COCKNEY REJECTS + SKURVI + JAY VEE & THE CARDINAL SINS – THE CON CLUB, LEWES 16.12.18
Kappow! First band of the night were Jay Vee & The Cardinal Sins – new to me, but they completely blew me away, with their furious garage punk style. And what a powerful frontman Jay Vee is, howling and screaming through the set!
This is what the lads have to say about themselves: “Formed in 2012, Jay Vee & The Cardinal Sins are – well, another bunch of white boys with guitars. Why should you give a sh*t, you ask? Because smart rock’n’rollers are a dying breed these days! Frontman and songwriter (and, for the record, lapsed jazz pianist) Jay spent his formative years drifting through London’s scuzzy punk, garage and rockabilly scenes. Screaming, jerking, sweating profusely and dressed head to toe in black, the Cardinal Sins have thrilled and confused in equal measure from London to Southend (also Belgium, once), and now have their sights set firmly on – er, everywhere else.”
Really looking forward to seeing this band again soon as they clearly enjoyed themselves as they have posted on social media “Well, that was a helluva show. Great venue, great people. Cheers Cockney Rejects, Skurvi, everyone at Lewes Con Club and especially to Foz for putting us on the bill in the first place. Hope to see you again soon, Sussex folk!”
The band iz:
Jay Vee – guitar thrashing and vox
Mike Lewis – bass chops
Tom Harley-Eustace – massive drums
Tonight’s actual setlist reads:
‘Untitled Instrumental’
‘Voodoo’
‘MTV’
‘Bitch In A Ditch’
‘Chingate!’
‘I Can’t Stop Thinking About It’
‘Got’
‘This Is The End’
More on Jay Vee & The Cardinal Sins HERE and listen to them HERE.
Boom!! Next up tonight are the bonkers Skurvi, brandishing their own style of Punk, a la Cock Sparrer and Peter and the Test Tube Babies. Apparently the band got together through a love of cheap booze, cheap laughs and punk rock! Front man Jimmy takes no prisoners and immediately has the crowd on his side, singing (well, shouting) along with him – and the tunes, as ever, are very anthemic, so easy to follow!
How can you fault a band with lyrics like this: “I’ve got no hair it’s not my fault, I’m just a skinhead by default”.
The band have a good following and you can see why – I can’t wait to see them again, I never get tired of seeing them…and the guys enjoyed themselves as they have posted on social media “What a way to end the year! Thanks to everyone who came out and made such a cracking atmosphere! Cheers to Jay Vee & the Cardinal Sins and Cockney Rejects who both played blinders. Same again next year Fozzy Foz Foster?!?” Nuff said!
The band woz:
Jimmy Skurvi – lead vocals,
Perry (Perry-Scope) – guitar & backing vocals,
Liam – bass & backing vocals,
Matt – drums
The Skurvi setlist reads:
‘She Coming’
‘Drunken Nights’
‘Better Way’
‘Football’
‘Skum Rises’
‘Alright’
‘Geezer’
‘Her’
‘Till We Die’
‘Skinhead’
More on Skurvi HERE and listen to them HERE.
Oi, Oi, Oi! It’s time for the Cockney Rejects. I believe this is the Rejects first outing to the brilliant Con Club in Lewes. I can’t think of a better venue to see them!
Formed in 1978, they are the godfathers of the Oi! movement (and the band that gave the movement its name). Avid West Ham United supporters, in 1980 they recorded a riotous version of ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ to celebrate the fact that their beloved team had reached the FA cup final that year. The Rejects songs often depict violence and express contempt for politicians.
They played only four gigs before being signed by EMI and then found themselves with a huge following, travelling up and down the length and breadth of the UK, they were even on ‘Top of the Pops’ (but were inevitably banned from the TV studios for their boisterous behaviour).
The intimacy of the Con Club means you are right there with the band – no looking up and straining your neck, oh no. And yes, I finally got to shake Jeff’s hand, well let’s face it, he was as near to me as my computer screen is to me now!
These lads have really stood the test of time, sounding as fresh now as they did in ’78. And boy do they put some energy and passion into their shows, no wonder they still look so fit! There is plenty of banter and joking with the crowd and Stinky does his
usual boxing antics, whilst sporting the ever present flat cap. The crowd are drawn immediately into the bands world, singing of football terraces (namely West Hams ‘Firm’), life on the streets in London, Police, and getting nicked!
The Rejects have posted “Well That’s the UK tour 2018 wrapped pals. We would like to thank each and every one of you for turning out and making it a belter. We wish all of you a merry Christmas and a great New year. See you all in 2019. Onward!!”
I really hope they return to the Con Club again soon…
The band iz:
Jeff “Stinky” Geggus
Mick Geggus
Vince Riordan
Andrew Laing
The setlist woz:
‘War On The Terraces’
‘Your Country Needs You’
‘Someone Like You’
‘We Are The Firm’
‘Subculture’
‘Power And The Glory’
‘Sitting In A Cell’
‘We Can Do Anything’
‘I’m Not A Fool’
‘Headbanger’
‘On The Run’
‘East End’
‘The Rocker’
‘Join The Rejects’
‘On The Streets’
‘Bad Man’
‘Greatest Cockney Rip-Off’
‘Hate Of The City’
‘Flares And Slippers’
‘Oi,Oi,Oi’
For more about the Cockney Rejects click HERE.
Great review of last nights antics. Jay Vee were awesome and I really enjoyed the set. Worth going just to see them. Skurvi brilliant as always. Cockney Rejects awesome as you said.