Hooligan + The Kingcrows - live
@ the Star & Garter, Manchester, 27/01/2012

Leeds outfit the Kingcrows delivered up a thunderous and enthusiastic slab of noise, punctuated by much humorous banter, which was enough to make any audience member forget the rain and cold of the gloomy night outside. Their style slewed from a solid Ramones type backbeat into more stark Cramps like rhythms, albeit, with a heavier ‘rock style’ guitar deftly butchered and packaged by guitarist Lee J. Tracks ‘Gonna Grow up One Day’, off their new single, and ‘Party’ seem set to be future punk crowd pleasers.
Hooligan, honed down to a three-piece, and without the accordion and sax which bring a vital extra dimension to their songs, still displayed an extra depth of thought and execution throughout their set. Their concrete punk delivery included some excellent, intricate guitar work and vocal harmonies while drummer JP threw in some captivating off beats and fills to add to the momentum. Straightforward songs such as ‘Trouble’ had an old school feel reminiscent of the Drones but it was their new single ‘No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs’, a reference to bygone English attitudes towards their Irish nationality, that was the highlight of the evening. This reggae/punk stalwart demonstrated Hooligans ability to blend different styles of music in the manner of The Clash whom they also paid tribute to in the touching ‘Calling Joe Strummer.’
Watch out for these guys.
Review by Dave Akarat
Hooligan, honed down to a three-piece, and without the accordion and sax which bring a vital extra dimension to their songs, still displayed an extra depth of thought and execution throughout their set. Their concrete punk delivery included some excellent, intricate guitar work and vocal harmonies while drummer JP threw in some captivating off beats and fills to add to the momentum. Straightforward songs such as ‘Trouble’ had an old school feel reminiscent of the Drones but it was their new single ‘No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs’, a reference to bygone English attitudes towards their Irish nationality, that was the highlight of the evening. This reggae/punk stalwart demonstrated Hooligans ability to blend different styles of music in the manner of The Clash whom they also paid tribute to in the touching ‘Calling Joe Strummer.’
Watch out for these guys.
Review by Dave Akarat