The City Kids - Sept 22

Did a relatively last minute decision to travel up to Witney to see three bands I have seen a number of times post lockdown prove to be a good decision? 

Never been to Witney before so it was a pleasant to find that Fat Lil’s is a good small venue with pavement drinking and a relatively decent beer selection. A late start to the proceedings meant that we could catch up with the other reprobates who had travelled to see the bands.   

Kit Swing’s Seven Days and Doesn’t Die were originally booked to play but had to cancel. Instead, Kit brought along her fellow Digression, Rich Ragany to open the proceedings. I’ve seen Rags play numerous times and he never disappoints. It’s only a few weeks since we saw the reformed Role Models so it was apt to start with one of their tunes, ‘Little Let Down’. It doesn’t take long for Kit to get on stage and we get a trio of Digressions songs culminating in the always excellent ‘Heartbreakers Don’t Try’.

Reminding us that Rags’ family is predominately across the Atlantic, ‘Leave Tonight’ is dedicated to Rags’ niece and filmed so it could be sent across to her in Canada. ‘Scotty Thompson’ and classic Role Models’ single ‘This Eventually Goes Nowhere’ go down well. A glimpse of the future comes with ‘One Last Thing’ and ‘King of the Gypsies’ and we are done – the audience has been suitably warmed up. The new material is certainly sounding good and I’m looking forward to hearing the final albums (both solo and Digressions).

The Suicide Notes are one of the best live bands out there with Billy Tee being the living embodiment of rock n roll’s trashy excesses. Draped across his mike stand, Billy’s raspy growl suggests a lifetime diet of cigarettes and whisky. The rest of the band make a glorious decadent racket with their dual guitar attack and meaty bass lines. Sadly, drummer Gavin is absent today but City Kids’ Dave steps in for a dual session behind the kit tonight and does an excellent job. He even manages to remain behind his kit for the entire set!

Starting with ‘Black Dog Howlin’ and ‘On the Rocks’ the band didn’t slow down for the entire set. Clearly enjoying themselves as much as the audience, they powered through ‘Momma Sang the Blues’ and ‘Ragdoll’. ‘Snakes Grin Within’ and ‘Rollin with the Punches’ from this year’s ‘Trampstamp’ EP sound terrific. Old favourite ‘Smoke It Like a Cigarette’ always sounds good and then it’s singalong time with a cover of the Stones ‘Dead Flowers’ to finish the set off.

It's only been a few weeks since I saw The City Kids at the Role Models reunion show at the Black Heart. Since then, the current issue of Vive Le Rock has an introductory article about the band raising their profile and a new album is on the way with JJ promising lots of surprises.

Tonight, the band are here to play a full on rock n roll set trying to squeeze in as many songs as possible. Like their heroes, Motorhead, the band play loud, fast guttural rock music with dashings of furious fret work and singalong choruses.

‘Filth’ and ‘Alone’ set the pace for the night and it does not relent. Song after song speeds by as does the aptly named ‘Something Faster’. City Kids songs are not known for being long so when ‘Best of You’ comes in at nearly five minutes it almost like being subjected to a magnus opus with Dennis getting to demonstrate his shredding skills.

A cover of The Wildhearts ‘Mazel Tov Cocktail’ is a popular as ever before the band finish with ‘Round and Around’. Sadly the venue’s midnight curfew means the usual encore between the City Kids and The Suicide Notes cannot take place nor do we get to hear the band performing ‘Please Don’t Touch’ with Kit Swing.

Despite the confused end to the gig, this was a great night out in a decent venue – great company and music.  The last minute decision to travel up to Witney proved to be worthwhile and we are likely to be back in the future.

Rich Ragany - Sept 22 The Suicide Notes - Sept 22 The Suicide Notes - Sept 22 The City Kids - Sept 22 The City Kids - Sept 22 The City Kids - Sept 22 The City Kids - Sept 22