Deck Cheese launch shows have become synonymous with free entry and to an extent, free alcohol, fortunately tonight was no exception. As a result spirits were high in the packed Buffalo Bar as two of the labels more recent additions showcased new material. First off, Preston

I won

Picture this – a large bedroom decorated with awesome wallpaper and two large mirrors at each end, with a fireplace sugly situated behind the drummer. Yeah, that’s The Cardigan Arms – the most snug punk rock venue ever. Then cram 90 people into a 60 acapacity space and you’re cooking on gas. I’d hate to think what it would have been like if I’d have actually advertised this gig anywhere. Anyway, a three band mini-bash, put on as a favour to the ROUTE 215 boys – and as always the kids turn out in force. We cannot thank you enough. I’ll cut the crap anyway – on to the review.

A DESTRUCTIVE ISSUE are going places. They have an average age of around 16 but are more talented than most bands. Playing an Alexisonfire/Stories and Comets hybrid the quartet rock the fuck out for 30 minutes. Definitely raw around the edges, I think they probably bemused the crowd who were baying for SB6. Still, there is so much talent here that despite being plagued with a poor sound, and the strange surroundings, ADI win over new friends. You’ll be hearing a lot more from them – trust me. (7.5)

Most people are here to see SONIC BOOM SIX and it’s not hard to see why. I think I’m in the minority when I say that on record SB6 are still trying to find their sound, but live it is a different ballgame. They probably have the worst of the sound problems but still entertain the skanking masses at the front. Tracks like ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ are little gems and by the end of the year SB6 will be on the tip of most people’s tongues. Top people too, if you’re yet to see them you’re missing out. (8.5)

ROUTE 215 are quite possibly the country’s best pop-punk band, although I’m sure they don’t like me tagging them as such. They’re tight live, even when the fire’s on, and tracks like ‘Zombie Movies’ are aired for the first time in god knows how long. ‘Steal Your Soul’ is still the best melodic record you don’t yet own, but I still feel it’s a case of when and not if that the band get their big break. The album’s title track is the best part of the night for me mind, with Rod scaling the walls and jumping 20ft into the crowd. After the cool factor of SB6, 215 bring a whole new meaning to the term getting high…(8.5)

Paul

Getting ID

Tonight at Leeds’ Joseph’s Well, Gameface have come to town and there’s a healthy swell of punters who have come to the venue in anticipation. There’s also another throng in the bar put off by the ¶œ8 on-the-door charge, a bit steep really but I’m sure the promoters have their reasons. Luckily I’m well looked after by the 215 chaps who smuggle me in on the list and I’m extremely glad (and grateful) they did. With two new guitarists to bolster their sound, and Matt from Fastlane standing in on bass, the stage is filled with five blokes going off like their punk rock lives depend on it. Although Rod’s tragic “accident”, which left him with severed tendons in his hand, was certainly tragic it could come as a blessing in disguise. The switch to vocals-only has left him like a small kid in a sweet shop as he prowls around the stage bouncing off the other members. Infact in full flow the band are a sweaty mess, with drummer Nick holding the fort behind his kit.

The set tonight is made up almost entirely of new songs – so much so that ‘Stuck With You’ is a noticeable absentee from the setlist. But what we do get are fast pop-punk songs that demand attention. Newies ‘Amy’ and ‘GT Turbo’ sound fantastic, while ‘Echo’ is a surefire hit in waiting. As simple as choruses come, but it has that stick in your mind mentality that is as frustrating as it is enjoyable. But it’s the set closer (complete with a two-fingered salute and diatribe to a certain bunch of elitists) ‘Steal Your Soul (With Rock and Roll)’ which really does hammer home that Route 215 are onto something.

They’re touring up and down the country this summer in support of various bands and they’re even playing PB3 in June. If you’ve seen the boys before as a three-piece, you’ll be knocked out at just how good they are as a quintet. Oh, and if anyone wonders why I missed reviewing the classy Otherwise and Gameface, I was propping up the bar. Or was the bar propping up me… (8)

Paul

Paul: “Getting the obvious pleasantries out of the way, who came up with the name of the band and does it have any specific relevance to anything?”
Route 215: “Peter can take full credit for that. In terms of specific relevance it gets about as relevant as sitting on your bus ride home day in day out and deciding that the Route 215 was an integral part of your life and not to be lived without.”

Paul: “Well going way back, why make the changes from the earlier bands ‘Eat Your Greens’ and ‘Puppies in The Oven’? How did these bands sound in comparison with Route 215?”
Route 215: “Haha, well the change to Route 215 was made largely because we finally wanted to play what we thought was good music and we never had the chance to write what we really wanted in the other bands. Oh and we finally grew up and realised that those bands really sucked!”

