Punk celebration at the Blue & Gold in King’s Lynn
Gig review: Faintest Idea, supported by Indigo Shore, Wicca, Matty G and L’il Winter
The Blue & Gold Club, Tennyson Avenue, Lynn
Saturday, May 6, 2023
With one of their horn section strutting the stage with red, white and blue balloons tied to his hair, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Faintest Idea’s homecoming gig on Saturday night was yet another Coronation celebration. It wasn’t.
Although not billed as an anti-Monarchy event, there was no pageantry on display at the Blue and Gold as the punk eight-piece put on a joyous, raucous set full of energy and catchy brass lines at the packed-out venue.
With boot stomping beats such as War to the Palaces and Kill Em Dead from their new album The Road To Sedition and old favourites like Bull in a China Shop, their set was frenetic fun for the first minute to the last.
The band had only just finished a tour of the USA and are off to Europe again on May 19, gigging in the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Romania, so it was great that they managed to squeeze in a West Norfolk return.
And before the gig, they popped into Resist Vegan Kitchen in St James Street where they have been honoured with the ‘Faintest Idea German Donor’ in the new Local Legends menu, which is the restaurant’s shout out to West Norfolk heroes who fly under the radar.
The weekend wasn’t all about Faintest idea, however. There were three brilliant support acts on Saturday, which made the £8 entry fee ridiculously good value for money.
First on was Matty G and Li’l Winter, a feelgood, political punk six-piece from Lynn with two enigmatic front men. They warmed the crowd up nicely and, like the other acts on the night, were worthy of the entry fee on their own. I particularly enjoyed anti-horse racing anthem ‘You Bet, They Die’ as well as a cover of folk punk band Wingnut Dishwashers Union’s classic ‘Louder Than Words’.
Next up was a young West Norfolk outfit who could have a great future. Wicca describe themselves as a hardcore band with roots in classical influences. Their set was full of energy and confident swagger, driven by pounding bass and drums. They also boast a lead singer with a tremendous voice, which particularly came to the fore in ‘Euphoria’.
Before the main event there was a tremendous set from the accomplished heavy pop rock trio Indigo Shore. With some catchy choruses, great instrumentation and some throaty metal vocals, they were superb.
The whole evening was a wonderful celebration of West Norfolk’s alternative musical talent, all played out in the happy, inclusive, all-ages vibe that you expect from a punk gig.
