Posted on July 2, 2010 - by Editor

Hot Water Music + Failsafe + Southport

Hot Water Music © Imelda Michalczyk

Islington Academy
London, UK
Monday 21st June 2010

A humid balmy evening in London awaited the sold out crowd and return of (originally) Gainsville based punk rockers Hot Water Music. The bands history is well known to their legions of diehard fans (which include a plethora of other musicians and punk bands who tonight in the crowd include members of The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner) and the hiatus which threatened to derail the influential band a few years ago inspired the bands members to explore other boundaries through acts such as The Draft, Chuck Ragan’s vast solo catalogue, Chris Wollard And the Ship Thieves amongst others. With Chuck  Ragan, Chris Wollard and Jason Black, Hot Water Music’s return to London marked their first show in five years in the capital however former drummer George Rebero has since joined Against Me! and is replaced on this tour by Dave Raun.

First up though is Southport, with ex members of Snuff I’m told, Chuck Ragan mentions pre show that he last played with them about 11 years ago!

Southport © Imelda Michalczyk

The three piece play positive melodic hardcore and are pretty comfortable warming up the stage on a night when the crowd is appreciative but clearly excited for the headliners. There is new material due soon from the band they promised and  ended off their set with a pre planned light dimming and walking off combination which was a nice touch.

Failsafe had the enviable task of opening up just before Hot Water Music but seemed a decent choice too. I have heard plenty about the five piece, and they certainly put on a good live show, full of enthusiasm and energy with huge sing along choruses and great instrumentation and guitar riffs defining their set. They also promised a new record (their third) is in the works and played a couple songs from the soon to be recorded album. There is some definite Hot Water Music influence on the band and they seem proud to be able to share the stage with them but also manage to gain some fans themselves on the night with a decent response throughout.

After the standard lengthy wait for the headline act, the four piece that is Hot Water Music come to the stage to a deafening noise from the packed venue. Chuck Ragan spoke first addressing the crowd with his distinctive voice “How is everybody doing? Thanks for coming out” (ever sincere) and the band kicked into ‘A Flight And A Crash’ with the dual vocals of Chris Wollard and Chuck exploding the night into a fury of burning lungs and sweaty raised arms. Following up with ‘Remedy’ and with such well known tracks there was no slow build up of momentum but an instantaneous euphoria even though its only about four songs into the set that the first crowd surfers came

Failsafe © Imelda Michalczyk

hurdling over the front of the crowd and making security staff earn their wages.

With ‘Rooftops’, ‘Trusty Chords‘and ‘Jack Of All Trades’ all sounding timeless there is a sheer determination and positive energy and enjoyment that oozes from the guys (along with an abundance of perspiration) on stage, never taking anything for granted and even taking time to remind the crowd to thank the people working at the club on the night before later on Chris asking if “everyone is having as much fun as he is” rather rhetorically. It’s a band that is full of energy throughout and a spectacle with Jason on stage centre owning the bass and totally opposite to the usual bass stereotype of ‘stand and deliver’ whilst Dave on drums, the consummate professional and driving the band on through all 22 tracks on the night.

There is so much heart and soul in the performance and camaraderie in the entire room it’s really difficult to put across in words but the suggestion there may be another five years to wait for a record or live show are squashed by Chuck when he announced a new record is in the works (see our interview coming soon) and the band are highly likely to be back next year in the UK which received possibly the loudest cheer of the night. The main set drew to a close with ‘We’ll Say Anything We Want’, ‘Choked And Separated’ and ‘Hard To Know’ with the latter inspiring a massive sing along. The band departing briefly before the encore with the words “Thanks for the

Hot Water Music © Imelda Michalczyk

support over the years, we can’t thank you enough” resonating true and heartfelt.

The bands encore return is  dedicated to ‘good friends’ with the instantly recognisable chords of ‘True Believers’ as the band performed a passionate and amazing cover of The Bouncing Souls classic (who they will be touring Australia before the years end) before playing ‘Better Sense’ and the terrific send off with ‘Turnstiles’ and the chorus of “I must always remember;  there’s no point to surrender” sung loud and passionately before Hot Water Music depart having left their mark on minds and hearts and Chucks words before the final song “see you next time hopefully sooner rather than later” echoed by all in attendance.

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