Ooooh, you can literally smell the anticipation in the air at tonight’s Franklin Rock ‘n’ Roll Club. It’s busy and hot; with bearded men in Bonnevilles t-shirts and pretty high-heeled ladies in attendance. What does anticipation smell like, I hear you ask? Tonight it’s definitely Hai Karate mixed with cheap booze.  

Which conveniently leads us nicely onto the first act: Grrrrrrrrrrrrr... It’s The Brutes! And, never has a name been more apt for a band of this ilk. The last time I saw them play was at this very same venue supporting Les Grys Grys back in September (read about that epic show here). They have it all. As I previously stated, it’s the stuff Pebbles comps are made of. Fast, fun, cheeky and just tight enough to produce that nonchalant garage-punk sound. Breezing through tracks like ‘Good Times’, ‘Knock Me Out’, favourite ‘Whaddya Want?’ and cool covers like The Electric Prunes’ ‘Never Had It Better’ and garage grrr-owler ‘Hang Up’ by The Wailers - top screaming from Beauregarde. Shout out to Heinrich Mitt-Schticks on thumping, as he pounds his way through the whole set without breaking into a metaphorical sweat. 

Whilst we catch our breath, and make a quick dash to the bar, time for step-in Jim to don his DJ hat and spin a few disks. Then on with the show...

‘We’re Geek Maggot Bingo - Good Evening!!!’. Taking their name from the early '80s no-budget cult horror flick by Nick Zedd, this should give you an indication of what’s in store; and as they launch into their first number with an invitation that is hard to refuse, come ‘Join The Freaks’ with its twisted side-show style hooks. One of the things that I really like about this band is their ability to tell a story and set the scene. Engrossed. I feel like I’m right there with the tattooed lady, the pinheads and the wolf boy (some may say we really are). Acid Maggot’s dulcet tones were once likened to "a corpse being dragged across gravel", which is a fair compliment; but there is much more; reminiscent at times of Lux Interior, The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Hasil Adkins, M. Valdemar (go Google it), and even the deep hypnotic broodiness of Rev. Horton Heat. With one foot firmly wedged in '50s riffs, the other in '60s garage, and a wicked eye quietly observing the crowd. Other notable numbers are fuzzed-out ‘I Saw What You Did’; the instant paranoia of ‘Laughing At You’, and we are duly warned about strange noises we may hear on the way home in ‘Ghoul In The Graveyard’. An extra helping of fuzz with ‘High Time’ which is proper Watusi-able. Wrapping up the set with the excellent 'Swingtown'. Time for an encore? Wait, they aren't the headlining band. Next time, next time.          

The Brutes and Geek Maggot Bingo are in many ways like two bookends, and share a lot of common ground. However, they each have their very own unique way of expressing it. I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping to see both bands on the bill at Franklin Fest 2016, and certainly headlining their own shows soon.  

Speaking of headliners ... enter Garage Punk Blues™ magoos - The Bonnevilles. The two lads from Northern Ireland kick off with ‘Good Suits And Fightin’ Boots’ - popular with the crowd and possibly one of their best known. It's only seconds before you realise that, for a duo, they have more presence than most bands with double or triple the amount of people and equipment. It's an intimate affair between the crowd and band, as singer/guitarist Andy McGibbon beckons us all to come closer. Phew, it's getting hotter. (I'm now starting to regret my decision to wear a crimplene dress). McGibbon goes through not two, but three guitar changes during the long set - I wish I knew about the technicalities of guitars to list them all, but I don’t. All credit to them; they don't bat an eyelid when fallen upon by a drunken punter. They throw in a corking rendition of R.L. Burnside's 'Poor Boy' then slow the pace (for 5 mins anyway) with twiddle-y number 'I've Come Too Far For Love To Die'. McGibbon asks "has anyone ever had a broken heart?", cue a Mexican wave of nodding heads. McGibbon has, that’s for sure. He's reliving every moment right here, and in every bead of sweat. Both he and drummer Chris McMullen certainly put their all into their performance. McGibbon comments later on about the lack of dancing, which is instantly rectified. Towards the end I can't actually see the band at all, save for the curly-wurly head of McMullen bouncing up and down - he's that tall, even when sitting down! He plays the drums like he's on a buckaroo. It's been well over an hour and they show no signs of wrapping up the set, but when they finally do it's probably the longest encore ever, and then some. They are certainly giving the fans their money's worth. During one of the encores, they debut a couple of new songs, one of which 'The Whisky Lingers’ sees McGibbon proclaim "I don't want to be skinny anyway", above lots of feedback. Before they take their leave they express their thanks to the other bands and the organisers for a top evening.

At the risk of repeating myself, it’s been another fabulous night, at the cricket shack of delight that is The Franklin.

If you want to hear more about The Bonnevilles, I caught up with Andy McGibbon before they headed out on tour, click here for that.        

And, If you're not totally worn out by all of that excitement, the next Franklin Rock 'n' Roll Club takes place on Friday 18^thDecember - hosting old favourites The Wildebeests, and the anticipated return of The No-Things, click here for more info. 

I wasn't just sitting around watching the bands & drinking tea in McChuill's at the weekend, oh no. Interviewing the bands was all part of the day and first off I caught up with Alan Gemmel, guitarist of The Bucky Rage, bassist of The Kosher Pickles, and one of the organisers of Buckfest 2015.

