Lowlife UK record and gig reviews

Lowlife, 866 Thornton Road, Bradford, BD8 0JN, ENGLAND.
Lowlife are an English band who combine the very best of 80's American hardcore and British punk to create a sound that really kicks ass. The first tune, Desensitised, will kick you right in the ass in a Dead Kennedys sort of way. From there, King Of Seyms takes you into the realm of super-catchy and fast sing-a-long pogo punk. Continuing on, the tape continues to shake the stereo with great hardcore punk tunes that will keep you jumping around and shouting along until the tape ends (you can always rewind and play again!). This is an excellent 5-song demo tape that's only $3 bucks ppd. Check 'em out! For more info, write to: lowlifeuk@aol.com
Reviewed: December 30, 1997

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LOW LIFE - On Yer Knees (Punks 4 Profit) - Punk & Oi!

Oh no !, I have had this at home for two years and it's never even been out of the wrapping it comes in and then some one gives me it to review surely not you have got to be joking Beki. Self financed drunkcore from a line up of the band now long gone , fast furious and tuneless. Final comment - stoney sups shandy's in hell. Andy

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WORLD WIDE PUNK

Various - Absolute Destruction (Punk From Around The World) (CD)
Arson Records 112 Monreal St., Kingston ON, K7K 3E8, CANADA.

This is a 35-song comp of bands from mostly around Ontario and Canada, but with a good international representation too. There's some good variety on here, with style ranging from '77 punk, to thrash, to hardcore, and more. Highlights here are Spotty Botty, Fallout, Lowlife UK, The Screaming Idiots, and East Coast Panic. There's some decent stuff here, but overall I can't say there's all that much that really grabs me. Pretty cool for a DIY release though, but I wish they'd label the fucking track numbers so I could figure out what I'm listening to!!
Reviewed by Vic December 22, 2000

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ARSON RECORDS WEBSITE
https://members.tripod.com/arson_records/arson.html

LOWLIFE UK. "ON YOUR KNEES" CD

This is fucking great...British Oi!!!!. I had no idea when what it would sound like when I got it. But, boy was I glad when I did. It kinda sounds like the DROPKICK MURPHYS. But, a little different. Not as OI!!!????. These are some good OI songs on it plus some more "punk" stuff...and even a kinda grind core/power violence/crust song on it.....excellent. This would be such a great album...except...they are soo fucking Expensive...for being released independently they are something like 10$...AMERICAN....But if you have the money kicking around...I'd personally go and order one of these babies.

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LOWLIFE EVIL FEST 1999--SOUNDS MAG http://www.bits.bris.ac.uk/arthur/sounds/index0.html

These guys came from Leeds to attempt the conversion of London's hardcore scene to the old, fun punk. At 8:45pm it was good to be amused by the singer's charismatic performance... We got a close view at his large beer-belly, a notion of non-aggressive skin-heads and a great big bloody mosh pit (I suspect the drunken aggressive skin-heads this time...). But the music... well... its' a joke innit? I mean I think it's supposed to be as well no??... Well if not sorry... But it's hilarious. Songs with vocals like "Punk Rock Millionaire are always a good laugh! Check it out:
"I wanna be in Green Day,
I wanna dye my hair,
I wanna be in Offspring,
It's just not fucking fair!!"

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PUNK AID 2000 REVIEW ON PUNK AND OI!

Missed the first few band on Sunday as we turned up late and needed to eat Sunday lunch (nothing changes I'm afraid – and no I am not a big fat heffer). Shame, I fancied seeing the first couple of bands. First band we caught was Red Letter Day. Ste said they reminded him of Subhumans, dunno if I agree, but there set was quite good. They may not look like a typical punk band, whatever that means, but it is punk they blast out. Road Rage were quite mental. The singer spending half the time off the stage and on the dance floor instead. I have seen them compared to Rancid before, but they remind me more of The Weren’t and maybe Varukers. Then came Contempt. Contempt for me were the best surprise of the weekend. I thought they were really, really good. I would defiantly go and see them play again – check them out! Next were everyone's favourite northerners Lowlife. Beaker did his best to flatter everyone with his northern charm by starting the set by slagging off southerners. They played a good set and it was announced that it was Stoney's last gig with the band. It was the Warriors first gig for several months, but this did not show. They did a good set, albeit a short one (or so it seemed). Saxby had his own special fan club – his son was there giving it all on the dance floor. Will it be the last time the band do 'Reggie Kray' song? Special Duties were taking no prisoners. Steve A. set about slagging a few others off in the punk fraternity. They also came off stage at one point when the sound guy pulled the plug on them. One fan traveled from America to see them and I am sure she would not have regretted it. As always, SD were the best band to dance to! Finally, the last band I saw before having to set off back to Leeds was One Way System. As you probably know OWS have another new singer (Lee has now departed). The new bloke did alright, not brilliant but alright. I have a feeling that after a few more gigs under his belt, when he has developed more of a stage presence they will return to a band you really want to see play live.

