Some of us as WAGS or so The Scratch would have us believe.

Last weekend was the launch of their new single WAG Potential at the Pioneer Club in St Albans, and as it was the wifes turn to drive I did the decent thing and paid for the tickets for us. Having seen them play a few times it is always guaranteed to be a good night, and as this was also being broadcast live onRecharged Radio I was pretty sure Andy and the guys would do their best to entertain. The Pioneer Club is where Enter Shikari practice, and is a central point for local bands to practice and play, and is a fairly sizeable venue with a decent stage set up. 

A couple of local bands started the evening off, As Daylight Dies then The Vertigos and finally the Dark Stares who I had also seen before but seemed a bit harder this time round while we watched from the balcony. Having “enjoyed” a few beers with the band and also Minki of 50Ft Woman fame, Jord from Recharged thought it would be a good time for my debut on Recharged. The last few times I was on the radio was in the early days of Radio 6 (before it was 6 Music) where there were so few listeners that ringing in for any competition was almost a guarantee of winning it. There were no prizes this time, but should you want to listen to me, and all the bands as well, the link is here. 

The bar emptied as the opening of the set was the showing of the video for WAG Potential on the screen and the band took to the stage. Andy wearing his trademark white jacket that must spend more time being cleaned than worn the way he throws himself off the stage. Starting with Teen Idol, which regular Recharged Radio listeners will know well, there followed a set mixing some of the old favourites with a lot from the new (yet to be released) album had all the band enjoying themselves which enthusiasm transfered itself to the crowd. A Ramones cover version slips into the middle of the set with ease and the intro to Dear Maniac saw Andy change guitar for some reason. A lively enough track at the best of times as the show closer, this one had one of those moments.

As the song came to a close, the moment of horror for whoever the guitar had been borrowed from as it came swinging overhead and crashing into the edge of the stage, leaving the local security guards in two minds as to what to do. 

Andy leaped from the stage and disappeared, the guitar in pieces, the body of which is now a piece of “art” on my office wall. The rest of the band seemed a little perplexed, but he soon reappeared and the encore ended with a more than rousing version of Smell The Gas Taps. Band members in the audience, smashed equipment, ears ringing and smiles all round indicate a good night out in anyones book.

Proper indie guitar music on the DIY punk ethic, enjoyment guaranteed.