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.

Halestorm @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Halestorm Ignite London Stadium With Ferocity, Heart, And An ‘Everest’ Taste Of What’s To Come

Opening for British metal legends Iron Maiden isn’t for the faint-hearted, particularly at the London Stadium—in front of 80,000 fired-up metal fans! But Halestorm have never been a band to flinch in the face of pressure. On Saturday night at London Stadium, the Pennsylvania rock veterans delivered a blistering, defiant set that not only won over the die-hard metal faithful but teased the future of a band still ascending.

Iron Maiden @ London Stadium (Kalpesh Patel)

Iron Maiden Keep On Trooping At London Stadium And Celebrate 50 Years At ‘Homecoming’

You have to feel a bit for Lzzy Hale and her band Halestorm this evening, warming up an Iron Maiden crowd is a...
Zach Bryan @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

Zach Bryan Brings Americana Thunder to BST Hyde Park 2025

BST Hyde Park 2025 roared into its second day with a headline set that will be etched into festival folklore. Zach Bryan, the Oklahoma-born troubadour, delivered a powerful 23-song performance that spanned his six-year career — and marked his triumphant arrival on the UK’s biggest outdoor stage.

Korn @ Download Festival XXII - Sunday (Carolina Faruolo)

Masks, Mayhem, And Metal Legacies: Korn Bring Download Festival XXII To A Triumphant, Tear-Up Finale

The third and final day of Download Festival XXII is here, and whilst we’re sad it’s almost over, we’ll save the mourning for tomorrow and dive headfirst into everything it’s got.

Billy Idol @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Billy Proves He Is No False Idol, But A Truly Authentic One At Wembley Arena

Fresh from being well received at the inaugural Forever Now festival as well as a surprise appearance alongside...
Wide angle photo of Opus Stage and Arena at DownloadXXII

From Chaos To Catharsis: Sleep Token Silence The Doubters As Day Two Of Download Festival XXII Delivers Big Moments And Bigger Emotion

We’re back for Day 2 of Download Festival XXII. Would today live up to the great start we had yesterday? Let’s see…

Bludfest 2025 @ Milton Keynes Bowl (Ruby Boland)

Hello Heaven, Hello! Bludfest Returns Bigger Than Ever!

The elfin Elin Hall makes for the perfect entrance music, America swirling like the threat of rain overhead, as...
Nine Inch Nails @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Trent And Atticus Nine Inch Nail It At The O2 Arena

Every act craves that strong connection with their audience – but how do you achieve this in a cavernous space like The O2 Arena, filled to the brim with around 20,000 fans (all, naturally, dressed in black)? Well, in typical belligerent style, Nine Inch Nails meet this challenge head on – treating us to a set by turns poetic and punishing, and despite the odd technical hiccup, really delivering that all important connection.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing