Live Review: Bullybones @ The Joiners

Bristol based Garage punk band BullyBones take to The Joiners stage to showcase their contemporary take on retro Rock and Roll.

The chaos ensues with opening track, ‘Set In Stone’, which brandishes an impressive sonic capability that reminisces early garage-punk bands. Imposing an intensity that satisfyingly rivals The Cramps, they carry themselves in a manner that is as menacing as it is captivating; resulting in an effortless coolness that reeks of good old-fashioned punk attitude. The spirit of the band however, lies in the crazed charm of frontman Charlie Pullinger, whose demeanour appears somewhat satanic as he imposes a deathly stare on the audience. Further illustrated by his unpredictable, Ian Curtis-esque movements, it doesn’t take long before he gains The Joiners full attention.

The band roll through the set at a breakneck pace, achieving a knock-out sound that fuses punk brutality with retro Rock and Roll; tracks ‘She pays the rent’ and ‘All in This Together, Right?’ set the performance at its peak. With Bullybones exerting astounding levels of energy, it comes as a surprise to see that the crowd are reluctant to reciprocate it. Though drummer Owain Casey vocalises his annoyance at various points in the set, the absence of audience involvement does not deter them, it only fuels the fire. During ‘Your daughter Calls Me Daddy too’ Pullinger’s erratic handling of the mic stand sees it topple off the stage, narrowly missing a photographer in the front row. It’s not until the track finishes that it is cautiously handed back to him.

Though they may not have received the crowd reaction they had hoped for (or used to), there is no reason for them to be disheartened. Their forward-thinking take on retro rock assuredly packs a punch and their relentless electricity on stage only intensifies this. Accomplishing a raise-the-roof performance that had The Joiners shaking at its core, if you get a chance to see Bullybones live then do so. You won’t be disappointed.