I am no stranger to slumming it, but The Joiners tonight is a place you literally have to scrub off your skin. Overflowing toilets and trails of mystery fluids set the scene only halfway through the first support. The place is packed. This crowd has mostly been attracted by headliners Crashdiet and Jettblack, and photographers flood the pub with a halo of bulky equipment and a feeling of job satisfaction rivalled only by that of the performers.
The first band are Fareham locals Hollywood Trash. Known for their spirited covers and embracement of the dirty, waiflike aesthetic, they draw a massive crowd. This group has supported Crashdiet internationally in the past, and they do not disappoint. The set is their usual mix of originals and covers that achieves diversity despite the supposedly narrow genre it derives from. Unlike many opening acts, the band hangs around for the entire night, welcoming the opportunity to mingle with their elders as well as the civilian congregation. Trash’s current level of fame will be fondly remembered by members and fans alike.
The second group, Western Sand, has the audience jumping. If you call it a warmup for the headliners, it’s the kind of exercise that has you chilling in the canteen well before the end of your workout. Inspired by the styles of Led Zep and Deep Purple, they pledge to put England back on the map where rock ‘n’ roll is concerned – and they certainly bring it. This is a band not to be underestimated, one which draws its influences from possibly the oldest and most respected corners of the hard-rockosphere. So early into the game, camera-wielding girls are scaling the equipment for a good shot. By the end of their set, the audience is outside gasping for air with little time left before Crashdiet hit the stage.
It would be an understatement to claim that Crashdiet are excellent. Although you’d anticipate no less from a band of their calibre, it has to be said that they continue to exceed expectations. Surprisingly civil to the intimidatingly snap-happy audience, they work enough position changes into their set to make any photographer’s night, while still delivering the quality tunes they are famous for. Their routine includes era-defying classics like “Queen Obscene” alongside the very latest tracks such as “Cocaine Cowboys”. This, the last night of their UK tour, is heavily acknowledged, and for the second time in my gig-going career it is fairly easy to catch up with the band after the show. They are a lovely bunch of guys, something almost unexpected given the subject matter of their songs.
The other headliner, Jettblack, suffers no decrease in the audience scope. Where many gigs at this venue, especially on a Sunday night, see a disappointing loss of revellers as time wears on, this band manages to maintain things admirably. Right out in the bar it is still a fight for space as more and more people are drawn inside, while nobody seems to want to leave. Influenced by groups such as Bon Jovi and AC/DC, they certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to insanely catchy tunes. The phrase “Two hot girls coming out in the sunlight” may be permanently etched into my brain, and I am a heterosexual female. Jettblack’s music is an absolute success at sexualising everything, and will surely go on to affect the young generation if they continue to receive such exposure. After tonight there is no doubt amongst the attendees that proper, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well on the South Coast of England. If anything, I feel sorry for the cleaners.