THE skuzzies / blast / ancient guardians of wisdom

They’re greeted with the hip-hop punk stylings of ANCIENT GUARDIANS OF WISDOM, who follow a similar path to Australia’s Bumblebeez, blending the two contrasting styles confidently. Confessing to being MC’s as apposed to musicians, they spit out lyrical witticisms of politics and social commentary with a strange poignancy that recalls The Clash. Far from the finished article they confuse and generally bewilder the on lookers, but this only adds to their charm. And with their expert DJ Shadow style scratching they really do bring something new to the table. Moscow rockers BLAST are next up and it seems they’ve read the Rolling Stones guide to playing rock music. Putting the same enthusiasm into their performance as say Mando Diao they play dirty blues - but stadium style. Every song was played as it they we’re headlining Wembley Stadium, guitar licks were thrown abut like confetti and with their front man they have someone that can command the stage with charisma. As bodies gradually rise from their seats and progress to the front of the stage for a bit of dancing you know they’re doing something right. Stepping up to the stage THE SKUZZIES look like they’ve been dragged backwards from a drunken night at CBGB’s circa 1977. Clearly men of the night, they stand on the stage with pale faces hidden beneath their raven black hair, then launch in to charging power chords straight out of the Ramones back catalogue. They take a little while to warm up, but soon the basic chords are replaced a glorious glam-punk racket. The guitarist throws himself around the stage as his spider fingers fly up and down the fret board as they hammer out short sharp stabs of New York Dolls influence punk. The New York punk scene of the 70s was always more glamorous than the British one and The Skuzzies know this: as well as the Dolls there are moments of Jonathan Richman, Stooges and Richard Hell. Watch out for them - as they’re putting the glamour back into punk.