Anti-Nowhere League / The Damn Garrison – (split EP)
So I recently became acquainted with Anti-Nowhere League. I knew of them for awhile, knew they were kind of famous and from England. I checked them out on youtube when I knew they were playing Viviam’s show with the Cro-Mags. I recognized “So What” and was duly impressed with their material.
Now, The Damn Garrison I know as a New Hampshire band that have made it down to play The Midway , once or twice, and I know they’re been reviewed by us also, once or twice.
Still I was a bit shocked when we received this in our e-mail and it didn’t seem to be sent from the Damn Garrison camp.
I guess I could investigate how these bands hooked up- but does it really matter? All I know is I got four great songs before me, I like them, I feel you will also; and theirs no reason for any heartfelt reason, is there?
Anti-Nowhere seems to me to be a pretty great English Oi band with their roots in early English punk while The Damn Garrison seems like a pretty great American Oi band with their roots in hardcore and traditional punk.
This EP has awesome songs and there’s probably no need for me to press another key.
But I will- out of duty, tradition and faith. Besides, we haven’t heard anything yet!
The first song by ANL starts with the polite request of “Shut the fuck up!” Yes, English people are so much more refined and reserved than Americans. A moderate but energetic beat with slashing guitar follows recalling early Sex Pistols days. “The Day The Word Turned Gay,” (maybe a reference to X-Ray Spec’s “The Day The World Turned Day-Glow) mentions lady-boys (Slimedog) and “they’re holding each others hands with trousers down” and “sniffing each others asses just like dogs.” Well, what’s a lady-boy like Slimedog to do? If I believed the homophobia in the song was sincere I would never write about it but this band is a humorous band and I believe the lyrics are tongue in cheek (anus). This is a great, rousing song that ends with the tag of “fuck’n’ transvestite.” I think the Republican party should snag this song and put a county beat to it and use it as their theme song in the next election.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01-Day The World Turned Gay.mp3|titles=Day The World Turned Gay]
“Well, he’s a dirty old bastard, a right filthy cunt.” Is every song on this EP gonna be about my amoral lifestyle? Another quaint English country manor madrigal with a rockin’ beat, grunge-y Chuck Berry guitar and shout-a-long vocals chorus. The verse is a spoken word pervert dialog, “he’s just a filthy animal.” Along the way snippets of tunes by Garry Glitter and Pete Townsend pop in alluding to their child pornography allegations with the former being convicted. I will accuse this band of being fun, irreverent, clever and punk and be right. This is a great punk’n’roll number that slices clear to the heart of life with energy, passion and humor- brilliant, mates!
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02-Adventures Of Peter Vile.mp3|titles=Adventures Of Peter Vile]
“Damn Garrison” first song “The Real Ones” starts with a more uptempo beat that is more Oi/ hardcore in style. “We’ll always be the outcasts and we’ll never give a damn.” A rollicking bass lick, pounding drums and propulsive guitars set the pace for some growly intense, seething vocals to follow. This is true Oi with shout-along-vocals and a modest guitar solo. They sound more English than the ANL and create a song here that is pure, true, real punk. “We may not be the biggest lot or the toughest crew/ Together we stand, together we fall/ And we won’t back down from you.”
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03-The Real Ones.mp3|titles=The Real Ones]
“Pride And Honor” is another Oi donnybrook straight out of the gate, bombs away onslaught with trebly bass, pumping drums and exhorting vocals. The response vocals shout the chorus. This is in your face hardcore inviting you to the front of the stage to sing along, to circle in the mosh-pit, to be part of the community that cares about you and not care what others think of you. This song is a diatribe against society and the pride they take in our community, one that is real, honest and kind. “Pride and honor/ something started long ago/ We’re still here to let you know/ I got something you can’t see/ Pride and honor/ The difference between you and me.” But if you’re reading these words you’re already a part of our community that is intelligent, helpful towards others and creates great music like this song.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04-Pride & Honor.mp3|titles=Pride & Honor]
So there you have it, different bands on different continents. One formed awhile back, the other just a few years ago. Both using the same language though with different meanings for so many words. Example: We don’t call gay people “puffs” here and in England they call cigarettes “fags!”
But just like this is a record made with hands across an ocean so do we have music that is passed on by generations and continues to thrive though many thought it would be gone by now. (Believe me, everybody from my generation thought, at the end of the eighties, it would soon be forgotten).
But it lives on, in a joint effort, in England and New England as well. Pretty much everywhere on the planet.
And I’m proud to write of it and it’s an honor to do so, as well.
(Slimedog)
