It takes a lot to get your arse in gear and head out on a freezing cold Friday in December, but it was totally worth driving through the misty back roads of Shropshire, down to small town Whitchurch to see Kid Klumsy performing live at Percy's Café Bar. A sublime venue, with all the décor of posters and print outs you would expect from a live music place, but then also many added extras, including wild animals, airplane seats, legs 11 strip club neon lights, road traffic warnings and an old pub sign for The Big Black Hard Cock Public House. Percy's is not for the faint hearted and make sure you've brought your big coat. The performance area is under a corrugated roof. There is a log burner giving out a bit of warmth, but you're going to have to dance your little tits off if you wanna keep warm when gigging at Percy's mid-winter.
And dance our little titties off we did. There are four acts on the bill, three quarters of which I have already seen playing on the circuit and a new band to discover. It's gonna be a great evening.
10 year old Homersapien kicks off the evening with his punk homage to The Simpsons. The songs are fun and jeeeeeezzzzzzzzzuzzz... this kid is getting sassy with everyone in the audience. In true punk rock style he is taking the piss out of everyone and working the crowd better than some pro-comedians I've seen. He gets Kid Klumsy up on stage to sing some songs with him, only condition is that they wear Simspon character masks, then gifts them a box of donuts for their contribution to his act.
The evening's entertainment is compered by MC Mr Badaxe and he takes to the stage after Homersapien to give us a few tunes and stories which leave the crowd in stitches. He doesn't hold back for one second. His ideas on current politics weighted by his disdain for societal power structures is obvious in his set. His stories suggest he has been on this circuit for years and he is just as pissed off as the rest of us with decline of trust in politicians. He holds a sign up "Boris you're a lying bastard" But we're here to party and I end up on stage with him, party blower for an instrument as a few of us accompany his songs. The night is warming up...
We're all verging on hysteria with laugh and giggles, when, quite aptly Jonny & The Mental Breakdowns take to the stage full of punky mentally fucked angst. Their set hits hard from the first chord to the last. There is power in each song, but like the rest of the evening, there is a lot of fun to be had in the tunes. They start the set getting us dancing around and singing 'Fuck the Tories' at the top of our lungs.... The fifth song of the set is only one note long and is dedicated to Rishi Sunak, it's called Cunt in B. We hear Songs of Rebellion, Skinheads in Adidas, Die Happy and You're not Pablo Escobar, you're a two-bit dealer from Bletchley. Their tunes have some catchy bits in and it's not hard to find yourself singing along by the second chorus. Despite three quarters of the band suffering a serious case of 'man flu' (their terminology, not mine), they managed to come back from the brink of death to deliver a strong, powerful and awesome set. In yer face punk rock, just how I like it! We all raise our glasses to their finale songs Let's Raise a Beer and Merry Christmas you Cunts.
And the beers are flowing, we're keeping warm and lots of people are chatting, making new friends as Kid Klumsy do a quick swap around. There's only three out of the four members of KK this evening but they fill the space with their presence and noise making. Pulling songs out from several of their releases, the set is varied and full on. Grow Up is always a room favourite for the Kid Klumsy fanbase and the audience are singing along "Kid Klumsy, When will you grow up?" Never, we bloody hope!! Coz the youthful energy of the group is just what this crowd needs as we escape into this space to forget about real life for a few hours and just get lost in the music and mayhem of the evening! Matt is jumping off the stage and playing his guitar around the crowd, drawing people into Kid Klumsy's own brand of chaos. People are singing along and face it, when the music is this good, you can't stop your feet from moving and your head from bopping. Other performers from the evening are getting up on stage to add vocals. The songs feel almost anthemic amongst the backdrop of this winter of discontent as we give a big middle finger in the air to all that is pissing us off, including how fucking cold we are!
Kid Klumsy are a heart warming, fun filled punk group that bring good times, smiles and unity to each show. They're a lovely bunch of people, always taking time for hugs and chats with everyone who comes to their gigs and this is reflected in their performance. It's inviting and you can't help but get involved and swept along with their enthusiasm and energy. This is how punk should be. The whole evening has been an abosolute fuckin delight. All the acts were awesome and the venue provides a really welcoming environment where people feel a part of a community. Tonight, it has been the Kid Klumsy community which I feel proud to be involved with. Keep Klumsying Kiddos!!!!
Marina xx
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