Scene Not Herd presented An Overdue Night of Noise at Scarborough’s Westover Club on Saturday 15th November.

Compered by performance poet Graham Rhodes, the line up paired Beetlebug with Philip Bull, followed by Serial Killer Glasses, Shindig and Graham Watson, ending with a Dan Radics (Rebel Radics Soundsystem) DJ Set.

Britain in the 1980’s saw a rise in social disparity, unemployment, anger and fear. All this was fed upon by the far right, creating a space for riots and racism to rocket. The good news is we witnessed a cultural response with punk and hardcore creating a counterculture in resistance, two tone demonstrating directly that racial unity works beautifully, and reggae and hip hop giving voice to people who previously were not heard. Sadly the 2020’s so far have given us drill, which may sound good but is the ugly (in intent) soundtrack of those whom are oppressed, turning against each other and promoting a desire to reach the capitalist echelons to be alongside those whom oppress them.

Whisper it, but the Yorkshire Coast may well be responding. This is the third punk rock gig in Scarborough in two weeks and something must be in the sea water. There is a sudden explosion of new bands playing guitar music in the various guises of punk rock. Not only that, but the old bands from the past slot into the scene neatly too. Weirder still, the bands and the audience are lacking in egos, which has often been a true rarity. And they are all great bands. We could be on the verge of something radical here where your grandchildren will be watching documentaries with retro footage, about a musical resistance which started in small coastal towns in the north, whose effect and influence rippled across the country and then the world…

The Westover Club used to be an RAF social club and holds a decent upstairs room with a cheap bar. It was here a ramshackle bunch of equipment was set up and crowds gathered to watch a free night of noise. Punk poet – and a man growing increasingly rebellious with age – Graham Rhodes was the host of the evening, boldly introducing each band and blasting out poetry. On stage alongside music is, without doubt, this poet’s natural habitat. First of all he introduced Phillip Bull and Beetlebug. Beetlebug usually writes and sings ethereal, dreamy and pulchritudinous songs but, alongside the always delightful, charming and eclectic Phillip Bull at a punk rock night, the sound was a little different – for example, an alternative version of The Wombles. Tongue was very firmly in cheek and the stage smiles from this duo were a direct reflection of those watching them. Can anyone watch Phillip Bull and fail to smile?

You may have read me raving about Serial Killer Glasses in my last review and I was excited about seeing them again. Frontperson Theo looks like a rock star on and off the stage, and whereas his bandmates have an unassuming air offstage, once they start playing and then there is no doubt that the stage is also their throne. People were crowding forward to not just watch the performance but admire the incredible level of musicianship. The band state they are influenced by bands like Swans, but it feels like watching Nirvana and Fugazi jamming together. It is startling to think that they are a new band, and are only going to tailor their artistic vision and stagecraft as they continue and get better and better. Much like last time, they finished their set with people having to lift their jaw off the floor.

I was gutted to have to pop out briefly and missed Shindig’s full set, though Yorkshire Coast Gigs editor, and photographer for the evening, Kath, was of course on hand for it all and confirmed succinctly that they were ‘bloody great, as always’ . (I had already been booked to dress up as a werewolf and terrify one of the two members of the brilliant Scarborough-based comedy podcast Two Guys, Whats Up?, who just finished their 100th episode, so go check them out). I was informed by other audience members that it was one of the best gigs Shindig have played. If you haven’t witnessed them before, I recommend you do it soon – they are doing very well and getting gigs all over the country. Catching the latter part of their set, there was a good-humoured jape about them sounding like Idles and, OK, they would fit on an Idles bill but it’s a lazy comparison. Like their fantastic name suggests, Shindig play like it’s a party. Their songs are raucous and loud but also a lot of fun. They have great stage presence with a strong frontman and deserve the attention they are receiving. Witness them before they take that next step up that is going to happen.

It’s interesting for a band to have their first proper gig and first headline gig on the same night. You may therefore not expect the venue to remain rammed after a blinding set by Shindig, but it is testament to the enormous popularity of the huge and wonderful characters in the final band that indeed it remained a heaving throng. With more pedals than your local cycle shop, four-piece Graham Watson took to the stage to an adoring audience before they even played one note. Although I imagine it wasn’t Graham Watson’s point of reference or even influence, they sounded very much like 80’s Californian punk rock bands such as Circle Jerks and The Germs. As you can imagine, with some of the scene’s biggest characters in one band, the performance was spellbinding, and even featured a trumpet. Raw and rugged punk rock taking inspiration from life in Scarborough delivered with mischief and a raised middle finger. Having said this band were adored before they even played, they were even more adored after they had.

Graham Watson passed the mic to Graham Rhodes who amplified the final screams and applauses as Dan Radics kicked off a DJ set, starting blindingly with Gorilla Biscuits as the crowd danced and enjoyed the Westover’s bargainous beer.

If you are reading this and haven’t started coming out to see what is happening here, then don’t be one of those people down the road who say, “oh yeah, I wish I had been at that gig”. Be the one at that gig. The memories will be far better. You may even be in that documentary to show your grandkids.

Related News:

The next Scene Not Herd event is scheduled for March 28th, 2025, with The Restarts, Active Minds, Slalom D and Bear Away at Roscoe’s Bar, Scarborough.

Shindig have a new single, Mr Happy, out now, and are playing in Scarborough at Indigo Alley for the Last Night Party on 7th December, 2024.

Graham Watson are also on the line up for the 7th at Indigo Alley, then later this month they are supporting The Sub-Gents at Crescent Lounge on 21st December.