Live Review: Abuse Your Confusion Tour – SORM, Bradford, UK, 7th February 2020

It’s rare that I travel to Bradford for a gig but tonight’s line-up is well worth the drive. I’d gone to watch the bands, one in particular, and take a few photos but within minutes of walking through the venue door I knew I was going to write words. But first let me state clearly that I make no apologies for what I’m about to write bigging up two things. Number one:  Abuse Your Confusion, a tour set up and organised by David ‘Weab’ Grant/Kid Klumsy. Originally started 3 years ago and initially set up to help small venues during January and February – traditionally slow months for such places, places that too often we see closing. It’s also a platform to help get bands noticed who might otherwise struggle to get gigs outside their local area.

The shows have developed into mini parties and, with the support of Uncle Stu from STP records, the idea of supporting food banks was born. Always striving to help those who may be in need gigs have an entry fee of a fiver or a bag of food to the value of a fiver or more to be donated to a foodbank. Number two: SORM studios deserves to be known throughout the world. Punk is about inclusion, embracing people regardless of race, gender, ability, sexual orientation or anything else. In the words of Joe Strummer “Punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings”. You’d struggle to see more inclusive than SORM. The School Of Rock and Media is a social enterprise based in the heart of Bradford, established in 2012, with the key aims of using music as a medium to engage young people.

Equipped with instruments, rehearsal rooms, recording suites, music studios and areas to chill out it allows young people to gain and develop skills in the creation of music, sound production and mixing across different genres. Young people also learn valuable life skills such as team-work, communication, problem solving, planning, self-esteem, citizenship and functional skills. With the power of music SORM brings together people from all backgrounds and abilities. SORM lives by it’s values. Namely to treat everyone as equal, to recognise everyone has potential and a contribution to make, to enrich peoples lives and to develop individuals and groups through positive activities. As a gig venue SORM welcomes you with open arms. I knew no-one. I recognised five. I’d ‘spoken’ to just one on social media. Yet I felt like I was part of one big family. People are genuinely interested in you. They make the effort to talk and, in the case of John Bolton, show me around the place. These people didn’t know I was going to write anything and by this point I’d taken perhaps four photos. I’d simply said the words “What a great place.”

This tour, the third Abuse Your Confusion, has featured a constant line-up of Kid Klumsy, Leftovers and Mr Bad Axe. Along the way they’ve been joined for one or more shows by Dead Rejects, The Positives, The White Ribbons (the reason I made the journey in the first place), Kickback Generation. Tonight it’s a six band show. Unfortunately the very early start means I miss Dead Rejects but do catch Leftovers, a Staffordshire punk ska four piece, who deliver a superb set of skanking, catchy, boppy numbers. Mixing covers – they open with Rancid’s ‘Time Bomb’ –  with their own songs that are full of infectious punk guitars and that two-tone ska beat it’s hard to resist the foot tapping lure of songs such as ‘Dreams and Promises’. And, to emphasise the party atmosphere, various members of all the bands gather on stage to belt out the chorus of final number ‘Johnny Pickup’.

Tonight’s compere, bedecked in safari outfit and pith helmet, is Mr Badaxe who later on and after a change of outfit takes to the stage. He introduces The Positives. A band that if ever you need proof that punk is alive and well amongst the youth of today it is this lot. A band of mixed abilities,  who play covers as well as their own material, they rip through a screeching set that includes ‘Blitzkreig Bop’, ‘Town Called Malice’, ‘American Idiot’, ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go’, and ‘Ruby Soho’. Oozing confidence as well as pure enjoyment at what they’re doing they don’t bat an eyelid when there’s an occasional technical hitch. You want a decent punk rock covers band who can also write their own material and who will, hopefully, be around for years to come then look no further than The Positives.

Mr Badaxe takes to the stage for his one man show making sure “it’s after the 9 o’clock watershead”. The badge sitting proudly on his lapel states “HAD A WANK IN IKEA BADAXE” and clearly sets the tone for a set of songs where pretty much anything goes – Teletubbies, Cliff Richard’s arsehole, Jimmy Saville and more. Great entertainment but not for the easily offended. Once again the true spirit of tonight is pushed to the forefront when he hands out a load of penny whistles to anyone who’ll take one, invites people to join him on stage and encourages whistles blowing at seemingly random moments throughout the last song.

Penultimate band The White Ribbons are local. Indeed drummer John Bolton and bassist Tony Saunders are the main people behind SORM. The White Ribbons completely blew me (and others) away when I first saw them on the Introducing Stage at Butlin’s Alternative Music Festival back in October. Blending powerful, guitar driven, pure punk pop songs, strong, catchy melodies, with some serious messages The White Ribbons are superb. Skilfully delivering some heart wrenching lyrics and venting anger at the likes of Weinstein, Trump and Johnson and a passionate dislike of Queen (the band) yet throughout it all making you want to dance ‘til you drop. This band are truly special. With one three track ep already available and another about to drop you have to check them out if you haven’t already done so.

Kid Klumsy sign off the evening with their high octane power punk. Put simply Kid Klumsy enjoy themselves. Only drummer Jamie doesn’t spend part of the set leaping round the dancefloor or in the crowd. Even he would have if the drums had been portable. Infectious, slicing guitars, thumping beats and Weab’s distinctive voice blast through ‘Mr Right Man’, ‘Bully Bullied The Bully’ and more. Weab is quick witted, some wickedly amusing comments creeping in between numbers. He also has a heart of gold and helps deliver the most precious moment of the night when he invites Dec, bass player with The Positives, up to sing. This two and half minute section of time sums up perfectly what Abuse Your Confusion and SORM are about – that everyone can support each other, everyone has something to give and that sometimes doing the small things can lift and enrich the lives of others more than words can express.

Sadly reviews can only be given a top score of 5*. This event, the place and the people simply cannot be measured in stars.

Facebook: Leftovers – The Positives – Chris Heath (Mr Badaxe) – The White Ribbons – Kid Klumsy –

The STP Records website is here