“Fetza’s last gig”- The Mighty Bossmags at FC2, Warrington 

Sunday 3rd July 2022

Another good one tonight – the crazy train of punk rock makes another stop in Warrington tonight. The wilds are coming back to FC2, for something that promises to be quite spectacular. Not only do we have ‘The Mighty Bossmags‘ as a headliner (and it’s to be drummer Fetza’s last gig) but in support, we have The Bossmags, a new incarnation of the same band, and as first support, we have Wanweird, unpredictable, but unmissable. Both bands (or should I say all 3 bands) have reputations that precede them for wild punk antics and conceptual performances that amaze. I’m looking forward to tonight  You can’t help but love a good, wild punk gig, and I’ve been to a few at FC2 already, It’s a great venue for this genre. We’re kept waiting outside for quite some time, but hey that’s rock and roll, and what’s to follow is certainly worth the wait.

First support – Wanweird 

With machine gun like drumming, the 2 piece band Wanweird open their set. It’s loud, it’s unapologetic and we can’t help but stand up and take notice. It’s very, very conceptual, unashamedly punk and bordering on the bizarre…I love it already! A flip chart displaying child like drawn images, which I can only assume relate to each song, is featured heavily as the depraved-like ramblings between songs leave me completely baffled… Is that just me?… I’m happy to hear that Matt, my photographer, is just as in the dark about all this…not just me then! 

Wanweird_Credit: OrangeProjects

 As our spirited frontman berates and insults pretty much everyone and everything, making no bones about his love of punk faces and heads but his hatred of beards and hippies and yuppies…and.the list goes on… whilst the drummer (who is fascinatingly brilliant) laughs chillingly down his mic…but it’s all weirdly fascinating! The vocal tone is low, it’s clear and loud and at times with a real steadiness almost smoothness to it, but that would never do for punk – the angry cries, howls and screams finish the job off to perfection. During songs, we often have growling, more strange laughter, words repeated over and over and what I can only describe as what seem like bouts of Tourettes- but it’s brilliant, it’s like genius bordering on madness. I, together with everyone else in here, am weirdly enthralled by this manic, crazed and completely bewildering performance. It’s strange; it’s stylized and certainly follows the punk enigma of alienating everyone, not being mainstream or acceptable and made to shock. It’s disturbing, but in a good way…is that even a thing? It is now…Wanweird have made it their thing. The guitar lines are raw, jagged and edgy, there’s a whole host of sound effects and the drumming is out of this world. It’s so fierce and energetic. We’ve certainly had shock value, originality and I can honestly say this has been like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. slightly discombobulating, I’m not going to lie, I’m left feeling completely confused, somewhat disarrayed and wondering what the hell just happened…but isn’t that what punk’s all about? and my God we all loved it!

Bossmags_Credit: OrangeProjects

Second Support – Bossmags

Bobby Stickah – vocals/synth, Fetza Veress – drums, Marcus Bishop – trumpet, Kieron Bache – guitar / vox, Tim Griffiths – bass

So another very, very clever concept here – the headline act are actually supporting themselves as a new incarnation of the same band – another stroke of genius and another first for me. The feels have upped again; it feels like something’s coming, something’s brewing…more musical mayhem on the punk rock crazy train. Then in an utter blaze of synths, trumpet, thumping beats, an ocean of dry ice and stuttering, jagged guitars…we have the Bossmags….wow…a musical bomb has gone off…what an entrance and what a phenomenal sound! The vocal is throaty, shouty, extreme but thoroughly tuneful. It’s like an original early punk sound but with an up to date tuning and refinement…a rich, textured tapestry of sounds, all layered and intricate but with an absolutely punk like explosion. It’s very, very tight musically. Some tracks have a dance like drumbeat to them: techno even, doom dance or dark doom feeling. Frontman Bobby is some character…he struts about the stage with boundless energy, what an immense stage presence! It’s a lively performance and every band member throws all they have into this. It’s bouncing in this venue now, Mosh pit wilds are swirling and it’s hard to stay afloat and not be sucked into this punk rock tidal wave! People are loving this!  So theatrical!  Donning a black, hooded cloak for some tracks, Bobby dances expressively, creating shapes with the cloak, like some musical wizardry going on before our very eyes. posing for photographers and crowd members in equal measure, This is fascinating to watch, completely mesmerising and really quite the performance. The sound is catchy, fast paced, very upbeat and the feels are banging. Some of the followers have come with faces painted and in costume. It’s like some bonkers, clown filled, punk rock disco…it’s amazing!  It’s varied.  We go from bopping ska one minute to anarchic screams and pogoing the next, but the set is rocking the entire way through! An explosive, all out punk epidemic has engulfed us all entirely and we cannot wait for more musical mayhem in the next set. Brilliant sound, outstanding performance and the feels…? God love a good punk set and all it brings…Bossmags definitely bring it all …in abundance! Please look out for them, I can wholeheartedly promise that they won’t disappoint. Stand out gig for me…I’ll be seeing them again as soon as possible!

