Sunday 3rd May 2009 @ Thekla, Bristol

If you wanted to see a hyperactive ska band play in front of a hyperactive live crowd, then Thekla’s bank holiday Babyhead offering would have been for you! Showcasing old classics and new material from their third studio album, this was a one-off gig in aid of ‘25 Years Of The Thekla’ celebrations that re-united the band after an amicable New Years split that saw three band members move in new directions.

Despite the initial setback (only five of the fifteen band members were present, resulting in an apparent lack of brass) the band compensated well, with lively front man Mancub working up a sweat; his energy and passion keeping the crowd wanting more. In response to popular demand, Krishna proved that it wasn’t a one-man band with its energetic bass solo and guitars and drums provided by JG and Lupo were also impressive.

Crowd favourites like Babyboom Town and Recording Device meshed well with new material, keeping the die-hard fans happy and interested new spectators that had packed Thekla all the way back to the bar. This was a million miles away from four childhood friends creating a jazzy, untamed punk sounds in a caravan on the Somerset levels, but the band certainly hasn’t lost its origins and the connection between band members was undeniably still there. A favourite song was new track Jungle Law, a jazzy, lively, number that moved the crowd into dancing that verging of out-of-control and singing along.

For those brave enough to party on into the night and celebrate 25 years of Bristol’s favourite boat, there were lashings of old-school hip-hop and, later on, dubstep to continue the festivities and the band stayed around to chill with clubbers, some of whom participated in slightly over-zealous dancing, until the early hours of the morning. This certainly wasn’t a gig to have been missed; aside from anything else, their next scheduled gig isn’t until July!

www.babyhead.co.uk

Della Emsworth & Rory Hugh Evans