The sun is high in the sky as I get picked up in the mean green gig machine by legends Gary and Micky as we head out onto the British motorways, normally drenched in rain, the pastures we pass en route are hardly recognisable sun soaked after the fine summer we have been having. Parking spot found once in Liverpool centre we walked down the hill, it's Friday and there are people out partying. The streets are packed but it doesn't take us a second to pick out a bunch of 'Weirdo Mosher Freaks' like us who are heading towards the venue. It's The GoGoPonies, their tour manager Brad and others we know and greet, old friends, new friends, big hugs and happy vibes as we walk the rest of the distance to the Outpost.
It's hot inside so we all gather on the pavement outside the venue where a soft evening breeze is just starting to cool us down a little. I get chatting to the GoGoPonies. They've been on the road for a week. Starting their tour at Rebellion, they've been to Birmingham, Brighton, London and York... tonight they're at here and then tomorrow Manchester and finishing off on Sunday at Harrogate. The band are from Milan, Italy and so I get chatting and ask them how they've found touring the UK. "We love it" they chorus. They tell me that playing Rebellion was an absolute highlight and that they have spent a week meeting amazing people, seeing some great places and having an absolute blast on the road. It's been a lot of driving, and there have been a few late nights when it's hard to sleep from the heat and the post-gig buzz that doesn't die down until the early hours, they've ended up sitting around till gone 3am, then back on the road again the next day to find their next venue and try to fit a bit of sightseeing in there too. They've got some stamina!
We're drifting in and out of the venue going from hot sweat box to the cooling night breeze outside as the first two bands of the evening play their sets, but by the time Loz Campbell comes on stage, everyone is inside waiting to hear the grungy goddess. Her set is tight and absolutely awesome. I can tell that this band are young and I am excited to see a totally new rocking generation coming up through this scene. The music is edgy... Loz's dirty guitar sound has all the metal to it of early Sabbath style and I can totally imagine that her song and video Bad Girl would go down a treat in any biker bar across the globe. The bass and drums back her perfectly as they are hard, deep and punchy. In fact, I'm feeling really honoured to be watching them play at such a small venue as I get the feeling that with the right management, these guys could soon be playing some big festivals across the globe very soon. The whole set is tight and full on. Keep an eye out for Loz Campbell, she's going places!
"they're pulling gym poses, yoga stances and giving each moment of the performance a passion and drive that can only be equated with the Themysciran warrior princesses."
And just when we thought we'd had our cake, we then get to also eat it as the GoGoPonies come on stage with their own brand of Italian Riot Grrrl spectacular! There is nothing but full on performance from these amazing people. They're wearing leotards and bikinis.... think Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman and this band are made up of three women and one bloke who are wonderous to watch. The energy of their show is second to none, despite the melting heat and the sweat pouring down the walls, they're pulling gym poses, yoga stances and giving each moment of the performance a passion and drive that can only be equated with the Themysciran warrior princesses. Their songs are heavy but really good fun. Pasta and Furious reminds us to "Eat Lasagna No More Drama" and the joys of delving into a big bowl of our favourite pasta, making each pasta dish sound sexier. "Macaroni, Lumaconi, Fettuccine, Rigatoni...." Yummy..... "Eat more pasta and go go fasta".... The evening draws on and we forget how hot we are and dive right into the dancing, a circle pit is forming and no one can stand still. Their song Camel Toe is empowering... "Boom Ha, Sexy Girl / She's got the camel toe"
