Subhumans - Sept 22 Dick Lucas has been performing with the likes of Culture Shock and Citizen Fish for over 40 years, but tonight he was treading the boards for the first time in Reading with the band that made his name, anarcho punks Subhumans. For a Tuesday night in Reading, there was already a sizeable crowd when I arrived, so expectations were high.

Local legend Uncle Peanut opened the night with his punky music hall observations and tales of the people of Peanut Town. Armed only with his mobile phone for backing tracks, Uncle Peanut is an accomplished orator and purveyor of fun vignettes, with each one being accompanied by a catchy singalong chorus.  

‘Mark E Smith’s Still Doing the Fall’ is a throbbing stomp listing influential artists lasting barely less than two minutes. Most of Uncle Peanut’s songs last little longer just being sufficient to plant that immoveable earworm. I never thought that I would be singing 18 inch party pizza to myself on the way home. ‘Popstars Down the Pub’ could be one of those more obscure children’s tv themes from the 70s with its school yard chant.

By the end, Uncle Peanut has been into the crowd several times and has everyone singing along to set closer ‘Nobbers’. The complete antithesis of Subhumans political musings, Uncle Peanut comes from the fun side of punk running through the lineage of the likes of John Cooper Clarke, The Toy Dolls and Half Man Half Biscuit - an excellent start to the night.

Subhuman’s Dick Lucas has one of the most distinctive voices in punk rock and although it has matured over the years, it has not diminished the power of the songs. Original member Bruce and long term members Phil and Trotsky complete the lineup tonight and make a solid sound to back up Dick’s vocals.  Throughout the set, Dick prowls the stage like a man half his age quickly winning over the attendant crowd.

Starting with ‘Apathy’ from 1985’s ‘Worlds Apart’ album the band race through songs from across their back catalogue. None of their songs are long enough to outstay their welcome, and each one maintains the punchy power of the set. Newer songs such as ‘Fear and Confusion’ with its police siren guitar line seamlessly fit in with the older material.

The crowd is a mix of ages with a number that would not have been born when the band first split up, so it is good to see them down the front jumping around to the likes of ‘Joe Public’ and ‘Til the Pigs Come Round’.

‘Too Fat Too Thin’ coming at nearly four minutes sounds like an epic and links the ska sounds of Dick’s later bands with the thrashy chords of the original lineup. ‘Poison’ from the last album ‘Crisis Point’ reminds you that the band still have something to say in today’s polluted world.

The end of the set starts with the iconic ‘No’ from debut album ‘The Day The Country Died’ and runs through ‘Parasites’ before finishing with ‘Religious Wars’.  

This was old school political punk done well with Dick and the band sounding on top form. Here’s hoping it doesn’t take so long for them to come back again.

Uncle Peanut - Sept 22 Uncle Peanut - Sept 22 Subhumans - Sept 22 Subhumans - Sept 22 Subhumans - Sept 22