DS - Alan, tell me about Buckfest i.e. how it got started and why you think it is able to carry on year after year? Also, as it's a free event, what are the incentives for the bands involved to come and play?

AG - Buckfest has been running for the last five or six years, it’s basically an annual all day party. We invite a bunch of our favourite bands to come play and get messed up with us. We started it with a view to getting some out of town bands over to play with the bands we played with loads, looking to forge links with places a bit further away so that all the bands involved could get to meet each other and all benefit from travelling to new places for return gigs. It’s quite an easy affair to organise, and depending what the Bucky Rage have been up to kind of decides for us who we book. It’s basically a big excuse to get a bunch of our friends together and listen to the kind of music we all like!

I think it manages to do well and keep going because it’s a simple concept, and brings together a bunch of like minded people and has always been organised with a good, fun day out as the most important aspect. The bands are always looked after, treated with the warmth and respect that The Bucky Rage look for when we are playing.  

A lot of these bands we have been playing with for years, and like ourselves it’s great to see how everyone progresses. As everyone gets more gigs further afield and releases new records and CDs, as well as their own lives moving on, having kids etc., it can sometimes feel that Buckfest becomes the time of the year when we all catch up. Years ago it would not be uncommon for The Rage to play gigs with a lot of these bands a few times a month, certainly speaking for The Bucky Rage we play less gigs than we used to now that 3 of us have young kids, and jobs that are a bit more full time etc. that kind of limits how much time you can spend away from home.

DS - And so to The Bucky Rage. What can we look forward to in the not too distant future?

AG - We have a new EP coming out fairly soon. It’s all been recorded, just finishing the mixes. We’ve started organising gigs for next year, got a couple of shows booked down South and looking to organise some more European gigs. Got a few things booked up for the rest of the year, and just getting on with the usual stuff. Practicing, writing and bamming each other up!

Next in line for a chinwag was guitarist and singer of Geek Maggot Bingo - Acid Maggot. 

DS - Can you tell me why your band are supporting Buckfest this year?

AM - The Bucky Rage are good pals of ours - they may deny it to keep their street cred but they love us really! Hey, they must at least like us as they keep asking us back to Buckfest! Between my old band and Geek Maggot Bingo, I've played at most (if not all?) Buckfests and it's always wild, riotous and sometimes (always) a bit (a lot) on the chaotic side. We wouldn't have it any other way!

DS - And what are Geek Maggot Bingo are up to at the moment, what can we look forward to? It sounds like you have a lot of exciting things happening just now ...

AM - We recorded an album's worth of material last year at Angus McPake's Ravencraig Studio and we're still looking at how to release it properly. We've had some label interest and that's definitely the road we'd prefer to go down for the sake of releasing on vinyl and having some distribution.

One of the songs ('Where It's At') we recorded was written as a thank-you for Elvis Shakespeare [the Edinburgh book and record shop] and we self released that on CD along with four covers. There aren't many copies left now but if anyone wants one (we're not making any more once they're gone), they can get a copy from the New Hellfire Club shop (Glasgow), Elvis Shakespeare, our gigs, or our Bandcamp page.

Another of the songs from the Ravencraig session has been used as the theme tune for a documentary called ‘42nd Street Memories’ which is available on the DVD and BluRay of ‘Anthropophagus’ from 88 Films and is getting an American release on the BluRay of ‘Pieces’ from Grindhouse Releasing.

We've got enough songs ready for another album so we're looking to record that as soon as we can and we've also got some film related things happening but that's all very hush-hush for now.

The next gig that we're really looking forward to (we look forward to all gigs but this one's extra special) is with The Bonnevilles at the Franklin Rock 'n' Roll Club (Edinburgh) on 28th November. Tickets are on sale from The Parlour Bar in Edinburgh. Last time we played there with The Bonnevilles, it sold out and a fair few people who turned up to pay on the door were unfortunately turned away, so anyone who wants to go should get in there and buy a ticket right away.

Later on in the day B-Side Boy was happy to answer a few questions.

DS - B-Side Boy, please introduce yourself ...

BSB - Well basically B-Side Boy is just me on my own. I'm a one man music machine who makes music because I have to or my brain will explode. I sing and play along to specially prepared backing tracks while jumping about in a dress and heels. Oh and I wear a top hat too :) Having been in and out of bands for many years, I thought I'd give going solo a try. I've been doing B-Side Boy for a year and this will only be my fourth gig. Also I've put together two albums in this time (The Other Side of B-Side Boy & Throw Enough Shit, Some Of It Sticks) and am midway through a third as yet untitled one. They can all be streamed or downloaded (name your price) from my bandcamp page.

DS - And what does playing Buckfest mean to you?

BSB - I've known the Bucky Rage for many years and I especially love playing Buckfest because of the consistent quality line-up they procure. I feel honoured to be a part of it, that's probably the primary incentive. It's always a great night! Secondly I honestly do love playing music, I tend to be rubbish at everything else.

DS - What is next for B-Side Boy?

BSB - As for gigs the only other one I have at the moment is Sinister Wink at The Bungo bar on Sunday 29th November where I may throw in a Serge Gainsbourg or Technotronic cover. That will be an acoustic show so I may wear a slightly more informal dress at that one!