sure what it is about punk bands, but they frequently seem to have terrific bass players and Brocker are no exception. With its reprise of “I don’t want you, I don’t need you” this is a song that could easily have come off a Bad Religion album.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

The second song, Inferno, is a very up-tempo number and is nicely done with chugging guitar accompanied by nifty work on the bass and the sledgehammer drums that characterise the whole album. The next song that the band plays, Something About Devils, is also the single and is marked by very nice dynamics, a strong sense of melody, and all-round very good musicianship. The guitar playing of Pako is especially impressive and this is a great song that even includes the requisite “woah, woah” punk section.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

The fourth song is Gasoline, which bassist Ky helpfully informs us is the American word for petrol. This is quite a hard and fast number that really works. It’s followed by Stereo, which also moves along at a fair old rate of knots and has a sort of Motorhead feel to it, with the guitar sounding a bit like Ace Of Spades. At this point, drummer Janchi enquired what the crowd thought of the new album. “Shit!” came the reply quick as a flash, to everyone’s amusement.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

Stoffel is the band’s first foray into the realm of ska punk on this album and they do it rather well, combining the off-beat pattern with a sing-along punk chorus. The song interestingly was penned by Janchi, and it is perfectly evident from this that he is not suffering from delusions of grandeur.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

Outside The Box sees the pace slowed a little, but there is a strong sense of melody here, with an especially tuneful guitar solo. “Don’t believe everything you read” is obviously a lament about the state of the media, which, in a time of fake news, seems entirely apt. The pace is immediately upped on the next track, Distorted, with a very nice riff, rather like the now sadly defunct band Knocksville. The song also has nice dynamics and the harmonies are a little reminiscent of Mega City Four. It is a good song!

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

Hellride is a classic US-style punk song and would not be out of place on an Offspring album. Underworld is a much more measured song, which again has nice use of harmonies and a rather good breakdown section with delightful bass playing. Taking its place halfway through the set is Mayday, another good track with a ska section in it followed by a rather classy guitar solo. If anything, the song has rather too much in it.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

The straightforward rocker Alcohol & Rock N’ Roll again makes good use of backing vocals as well as the soloing talents of Pako who proves himself to be a very fine wielder of the Gretsch. Nowadays, which concludes the album, begins with just the bass before the drums join in and then the guitar, but thereafter the song is fairly standard punk and is to my ears probably the weakest song of the album. No sooner had they finished this song when the bass player launched into the introduction to Ace Of Spades, which concluded their set.

Brocker at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue 17/10 for Rockshot Magazine (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

Taken as a whole, this was a very impressive set by a band that certainly knows its onions when it comes to punk. All three members are fine musicians and the vocals were spot on. So, all in all, this was a jolly good night, especially for a school night. I take my hat off to Brocker for a tip-top show and a fitting launch for their new album, that is anything but, Shambolic!

Live Review by Nick Kemp & Photography by Pauline Di Silvestro of Brocker album launch at Signature Brew Taproom & Venue on 17th October 2019.

Stevie Wonder (Press)

BST Hyde Park 2025 Announces Stevie Wonder As Final Headliner

American Express presents BST Hyde Park has announced its final 2025 headliner, the true music legend Stevie Wonder is topping the bill in Hyde Park on Saturday 12th July as part of his LOVE, LIGHT & SONG UK 2025 performances. Tickets go on general sale at 10am GMT on Friday 21st March.

JP Saxe @ Shepherd's Bush Empire (Kalpesh Patel)

JP Saxe Announces Two Part Album With Part One, Articulate Express, Dropping Next Month

multi-platinum master storyteller JP Saxe has announced a forthcoming two-part album, with part one, Articulate Excuses, due out on 18th April on Arista Records. The announcement comes alongside the release of the relatable meditation on our modern condition and viscerally vulnerable statement, SMARTPHONE MAKE ME DUMB and its accompanying lyric video.

Courting (Charlie Barclay Harris)

Courting – Lust For Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ Album Review

Liverpool’s Courting deliver their third album in two and a half years and confirm they are one of the most exciting and innovative bands around right now.

Avalanche Party @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth (Rebecca Cairns)

Avalanche Party Bring Their ‘Dream…’ Post-Punk Show To Portsmouth

At Portsmouth’s Edge Of The Wedge, Yorkshire garage post-punks Avalanche Party look and sound as though they have a broader vision than the small venue will allow, and tonight put on a performance as though there were thousands who couldn’t be there.

Mother Mother @ Troxy (Kalpesh Patel)

Mother Mother Announce New Album ‘Nostalgia’ And Announce Brixton Headline Show

Celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band, globally-celebrated alt-rock phenomenon Mother Mother have shared their brand new single Make Believe via Parlophone/Warner Records. The track heralds the arrival of their upcoming tenth studio album, Nostalgia, out on 6th June.

Himalayas (Andy Ford)

HIMALAYAS Drop Latest Single ‘Surrender’

HIMALAYAS have released their new single Surrender, the latest song to be taken from their forthcoming album BAD STAR out April 25th via Nettwerk Music Group. Surrender is a foreboding cavernous rock track which examines uncritical loyalty to individuals and organisations, and the willingness to blindly accept anything they say. It also speaks to the inability to see why others may think differently, leading to further division instead of cooperation to achieve a common goal.

Brandon Boyd of Incubus @ Brixton Academy (Kalpesh Patel)

Incubus Announce Special Guest Paris Jackson For 2025 London Headline Show

Following their highly successful sold-out 2024 US Arena tour, US rockers Incubus will perform their iconic Morning View album in its entirety plus the hits at London’s The O2 on Saturday 26 April 2025, their only UK and Ireland show.

Jet Fuel Rock’N’Roll With The Hillbilly Moon Explosion And The Zipheads In London

Tucked away under Oxford Street, the 100 Club feels like a terribly kept secret, the venue you’d miss if you strode...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing