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Punk rock returns to The Well with what is basicly a rehash of the same gig from a few weeks back, plus an extra band in the middle.

First up are Hammerfluff, a bunch of enthusiastic guys and girls playing rock with some punk and metal undertones. The female bassist takes up most vocal duties, with assistance from the guys in some songs. They've clearly put a lot of work in to their music, and as a payoff they've got a good tight sound. Unfortunately, although it sounds good, it's pretty generic and not all that creative. Although good at what they do, Hammerfluff could easily be mistaken for a handful of similar bands these days. Although clearly happy to be playing and quite energetic, they seem a bit unsure of what to do on-stage, and prefer to just stand still playing their instruments while the audience sit and politely clap after every song. Definite potential, but a few improvements could make them a lot more attractive for a night out.

Next up is Girl Hits Boy, 4 guys playing punk rock with a bit of everything thrown in for good measure. The music's not as tight as it could be, but the only way you'd know something has gone wrong is when the guys shoot nervous smiles at each other, and carry on playing regardless. The most noticable thing about the band is their energy. For the entire set, they're all over the stage, the floor, the entire room. There's no denying that the music could use some work, it's not as tight as it could be, but it's still catchy, and very fun. What really gets them by is their stage presence, they seem confident on-stage and clearly love being there. The audience are on their feet for the whole set, and enjoying themselves the whole time. The bassist unleashes a few comedic moments that get everybody laughing, and some hateful attacks on the punk "elite". He also provides the most bizarre moment of the night by simulating masturbation during the final song, an ode to his own self-pleasure. Definitely a band to watch for the future, and one hell of a live show to see if you get the chance.

Next up are Superzero, a Hitchin 3-piece who have just released their first EP, and aren't afraid to plug it. Like the previous band, their music is still a bit unpolished, but they have plenty of energy and are entertaining to watch. The bassist and lead singer stands out as a great musician, although the vocals are a bit off at times. The harmonies work well, and give the impression that Superzero know the score when it comes to their backing vox. The influence of bands like Green Day rings throughout, but Superzero still craft their own irresistable pop-punk sound and get the crowd dancing. Other noticable influences include the perfectly synchronized jumps of Busted, and the shirt-ripping brutality of the Incredible Hulk. Not the most memorable of bands, but still definitely worth a listen and good to see live.

The final support band of the night are the infamous Kindred, a very popular local pop-punk 3-piece who seem to have built up a decent local following and a favourable reputation for themselves. The aforementioned bassist of Girl Hits Boy is noticably fond of them, as are most of the people with enough energy to remain standing in the front row. From the very first note, it's clear to see why they're so popular. Although another band with obvious traits of various pop-punk acts, The Kindred sound original and are creative in their music, combining harder sections with mellow almost-ballads and straight forward punk rock. They're also all very good at what they do; bass, guitar and drums all sound exceptional. They have plenty of energy and charisma on-stage, and put on a very entertaining show. If they have a weakness, and that's a big "if", it would probably be that at some points they seem a little unorganised, but it's barely noticable in a band with this level of talent and professionalism. The set is unfortunately cut short, just giving the boys a chance to invite a guest guitarist on stage and finish up with what is undoubtedly their best song, a metal/punk crossover bringing out a little mosh pit and every inch of remaining energy from their audience. One of Luton's finest, and a highlight of the evening.

Last up are Same Day Service, three piece pop-punk-princesses from Texas. Although they played at The Well just a few weeks ago, it's still difficult to figure out just how the promoters could get hold of such a well known international band. The girls don't seem to mind though, and just come off as happy to be playing to an audience who are very into them and give them as much support as you can expect from a bunch of tired people who have been dancing for the past 3 hours. It's catchy, fun, energetic pop-punk with plenty of on-stage motion, particularly from the bassist who comes across as more than a little bit insane. There are cheers for all the favourite songs, laughing for all the little comedic bits in-between, plenty of hellish moshing, and even a little bit of crowd-surfing. Without a doubt, SDS has this gig wrapped around their collective finger. Again, the set is forced to be cut short due to time restrictions, but the girls don't seem to mind and it's unlikely that anybody in the audience would claim this was a bad gig because of it.

All in all, a very impressive gig with a really good turn out. Although it didn't seem to be organized too well, resulting in some sets being cut short, everybody seemed to have a good time and the bands were all decent. The Kindred and Girl Hits Boy would be nominated as the best support bands of the night, and despite all the problems, Same Day Service were excellent headliners. The only question is, when do the people at The Well planning on putting on this gig yet again?

Tim

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