This gig was always going to be a high energy affair as quite a lot of the bands play up to the DVD recordings, and although for a first timer, you could have been excused for thinking The Clashed were certainly playing up, take my word for it, they were not. You get energy, enthusiasm and basically a full on smack in the face show, and certainly NOT for the DVD cameras that were filming the gig. I for one will be contacting The Clashed for my FREE copy, especially after they read this review.

Over 90 minutes of pure Clash and they still left me wanting more.

Well done guys and I WILL be there for the next one.

The Railway S.C, Bournmouth - Sept 24 2005
Written by Lewis - The Sound Of The Suburbs - Published Sept 2005
LONG WAY FROM HOME
THE RAILWAY S.C, BOURNMOUTH

I arranged this gig back in June knowing that a Clash tribute to my knowledge hadn't played in Bournemouth before. It's difficult finding the right venue, but The Railway Social;'slapped me in the face' after I ran through my old gigs page to find somewhere suitable. The truth be-known, a lot of venues won't 'entertain' punk bands for fear of an undesirable audience that will obviously smash everything and beat each other up! In this day and age the fact that 'anybody' will do that that can't handle their drink, is being a bit biased if you are sporting a Mohican!. This club wasn't so negative and it paid off.

I Sold 90 tickets in advance which was a good start. The Club started getting busy around 8.30 when grabbed my mike to knock out a few tunes as everybody huddled at the bar lapping up they're 2 or 3 pint roundsfor under a fiver!!!.

(Click on pictures below to enlarge)

The bar was getting busier and busier so Toxic Fruitcake took the stage at 9.15 to draw some bodies onto the dance floor. Neil (lead vocals) has got a great oi voice and they're hour long set of covers off some cool tunes including Pretty Vacant, Swords of a Thousand Men, Concrete Jungle, Drink Driving, So What and a great version of 15 Years by the Levellers had the place rocking. I thought they had improved greatly since I last saw them and were a great asset to the night. If anybody wants to book them send me your details and I'll pass it on.

(Click on pictures below to enlarge)

I have to admit I have only heard good reports of The Clashed but have never seen them and they certainly lived up to their reputation. It was a long way for them to travel - Middlesborugh - Bournemouth via Coventry and I was a little worried it might be a no-show. But they got here and knocked out all the best tracks The Clash had to offer. My mates were 'wrecking' to there hearts content 'happy as pigs in shit we were' one of them said. It was Career Opportunities that pulled me into the mosh and a check on the door that pulled me out!. I'm So Bored with The USA, Londons Calling, Garageland, English Civil War, I Fought The Law, Bankrobber and Janie Jones a mere sample of the tracks played. The whole club was pumping and the atmosphere made for one of the best nights I have orgainised on my own. Great bunch of blokes thanks for singing Pressure Dropped for me Oz, it certainly was with 230 through the door! It was also great to see so many new faces and a good number of Punks and Skins all enjoying a 'cheap' trouble free night!.

(Click on pictures below to enlarge)

The Civic Hall - May 4 2005
Written by Sean McGhee - NEWSPRINT - Published 11 May 2005
"Amphetamine Fuelled Energy"
THE CIVIC HALL, WHITEHAVEN - 4/05/2005

Displaying all the amphetamine fuelled energy of the original: Middlesboroughs own, The Clashed laid claim to the title of "best tribute to the best Rock n Roll band of all time" with a blistering set of classics covering the entire Clash output, cleverly avoiding the later post split troughs.

Bringing the sound of London's Westway to West Cumbria, The Clashed displayed a carefully studied stage presence that although resembling the onstage personas of the punk legends, never risked looking stilted or false. The show was no empty insipid "karaoke punk" spectacle a la "Stars In Their Eyes".

Guitarist and frontman Oz, sometimes adopting the Strummer (R.I.P.) persona and at other times that of Mick Jones handled it all with suitable passion, sweat dripping and riff riffing in all the right places. It was obvious from the start that The Clashed had done their homework, occupying and sounding occasionally possessed by number after number from the formidable Clash catalogue; English Civil War, Clash City Rockers, Janie Jones, Bankrobber, White Man in Hammersmith Palais, Tommy Gun, London Calling, Rock The Casbah and on and on it rolled with barely a second to catch your breath. A solid backline kept the rhythm section moving and helped power along the whole band as they gave their all onstage, seemingly enjoying the experience as much as the audience.

Called back for two encores, after an exhausting, and often exhilarating two hour set, the Clashed finished most properly with their namesakes - call to arms, White Riot, but oddly a second short set of encores saw them fire out fiery renditions from the Stiff Little Fingers, The Ramones and The Undertones songbook, which although out of place helped display the bands versatility.

Although performing in front of a disappointingly poor turnout (just over 100) none of the turnout left disappointed. In these days of lightweight pop-punk obsession, it was sweet to reminisce about the real thing, albeit in tribute format, just for one night!