Wednesday 26th March 2008 @ Thekla, Bristol

To say The Subways like to make the most of their gigs is like saying Bowie was ‘quite’ keen on dressing up. They may not have the depth or lyrical prowess of others but slap me pink and call me Mary, they know how to put on a friggin’ good show.

From the moment a topless Billy Lunn (guitar/vocals) swaggers out onstage in front of a sold out Thekla, he is in full showmanship mode; “How the fuck are you doing Bristol?!” he hollers to a chorus of air punching roars. “I hope you’re having a fucking awesome night” and with that the three midgets from Hertfordshire burst through a fiery set of moshing and, now trademark, Billy stage dive/crowd surfs.

What really impresses though is the lead singer’s athleticism. As I am sure he’s well aware, it’s International Tree Climbing Day the following Sunday (fact) and Billy celebrates by leaping from an amp onstage to grab hold of the venue’s balcony. He promptly hauls himself up and runs around the top punching the air, playing up to the excited crowd below him before clambering down the 10ft drop again back on to the stage. Still not content with the night’s workout, during the encore and his second crowd surf, Billy manages to sail his way to the back of the venue on the sea of hands where he again climbs up to the balcony. This time his route back to the stage is much more direct and after teasing the ecstatic fans under him, he throws himself off the balcony and onto the dense throng below. Crumbs that was exciting! Rock and roll man!

www.thesubways.net

Matthew Whittle www.matthewwhittleblog.blogspot.com
Photos: Tom Wright