Right, that's all folks! I spent the rest of the evening travelling back to Leeds, so cannot comment on 999 , UK Subs or GBH .

Just one final word (yeah, I know I never know when to shut up) for the next Punk Aid make sure you go and all your mates go, otherwise you will be missing out on one the BEST weekenders - and it's for a good cause!!!. Rebecca.

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HITS 2000 PUNK AND OI

Friday:
Anyway, nuff of my waffling and onto Friday. Well Lowlife were good, did I say Lowlife were good - powerful Murphys Law style come oi-core. Whopppps this was the only band I can really admit to seeing properly on the first day. I had meant to see the other bands but I think we disappeared to the pub across the road (where I proceeded to fall between the foot rail in front of the bar and the bar itself – I know I have lost weight, but that is ridiculous). Rebecca

Friday:
Now back at the Dome after a year away, we where all treated to some glorious sunshine whilst waiting for wristbands to be issued - sorry but this was a very slow process. Bradford's own Lowlife where already belting it out on stage and sober for once ( it's a wonder it wasn't snowing out side ) they were on good form, the best openers since the Agnostic Front opened a couple of years back. Andy

Friday:
The UK Subs pull out at the last moment, however the Test Tubes replace them and play a good set. Best band of the day......Sick On The Bus followed closely by the Subhumans, however SOTB, are getting better and better, surely this band should be higher up on the bill !!! Worst band of the day.....this was a tie between...Lowlife and Assert.
CORPUS77

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UXFEST 2000 PUNK AND OI
Lowlife, oh my god terrible if it could happen it did. A pissed up and pissed off guitarist with a bollocks awful sound, a drum kit on hire from the local demolition company was in bits more than it was standing, and a bass that cut in and cut out more times than Harry Kewell running down the wing. Still it managed to liven up the afternoon.

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LEMON ENEMA / LOWLIFE / VANILLA POD - Empress, Bradford .....(18/12/99)

Vanilla Pod think they are Snuff, trouble is it's Snuff at their worst not when they were banging out tunes. The best song they did was a cover of the Ruts 'Staring At The Rudeboys'.

Lowlife, daft as ever are next up and chaos reigns for the next forty minutes or so. Covers and their own songs murdered side by side, the high light or should I say Lowlife was a cover of the Test Tubes 'Banned From The Pubs' and the singer, Beaker, being ejected from the stage whilst held in a wedgy!

Lemon enema are last up and the drummer Kev has a tantrum (never trust a man who wears tights, is what I say). When he is finally coaxed back on stage they plough through their usual set, with one exception - a cover of Motorhead's (yuk!) 'Motorhead' (who was that twat (Andy) that got up and sung, sorry I'll stick to throwing things next time"). They left stage and Bradford's punk rock party was over. Andy

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POL POT POURRI / GUITAR GANGSTERS / LOWLIFE - Victoria, Derby .....(26.01.2001)

Oh no not Low Life - terrible where's that nice guitarist chappy gone , that's right bitten by a vampire and gone to live in hell ( well that's how you spell hartlepool isn't it ). Anyway here we are entertain us all the Usual insults and banter but even more so with new guitarist still Murdering those songs. There set included a cover of the Blitz song 'Never Surrender' done by four musicians all in different timings god it must take hours of practise to get that good. Next up and deserving of a larger audience were the Guitar Gangsters , not really my cup of tea so to speak but well tight. The head liners tonight are austro's Pol Pot Pourri (a.k.a the Lurkers). They flew through a set of stuff from the last couple of Lurkers albums plus old classics. Only wish they'd have been on longer. Andy

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YOU MAKE ME SICK - Compilation .....(Toe Tag Records)

Twenty eight tracks from up and coming punk bands, some of which aren’t really worth a mention. The likes of the McFly's, Sicksty Nine, and The Pendantics don't really do themselves justice. Dropnose are well produced, but lets just say the tracks fell off my skate board years ago. The band that sounds most like good old punk rock is Homebrew. There's four good tracks from these guys, including my favourite 'Fuck 'N' Drink' (unfortunately a cover). This leads me onto Bradford pissheads Lowlife. They would have stolen the show here, if only their tracks didn't sound like somebody had recorded they down a phone line (ha ha you bunch of shandy swillers). Joe 90 are slow starters on this compilation, but their last three offerings including a cover of Abba's 'Super Trooper', done at the speed if light are all cracking tracks. I've saved the best until last, Buzzkill. I think they get this award. Their first two track, especially are belters. 'Hardcore Badger' and 'Can't Explain' a classy ska track stand head and shoulders above the rest. All in all a bit of a mixed bag. Andy