The Shocker, The Dilinquents, Dun 2 Def, The Ramblers.

Esquires Bedford Lev 1 23rd June 2006.

One from the Underground has in the past featured numerous bands from all around the world and tonight we welcome THE SHOCKER from Los Angeles, USA. The group also seem to have smuggled over the balmy and oppressive Californian heat and how we revelled in their sauna sonics. The Shocker feature amongst their ranks vocalist Jennifer Finch who, as one quarter of L7 were (along with Babes in Toyland and Hole) at the forefront of the American girls in Rock explosion at the beginning of the 1990's. L7 recorded a host of material, with the single 'Pretend We're Dead' still a playlist favourite. They, of course, also livened up post-pub TV programme The Word with a notoriously memorable moment.
Tonight, along with Ronnie James (guitar, vocals) Scott Quist (drums), Lisa Howe (bass, vocals) and Ashley Mendel (guitar. vocals) Jennifer's new band is just has heavy, fast and loud. On a tour of the UK to promote their new album, they played in Plymouth on Wednesday, Bedford tonight and the Camden Underworld tomorrow.
The set begins with the heady and heavily riffed 'Cash In', relentlessly followed by the aptly titled 'Pop Narcotic' as the force of the song does indeed induce numbness of the brain in just 2 and a half minutes. Jennifer pauses for breath and tells us it's great to be in Bradford, before admitting that she might just have got that a little wrong. Don't worry - when you and your band are this good we will forgive you anything! With a thundering drum roll into 'Smoke Rings' is a no nonsense, pure punk blitzer which has the backing chorus of 'Up Your Ass Tray' - they are not called The Shocker for nowt! The song 'Problem reminds me of X-Ray Specs with Jennifer singing in a very Polly Styrene manner, while 'Scale' is dedicated to all the young ladies in the audience as Jennifer tells us men that 'on a scale of 1 to 10, you're an ape' - charming! At the end of their set, The Shocker tell us that they will have their 'coke break' on stage and go right into their encore, a cheesy singalong cover of 'Hang on Sloopy'. This is just one of fifteen songs delivered with breakneck speed and was totally enjoyable from first to last.

The night featured good support earlier on from THE RAMBLERS, DUN 2 DEF and most notably THE DILINQUENTS whose stage show was both original and entertaining.