What do all the coolest bands do nowadays when they have a night off in London? They play a show at Signature Brew, of course! Since its expansion to Blackhorse Road 4 years ago, the brewery has been making a lot of noise, brewing excellent beers with rock’n’roll bands such as The Darkness and putting on excellent events and shows in the brewery. While The Bronx were on a UK tour supporting Sum41, they took a little trip up the Victoria line to play a sold-out show in Walthamstow’s favourite venue.
Getting the celebrations started were Resuscitators, a melodic street punk outfit from London. While I’m unsure how up-to-date their first aid and CPR skills are, they are very good at starting the party with a short but strong set. Up next were Haggard Cat, a gritty, sludgey 2-piece from Nottingham. With guitarist/vocalist Matt Reynolds’s expert solos and drummer Tom Marsh’s loud banging, the energy and decibel levels go up a notch. You might watch out for these cats, as they’re trying to tear some roofs off!
Haggard Cat @ Signature Brew, London - 2024.11.01
Now it’s time for The Bronx to tear it all up properly. They waste no time and open the show with White Shadow from their 6th album (Bronx VI), The Unholy Hand from their 4th one and the classic, ever-so-optimistic Shitty Future. The crowd, already bouncing thanks to Haggard Cat’s fantastic set, goes wild almost immediately, and stage divers start popping up from the second song onwards. Signature Brew appears to be the perfect setting for this kind of show, providing perfect acoustic and a great atmosphere, with the lights bouncing off the shiny beer tanks on the side. Is that their secret to brew their award-winning beers? We will never know!
The Bronx are ecstatic to be here with us and show it, with vocalist Matt Caughthran taking a moment to thank the crowd and the venue and sing the praises of Signature Brew’s lager. Up next is a list of some of The Bronx’s best hits: Heart Attack American from their first album (I remember buying a magazine with a compilation featuring that one in 2003, and I vividly remember it turning my life around as well), Two Birds from their fifth and back to a more recent one with Curb Feelers which feels slightly more 80’s metal with intricate solos by Ken Horne.
The Bronx @ Signature Brew, London - 2024.11.01
Then it’s back to basics with Under The Rabbit, which sends the crowd into a frenzy and takes care of those who hadn’t caught on yet that The Bronx were on stage. Cobra Lucha and False Alarm are both from their very first album. It might have been released 21 years ago, but it has not aged one bit, and the band delivers the same aggressive energy as usual, playing each song loud and fast.
Matt introduces Knifeman as “a song about those who want to express themselves” and opens up the circle pit. This song and the next one (Six Days A Week) are taken from their third album, which has just gotten a celebratory re-release (as well as a brand new merch line) for its 15th anniversary. The show ends predictably with History’s Stranglers and Around The Horn. The Bronx, faithful to themselves, played another excellent set without hesitation or slowing down. They have proven many times they can conduct the biggest to the smallest crowds, and after seeing them at the Wembley Arena or on other big stages, it has been incredibly refreshing to see them again on a smaller stage and welcome them like old friends. Definitely a show we won’t forget anytime soon!
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The Bronx @ Signature Brew, London - 2024.11.01, by Pauline Di Silvestro
Live review and photography by Pauline Di Silvestro
The Bronx @ Signature Brew Blackhorse Road, London – 2024.11.01
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