Taking prisoners

Despite saying what a tough act Knucklehead was to follow, I have to say Hostage Life scraped all the preceding acts off the stage with the toughest hardcore act I've seen since catching Regulations a few months ago. The band's lyrical observations are sharp, and the music is a piledriver.

Colin Lichti seems a trifle upset.



Hai Vu rocks the SG.



Paul Miller thumps and sings.



Pat Mathers downstrokes something fierce.



His brother Shamus has recently taken over bass duties.



Jumping action!



Singalong action!



Puckering action!



Hostage action!











Top marks all round.

• Show reminder: Once again, Wooden Stars and The Hi Lo Trons play the Black Sheep Inn; Industry! Commerce! and Adam Saikaley perform a free show at Brixton's; The Mahones and Good2Go play Babylon; No Other Way, Hellbros, Lights Over Arkham and former Blaisedale folks Texas with A Dollar Sign rock at Mavericks Bar; The Vapids, Sexhead, The Creeps and Machine Gun Dolly punk out at Cafe Dekcuf; Uncooperatives, Harshey and The Fucking Machines play yet more punk at Irene's Pub.