THE ANGRY ITCH EP



Angry Itch are back with a new self titled EP and this time they mean it maaannnn!

For just over 12 months Angry Itch have been gigging in and around Birmingham, and up and down the country, gathering support and getting quite a few rave reviews along the way.  To celebrate their debut appearance at the recent Rebellion festival in Blackpool they managed to find time to get into the studio and record another four songs for this, their second EP.

And boy have they upped the bar this time.  The four choice tracks here proudly display just how far they have come in a really short time. 

It kicks off with the frantic I Hate You More, a melodic thrash of a song (from day one I've always found comparisons with the melodic hardcore of early Husker Du, only with a trademark Birmingham punk element stamped right through their sound). 

I Hypocrite is in the same mould, and why not? 

The brilliant Rise Again, with the audience participation closing refrain "They got kicked out... they're gonna start a riot" really shows just how savvy these guys are at putting together great songs that will just get engrained in your brain at the first listen. 

Closing song 1st Floor is my choice track, starting slower than most of their songs, it's a call to grab a beer and enjoy the company of great friends, before really kicking into life - if this doesn't have you singing along by the end, then I think we probably need to call the crash trolley and check for a pulse.

Angry Itch - 1st Floor

12 months ago I thought this band were amazing.  I've been lucky enough to catch them quite a few times since and I'm always left feeling like I've just witnessed something a little bit special (their appearance on the new band stage at Rebellion was astounding and one of the highlights not just of that stage but of the whole festival). 

Definitely one of the releases of the year so far - start spreading the fucking word - ANGRY ITCH are coming!

Check out their Facebook page for regular updates on forthcoming gigs including an appearance at Birmingham Punx Picnic at the Wagon & Horses on 6th September.  And I'm sure if you speak to John, Richard or Luke nicely they'll be able to hitch you up with a copy of the E.P.

https://www.facebook.com/AngryItch?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/angryitchband 
   

Spirit Bomb / Angry Itch / Complete Dysfunction / The Nerks - Live 1st March 2014

If you are standing outdoors at the beginning of March sipping cold lager then it must be another punk rock night at the Wagon & Horses. 

Tonight was a special night being the debut gig by Spirit Bomb but more on that later. 

The evening kicked off with Complete Dysfunction, with a slightly different line up to the one I’d seen last September.  Despite a few on stage sound problems they put in a good performance with their politically tinged songs. 

Next up were Angry Itch and these guys quite literally are going places.  2014 has got off to a busy start, already playing gigs in Birmingham and further afield in Portsmouth and Derby and sharing stages with the likes of 2 Sick Monkeys and Paranoid Visions and other local bands such as Rotunda and Brassick.  They have been picking up some extremely positive live reviews even featuring on John Robb’s Louder Than War blog and the word is spreading so much so that they have been invited to play on the new band stage at the Rebellion festival in Blackpool In August. 

 

 

And tonight’s performance was excellent.   The songs come at you fast and frenetically but have a sing along quality that pulls you in then grabs you by the jugular, refusing to let up until the trio have expended every last drop of energy out of them.  If they are this on form come August, then the Rebellion weekend is going to get off to one hell of a start. 

Although not actually headlining the evening was all about Spirit Bomb, tonight was their debut gig and the entry fee included a copy of their Killer in Your Stereo e.p. (and it's a corker).  Made up from members of local bands Drongos For Europe, The Liarbilitys and Vincent and the One Pots.  They entered the stage like a band of bad mother fuckers and from the opening notes they sounded like they meant it. 



A large and enthusiastic crowd saw them plough through a set of high octane punk rock n roll blending elements of their other bands and in their own words they wanted 'to make the kind of music we love, with passion, power, rock 'n' roll with a punk rock soul" and on tonight's performance they succeeded.  Exciting times ahead with Spirit Bomb.

(the rather cool Spirit Bomb photos courtesy of T.C.B. Photography / Chris Hill Photography)

Unfortunately I had to dash for the last train so left to the opening strains of the Nerks but hope to catch them soon.

Tonight really highlighted that there is a really great punk scene in Birmingham at the moment with regular gigs at a number of venues with lots of newish band such as Angry Itch and Brassick mixing it with the old guard like GBH and Drongos for Europe.  If you need any further proof check out how many Birmingham bands are on the line up for Rebellion and on tonight's performance it's gonna be epic.  Bring on the Birmingham Invasion! 

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/SpiritBomb4
https://www.facebook.com/AngryItch
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Nerks/328504867170942?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisHillPhotographyuk  
 

28TH SEPTEMBER 2013 AT THE WAGON & HORSES - BIRMINGHAM

 

Six bands for five quid. Sounds like a bargain to us. Get your arses down there!