Set List: Machine, Twisted Witchcraft, Skacrow, St. James Infirmary, Blues , Shapeshifters 

Headline- The Mighty Bossmags 

Bobby Stickah – vocals/synth, Fetza Veress – drums, Marcus Bishop – trumpet, Kieron Bache – guitar / vox, Tim Griffiths – bass

You could be forgiven for assuming that this next set, our headline, given that it actually is the same band we just saw, may be very similar to the previous set ,or even the same, Well I assure you that is not the case in any way! Front man Bobby now has his face painted and is wearing a ruffle and clown jacket. Mosh pit is already assembled and waiting. The crowd are buzzing. This contained energy is just waiting to be unleashed and it can really be felt. Wearing an 18th century style tricorne hat, and looking every inch the ‘dandy meets punk’ Bobby launches into this new set, screaming. Like some possessed highwayman/clown he cavorts about the stage feverishly.  This crowd has now completely lost their shit and are bouncing like never before, it has become like Bedlam in here. 

Bossmags_Credit: OrangeProjects

The sound is trumpet driven, feels of 1920s era jazz, It feels eclectic, but with rip roaring bass lines and jagged edge lead guitar overlapping it. The drumming is fast paced and hard but there really is a ska sound to this set. It’s more rhythmical, rounded, less anarchic and raw, but still with that wild punk energy and very edgy. It’s more new wave or post punk feeling, but still bringing the wilds. It’s completely amazing, I just can’t stop smiling, The reaction from the crowd is next level, the bar staff are dancing, and the band are frantic on stage. The energy is sublime, stage presence is off the scale and as a front man Bobby is incredible, He is not still for a second, bouncing, pogoing, strutting. Balloon swords had been distributed earlier on and now before one track Bobby invites us all to become pirates and raise our swords in the air. With his arms held high in the air he screams and sings at us like some possessed musical preacher. I honestly can’t truly convey the full experience of being at this gig, or how amazing a gig this actually is. I’ve witnessed a few firsts during gigs here at FC2, but tonight is definitely the first instance of crowd surfing in here! That’s how frenzied, raucous and wild this event has gotten!

It’s spectacular, the creativity, the artistry and the musical originality that this band exudes. The sound is very high vibrational, up tempo, dance making and super feel good. The combination of jazz, mixed with the ska pace and the wildness of the punk with all the added unbridled energy has just blown this set so far out of the water. It’s been wild, it’s been anarchic (although completely controlled) and really something extra specially to have witnessed. 

Fetza sure is one hell of a drummer, make no mistake, and it’s clear the other guys in the band are going to miss him a lot, but it’s safe to say he’s had one send off to remember and ending on the biggest high – by him being launched into the crowd and carried about the mosh pit to utterly deafening applause, screams and cheers. The Bossmags sure were mighty in this headline set, I feel privileged to have been included in this riotous-feeling, fun filled and at times genuinely touching Farewell to Fetza gig. Thank you to The Mighty Bossmags – stay wild, stay creative, stay original and to Fetza we wish you well and all the luck in the world.

SetList: (Curio Cabinet Album set), House, Ghost ship, Withered hand, Gazebo Anthrax, White limousine, Poison tree, Too much, Waste of time, A&E, Ghost, Johnny the Claw,  Banana, Viszlát, Danger! high voltage.

Words: Janet Harding 

Images: OrangeProjects

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