Fucked Up: Old Blue Last, London, Thursday May 17

“Before this show’s over I’m gonna be the new Beth Ditto,” announces appropriately apportioned singer Father Damian from Canadian hardcore punk heroes Fucked Up, as tonight’s bowel-buggering experience begins. No southern-fried soul to right the wrongs here though, this is a scorching smackdown to cleanse the disaffected. Songs like ‘Neat Parts’ and ‘Baiting The Public’ cause crowd euphoria to spill over into casual violence; light fittings and bar stools quickly bite the dust, but everyone’s looking out for one another. Soon after the gig ends, however, a punch-up over a girl ensues and London’s self-obsessed pathos balance is restored.
Matt Warwick