The Glitterati, Remedy, We Are Knuckledragger @ Plugged IN Live

We Are Knuckledragger is a band I have seen a lot lately and with good reason – seldom have I seen anyone with as much raw power and aggression in their music. Possibly the most dangerous band on the scene right now, Knuckledragger kick off with the kind of explosiveness that makes you think someone just rolled a hand grenade into the room. Recent singles ‘Me’ and ‘Explanations With Connotations’ contain more ferocity than a pissed off rhino and their upcoming debut ‘Doors To Rooms’ Ep will hit you twice as hard.

Knuckledragger have the ability to create the kind of mosh pits that will chew you up and spit you out, bruised and battered but begging for more. Crawl naked over broken glass to see this band live.

Remedy’s current CD ‘Strange Fast Now’ is quite simply an essential purchase, but being a long time supporter, it’s great to see them back out live with a sack full of new material in their set list. Singer Jen Normandle is pure eye candy - but far more importantly has a voice that can stop traffic. Imagine you took the best parts of Anne Wilson, Robert Plant, Chris Robinson and Pat Benatar then gave them all the sass of Janis Joplin and you start to get the picture. If there is a better unsigned vocalist in the world today then I defy you to show them to me.

Remedy reference the classics and drag those influences kicking and screaming into the modern day to create a sound that is very now and very much their own. New song ‘Honest Child’ was just one of many superb offerings and their epic closer ‘Desire’ shows all the power and passion that turns unknown bands into superstars. With an album of fresh material due for imminent release and change of name to “Karma Heart” the only way for this band is up. Karma Heart support Italian rockers Belladonna this coming Thursday 15th July at Shildon Civic Hall, Durham. One not to be missed!

The Glitterati are a sleazy glam band from Leeds that first burst onto the scene back in 2003. Having just recently got my hooves on new album ‘Are You One Of Us’ I had expected great things from this band but was left a little unsatisfied. The album contains 3 or 4 songs that have hit single written all over them but the rest of their material, while sounding great on record, simply failed to come over as anything special when performed live – and this was reflected in how few people stayed till the end of their set. While I’m sure they will go on to have success with the album, I expected a lot more than self obsessed pretty boy posing and bad attempts at chatting up girls between songs. Check out the album though, because it really is quite good.

The Northumberland Arms is a venue I had personally never been to since my younger days as a New Romantic poser spent drinking in Newcastle. It remains a hot and sweaty little place but has taken on a nice feel and could be worth a look in future. While sound and lighting could have been better, If they keep putting on bills of this standard then I will be back for more soon!

Photography courtesy of Donna Scott