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GIG REVIEW: The Drowns + Gimp Fist, Trillians, Newcastle, Monday 14 November 2022

Every so often a band comes along that you simply can’t help being swept along by. The Drowns are just such a band.

Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2017 by members of US punk scene veterans Success, The Briggs, Madcap and Time Again, they wanted to try their hand at something new, and came up with an energetic and heartfelt brand of street-punk.

A promising debut album, View From The Bottom, was released in 2018, and they followed with the excellent Under Tension (reviewed here) in early 2020.

Earlier this year they released more new music in the shape of the six-track Lunatics EP (reviewed here), and they were the find of the weekend for many people at this year’s Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, which they played for the second time.

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The Drowns playing at Trillians in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

Fresh off the back of a prestigious support tour with Booze & Glory, the next step in their bid for world domination was their first-ever UK tour, dubbed Back With A Vengeance.

Thus, after dates in Germany and the Czech Republic, we find ourselves at a busy Trillians rock bar for a night which no one present will forget in a hurry – a real gig of the year contender.

To say The Drowns smashed this show is an understatement of mammoth proportions; they hit the ground running with their opening song, the single Black Lung, and never looked back.

Their rowdy brand of punked-up rock ‘n’ roll hardly reinvents the wheel, but it is enormously enjoyable, and if you don’t know the words to their singalong anthems you’ll soon pick them up.

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The Drowns brought their rowdy street-punk from Seattle to Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

The focal point is gravel-voiced lead singer and guitarist Aaron Rev-Peters; Butch the Bulldog in human form, he’s an engaging frontman, whose sole purpose is to make sure you’re having a good time.

His co-writer and co-vocalist Andy Wylie hammers out pummelling basslines, while at the back of the stage drummer Jake Margolis lays down a thunderous but precise backbeat.

Many bands would have been thrown off their stride when their guitarist quits just before such an important tour. Not The Drowns; they recruited a new guy, Brian, from Boston, and he fits like a glove.

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The Drowns drummer Jake Margolis was formerly in The Briggs. Pic: Gary Welford.

The Drowns wear their influences on their sleeve; they released the Slade song Know Who You Are as a standalone single at the beginning of this year, while at Rebellion they covered The Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz.

Tonight, they issue a rallying call to unite subcultures with a storming version of Aussie rockers AC/DC’s If You Want Blood, which the crowd love.

Don’t get the idea they’re a covers band though; The Drowns’ originals are just as good. We get a trio of songs from the first album, with Where’s Bobby the pick of them for me.

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The Drowns bassist Andy Wylie at Trillians in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

Half of their 14-song set comes from Under Pressure, including Wolves On The Throne, Hold Fast and Them Rats, while She’s The Knife, Lunatics and the call to party Live Like Yer Dyin are taken from their latest EP.

The band are clearly having a blast, and their energy is infectious, with the crowd quickly getting into it, despite tomorrow being a work day for most.

Merch seller Maria gets a shout-out for helping keep the whole show on the road as we approach the final straight, and tour manager Simon straps on a guitar for outstanding set closer Battery Street so Rev can take the mic and work the crowd.

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The Drowns’ gravel-voiced frontman Aaron Rev-Peters in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

The song, which yells their pride in where they come from, despite the fact they can’t afford to live there any more due to its gentrification, and it’s the perfect finale.

The good news is The Drowns are planning to come back to the UK in June 2023, and I really hope they return to Newcastle, as this was a great gig. In the meantime, check out their music on their Bandcamp page HERE.

That was helped in no small measure by tonight’s opening act, Gimp Fist, who need no introduction in these parts.

Formed in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in 2005, they play a loud and proud brand of street-punk which has earned them legions of fans at home and abroad.

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Gimp Fist opening proceedings for The Drowns at Trillians. Pic: Gary Welford.

Jonny (guitar and vocals), Chris (bass) and Michael (drums) don’t know the meaning of taking their foot off the pedal; they’ve released two albums this year, Isolation and Unification, both written during lockdown, and played umpteen gigs.

It’s in the live environment where they’re at their best though, and they put on a typically energetic performance, racing through 17 songs in 50 minutes.

This was their final gig of the year, and they went out all guns blazing, playing eight new songs, including Machines, Victory and Poisonous, alongside old favourites First In Line (dedicated to the NHS nurses), Common Ground and On & On.

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Gimp Fist singer Jonny Robson at Trillians in Newcastle. Pic: Gary Welford.

They play at such breakneck pace that they have time to slip in an extra crowd-pleaser, their cover of Perkele’s Heart Full Of Pride, before bringing down the house with traditional set closer Here I Stand. As warm-up acts go, you couldn’t ask for more. Check out their merch on their Big Cartel page HERE.

Gary Welford
gary.ipamusic@gmail.com
ipamusic.co.uk owner