Specials

Speedfest 2009

posted by: Nico on 20 November 2009

In the last weekend of November, the city of Eindhoven will shake and rumble with both Speedfest and the Persistence tour at "De Klokgebouw". More about the Persistence tour in another item, first see what the fourth edition of Speedfest has to offer.

Speedfest started out in 2006 when the guys from Peter Pan Speedrock wanted to have a killer release party for their DVD. This party turned into an annual fest with hard, fast and violent music suitable for speedrockers, punks, pyschobilly’s, metal heads and hardcore kids.

This year’s lineup contains probably the best bands of several different genres. These bands are supposed to play: Death Angel, Coffin Nails, GBH, US Bombs, New Bomb Turks, Peter Pan Speedrock, Knucklebone Oscar, Reverend Beatman, Valient Thorr, Banane Metalik, 50 Foot Combo, Nigel Lewis & The Zorchmen, Karma To Burn, The Shavers, Jim Jones Revue, Gewapend Beton & Triggerfinger.

Besides GBH, US Bombs and New Bomb Turks on which Bootsman wrote some words, I think it would be wise to go see Death Angel, Peter Pan Speedrock, and Gewapend Beton and this is why;

Death Angel was definitely one of the bigger bands from the legendary Bay Area Trash metal scene after three well received albums in their first lifespan from 1982 till 1991. I remember getting a mix tape from an older friend while I was in my freshman year and constantly wearing my Guns N Roses t-shirt. The tape had some awesome bands on it. Despite I wasn’t that into Death Angel at the time I am I excited to see how they are 16 years later.

Ambassadors of the UK82 sound, Birmingham’s very own GBH were supposed to play last year’s edition of Speedfest but somehow couldn't make it. Armed with a new record deal with Hellcat Records these punk rock dinosaurs will charge the stage and leave no survivors. Hopefully they will kick out the jams from their Clay years because we all (should) know the words to “Sick Boy” (as covered by hosts PPSR), “City babies attacked by rats”, “No survivors” and many more. Punk’s not dead!

I remember seeing Peter Pan Speedrock four times in the summer of 2002 but after that it never came around to seeing them again. But every once in a while I read about their adventures in several of the big professional music and non-music magazines and it seems they are still doing their thing without compromising their sound or integrity, which deserves a lot of respect in my book. I don’t know if they are Asice approved or not, but I don’t care. I want to see if they still rock so loud! I just got word the mighty Peter Koelewijn will be performing some songs with PPSR.

Duane Peters, professional skater/singer/asshole, burned a lot of bridges throughout his life. Band members came and went but there was one period of time where he had a steady line- up with the US Bombs and recorded “War birth” and “The World”. Two modern day street punk classics. Especially for this tour the core members from that era will reunite to bring back some of the glory that was lost in shitty records and crappy shows. Off course there is no guarantee that Duane will be there since he got lost in Eindhoven before. If he does get there let’s hope he is sober enough so he won't fall of the stage.

Gewapend Beton probably doesn’t need an introduction, even within the hardcore community. They made a big impression by almost beating the Bad Brains at their own game during Trashfest and all regular shows are equally entertaining. I am curious how they will do on a big stage since I have only seen them in small bars.

But people, let’s not forget why we take the trip to Eindhoven. They can book all the greasiest rock ‘n ‘roll bands, the wildest punk bands or the heaviest metal bands in the world. All of those don’t mean shit when you have the curb stomping, baby bump humping, fap dancing and panty wetting gods of punk rock ‘n’ roll: the New Bomb Turks!. Although the band gave up their music careers and only occasionally let out the beast on stage, these Ohio monster remain a force to be reckoned with. This is your chance to catch THE best live band in the world. It’s the moment to make up for lost time if you missed out on their heydays in the nineties. Destroy!