Posted on August 2, 2009 - by Imelda

Squirtgun + The Zatopeks + Company L

26 July 09
The Underworld,
London, UK

Squirt Gun © Imelda Michalczyk

Sunday night shows at Camden’s Underworld can be a little on the sparse side in terms of crowd numbers and tonight is no exception. So the fact that two of the original five bands have pulled out is, in some ways a blessing, giving a later start time – and so potentially bigger crowd – to the remaining support bands.

Company L were first on. A relatively new group founded by Mike Scott (formerly of Phinius Gage) the four-piece dip into politics, love and veganism for inspiration in an impassioned set.

Next up are the popular The Zatopeks, whose mix of punk and rock’n’roll gets the crowd dancing with an upbeat, vibrant show.

Bizarrely, by the time Squirtgun appear the floor actually seems less packed, but anyone who might have left before the rare chance to catch these US pop-punk heroes really missed out. With their impressive credentials (members of Screeching Weasel and Common Rider, production credits with the likes of Anti-Flag and Rise Against), it’s not surprising that Squirtgun offer up a tight, driven, entertaining set. It’s the band’s last date of their European tour to promote their most recent release, live album ‘Broadcast 02.09.08’. But they’re still full of energy, jumping around enthusiastically and playing a well-received set of their own songs and other gems like a cover of Common Rider’s ‘Classics of Love’.

Squirtgun prove to be one of those bands that you wish you’d dragged a load of friends along to see. Annoying, because now I’m going to have to rave about them to people who, sadly, may not get a chance to catch them live for some time…