{"id":13717,"date":"2026-06-01T19:35:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13717"},"modified":"2026-06-01T19:35:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:35:22","slug":"us-garage-punks-the-downstrokes-winning-lots-of-new-friends-on-their-first-uk-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=13717","title":{"rendered":"US garage punks The Downstrokes winning lots of new friends on their first UK tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GIG REVIEW: The Downstrokes + The Longshots + Ducter @ The Doll at the Black Bull, Gateshead, Friday 31 May, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Downstrokes<\/strong> might be a cornerstone of their local punk scene back home in the panhandle of the USA, but they’re an unknown quantity here in North East England, and indeed Britain as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-piece are hoping to change that on their first UK tour, showcasing a sound encompassing everything from ’60s garage rock and late ’70s punk to early ’80s US hardcore. There’s plenty of melody but lots of bite too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based in Frostburg, Western Maryland, they’ve all been around the block, with frontman Gerry La Femina’s band history dating back to the mid-80s, but they play with the enthusiasm of a bunch of 20-somethings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formed in 2015, they debuted with their first record New York Girl <\/em>three years later, quickly drawing comparisons with the likes of Adolescents and The Replacements.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"downstrokes\"
The Downstrokes played The Doll at the Black Bull in Gateshead as part of their first UK tour. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

They’re four albums deep now, with their latest, The Furious Hours<\/em>, released a couple of months ago on Rotten Princess Records. Check it out on Bandcamp HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Femina, pictured top<\/em>, is the focal point, but he’s perfectly complemented by Robin on guitar, Clint on drums, and a guest bassist, who’s standing for regular four-stringer Greg on this tour. He’s only been with them a month, but the band are so tight knit you really can’t tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Downstrokes quickly have the crowd onside with songs like (Right Turn) Wrong Way Again<\/em> and Let’s Make Some Noise<\/em>, both from the latest album. They dip into their back catalogue for cuts like UFO Baby<\/em> from their third album and New York Girl<\/em>, the title track of their first, but it’s the new songs which hit hardest.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"downstrokes\"
The Downstrokes played The Doll at the Black Bull in Gateshead as part of their first UK tour. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bar Girl Is A Punk<\/em>, Frequent Flyer<\/em> and No More Nights<\/em> slip down a treat, before they close with a run of older songs, ending with Gratitude<\/em>, from 2021’s second long-player Unsafe At Any Speed<\/em>. The crowd are up for more, and want an encore, but the guys are done. I guess you can only rehearse so much with a stand-in on board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No review would be complete without a mention for the other bands on the bill. Tonight’s openers were Ducter<\/strong>, who come from Stockton, an hour or so down the road. They’re completely new to me, but seem to have brought a decent following, and their unusual blend of math-rock, post-punk and hardcore is an intriguing mix, with the howling slice of hardcore which they closed with a real highlight. Check them out on Bandcamp HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"ducter\"
Ducter opened for The Downstrokes at The Doll at the Black Bull in Gateshead. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Second up were The Longshots<\/strong>, another new-to-me name. It turns out they’re from Stockport and recently reformed from the ashes of a band which broke up 25 years ago, keen to offer something new and fresh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their power-pop sound might sound a bit retro, but their original songs are hugely enjoyable, and I’d recommend them if you like The Jam and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Frontman Colin manages to sing with a broken arm in a sling after a recent motorbike accident, though he’s unable to play guitar, otherwise I’d imagine they usually pack even more of a punch.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"longshots\"
The Longshots were main support for The Downstrokes at The Doll at the Black Bull in Gateshead. Pic by Gary Welford.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Longshots released a nine-track album, Nine Lives<\/em>, last year, and it made up the bulk of their set, but they’ve already moved on, and included a handful of new songs in their set. They released a new single, You’re Not Alone<\/em>, a couple of weeks ago. Check it out on their Facebook page HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Downstrokes reminded us how lucky we are to have a punk rock pub like this, as their local venue recently closed. Their first EP invited us to Fall In Love With Punk Rock Again<\/em>. Taking a punt on gigs like this (\u00a38 on the door for three bands) goes a long way towards that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other punk-adjacent gigs nearby may have affected the attendance, but it’s not a bad turnout all things considered. All three bands gave it their all and there’s a great vibe all night, so credit to Shev, mine host at the Bull, for continuing to bring new bands to the North East. Remember what The Downstrokes said though – use it or lose it, folks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GIG REVIEW: The Downstrokes + The Longshots + Ducter @ The Doll at the Black Bull, Gateshead, Friday 31 May, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13725,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2,79,2645,1881,2802,7,2806],"tags":[3375,144,3376,3373,3374],"class_list":["post-13717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gig-review","category-hardcore","category-melodic-punk","category-post-hardcore","category-power-pop","category-punk","category-punk-rock-n-roll","tag-ducter","tag-gateshead","tag-the-doll-at-the-black-bull","tag-the-downstrokes","tag-the-longshots"],"yoast_head":"\nUS 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Pic: Gary Welford. I love seeing bands for the first time, and one of the best ways to do that is to keep an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gig Review"","block_context":{"text":"Gig Review","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/warriors2.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/warriors2.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/warriors2.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/warriors2.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ipamusic.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/warriors2.jpg?fit=1200%2C797&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10404,"url":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=10404","url_meta":{"origin":13717,"position":4},"title":"Desperate Measures impress on first visit to Gateshead’s Black Bull with the help of LoGoZ and Loudmouth","author":"Gary Welford","date":"3rd March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"GIG REVIEW: Desperate Measures + Loudmouth + LoGoZ @ Black Bull, Gateshead, Saturday 2 March 2024 Desperate Measures have had to wait a long time to play their first show at one of the North East's premier DIY punk venues - 43 years to be exact. 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