Gypsy Pistoleros, James Kennedy and the Underdogs

The Old Coal Store, Nottingham,

Friday, May 14

James Kennedy and the Underdogs

Not saying that James Kennedy and the Underdogs make Rage Against the Machine look tame…But we kinda are. Because South Wales’ sweetest son James Kennedy is rabid spec angry. He spits out his pissed off political songs, snarls through his disgust at the state of society and reuses to stand still or be silenced. James has been making music for a long time, and his revolution-inciting ragers are still ultra relevant. So tonight The Underdogs are stacking their set with stuff from their soon-to-be-released new record. Springier than a bouncy castle, crosser than a bottle of bees, James’ punk rock rebellion is making its mark. Piratecore new song ‘Skulls and Bones’ is infectious, mutiny-tastic and is gonna be a reason to get the new album in itself. Welcoming Benji Webbe to the Underdog ranks in ‘Revolution’, the collab works live with a recording of Skindred’s troublemaker-in-chief taking over the speakers and shaking The Old Coal Store into a big moving, lightly moshing mush in his absence. The older tracks from 2020’s ‘Make Anger Great Again’ (choppy riffed ‘Autopsy’, fists in the air, riot of sound fuck-the-system ‘The Power’) still get hurled from our boy’s heavy heart with scorching, red hot hate. But despite this there is nothing but love inside The Old Coal Store tonight. It’s full of ferocious-looking folk who are pierced/tattooed/wearing cloaks/covered in furry animal regalia/all of the above, but it’s the safest space filled by the family you’d choose.

Gypsy Pistoleros

We’ve worshipped at their church. We’ve lived La Vida Loca with them. And now, in their most recent reincarnation, Gypsy Pistoleros take is willingly into their fairytale forest of fucked-up-flamenco-glam-rock-and-roll. It’s the last date of the first part of their ‘Dark Faerie Tales’ UK album tour tonight. Sob. But as we like to say about those we love best who leave us – if they don’t go, they can’t come back. And the Gypsy Pistoleros faithful who have gathered at The Old Coal Store tonight give them a fucking good send off. ‘I’m in Love With Myself’ rings out loud and proud, and is sung back to the band in the same vein. ‘Last Train to Nowhere’ is a proper crowd-participation-party-choon. Proceedings take a turn for the punkier and heavier for ‘Like Tears in the Rain’. Cillian Murphy can’t be here tonight to perform vocals for waltzy, weird and wonderful ‘The Ballad of Tommy Shelby’. But, erm, thanks to frontman Gypsy Lee’s impression you’d never know… Most recent single ‘King of Almost Everything’ is a poppy, rocky, us against the rest of the world anthem, with those lovely catchy harmonies and shout along opportunities this band do so damn well. Oh, and the whole set is held together by Gypsy Lee’s in-between-song-banter/stand-up-entertainment. Which is, as always, genuinely hilarious. Unholy hammering drums lead the way to punk powerhouse ‘Wild, Beautiful, Damned’, while bluesy lament ‘Whatever Happened to the Old Town?’ is a sadder and slower turn to the set. But Gypsy Pistoleros can’t keep away from the fast stuff for long – and even this track speeds up dramatically and gets the floor moving once more. Introducing ‘Shadow Walker’ as ‘a heavy fucking song’ is an understatement. Those pulverising drums are back again in their full stick throwing and twirling gymnastic glory.

Gypsy Pistoleros have given their crowd everything tonight. Sleaze, dirt, grit, country-style sing along (‘Rattling’), a long-dead fox (seriously!) and, of course, their cover of ‘Come on Eileen’. You’ve not lived until you’ve seen this band live.