Paul: “What do you think of your first release as Route 215 “She Fell In Love With A Juvenile Delinquent” and do you think that it is a fair representation of the band in 2002?”
Route 215: “OK, firstly we are honestly really proud of what we recorded when I (Tommy) was 17 years old and after a couple of recording sessions in really sketchy studios it was really cool to actually be in a genuine studio with a producer who was into what we were playing. Having said that, it is probably the worst record to listen to if you want to get an idea of what Route 215 are about these days, but still worth checking out if you ask me!”

Paul: “How did you come to be signed up to 20 Deck, and what is it like being part of that particular label?”
Route 215: “We can’t give enough praise to Sean and the 20 Deck team. It is such a dedicated label and really shows with the full on stable that has been signed up over the last few months, and through the releases that are coming out of it. For a label that hasn’t been established very long I think they are doing better than a lot of people could and have. It shows from the fact that they have bands from not only all over the UK but also South Africa and America involved and when you see that the website has had almost a million hits already, its all very cool to be a part of really. We were very lucky to be approached by Sean himself when Captain Everything and ourselves were looking around for someone to put out our split – he was so excited and keen about it that we couldn’t say no!”

Paul: “Speaking of which, how did the split EP with Captain Everything come about? Any funny stories during the recording that you wish to share?”
Route 215: “The split with Captain Everything was sort of stumbled upon really after various different combinations of bands that we could do a split with. At one time there was going to be a Route 215, Captain Everything, Skirtbox and The BombJacks split, but sadly that wasn’t an option as it was only us and C*E that had recordings complete. Just when both us and Captain Everything had decided that we would just release EPs individually we decided well, why dont we do it together as we are good mates and it would be a blast, the rest is history and we’re really happy with that record.”

Paul: “Route 215 have played with the likes of The Dickies, Consumed, Spunge and Uncle Brian – which tour or gig stands out as being the best and which was the worst, and for what reason?”
Route 215: “To be honest the best tour that we have experienced was with the Captain Everything boys. I think it was a combination of the fact that the EP was brand new, we were all sharing the same tour van and I dont think you can meet a nicer bunch of guys than them, we all really get on outside of music as well so it was very cool. We have played a couple of festivals also which were amazing fun and we definitely want to do more of that!”

Paul: “You’re currently on this tour (Punktastic) as we speak with Fletcher and Jerry-Built, how have you all been getting on?”
Route 215: “Well us and Fletcher had been hanging out at shows round the country and we thought that it would be cool to hang out some more on a tour together, Jerry Built said it sounded cool so we all asked them to join in – pretty simple really. Its been really cool so far and we’re looking forward to the rest of it, they’re all really cool guys and play some amazing music! Look out for Jerry Built‘s debut album – definitely worth getting hold of!”

Paul: “What can we expect from the Route 215 show on the tour, and what will the set comprise of?”
Route 215: “Rock and Roll and pure energy!”

Paul: “I’ve heard that the band are set to enter the studio after the tour to record a full-length album for 20 Deck Records, are there any details you can divulge about it?”
Route 215: “Well we can say that the title of the album is “Steal Your Soul With Rock and Roll” and we are going to be locked in the studio for the duration of November with everyone’s favourite producer Iain Wetherell. It’s not finalised yet, but the album should be consisiting of all new un-recorded songs and a handful of songs that haven’t been played live, so worth checking if you’re into Rock or Roll! Theres gonna be a few guest apperances from our friends as well!”

Paul: “If you could tour with any band, who would it be and where would you tour?”
Route 215: “Wow! I think it would be a weird line up of a tour. Actually there’s a couple bands. It would have to be Weezer or MxPx on a world tour, it would have been amazing to tour with Motley Crue in their prime days though!”

Paul: “Which bands would Route 215 recommend to all of the Punktastic readers out there?”
Route 215: “Look to the English scene is what we say. The whole Punk Rock world in England is amazing right now, there are so many bands that are amazing who are putting in hard work touring and recording for everyones entertainment, where do we start – Captain Everything, Skirtbox, The BombJacks, Jerry Built, Fletcher, No Comply are amazing, Mybe, Fastlane, My Dad Joe, Fire Apple Red. Uncle Brian are working really hard and getting some appreciation which is cool because they are a very cool band and really nice guys. I heard their new EP the other day which is coming out on 20 Deck soon – very cool! The list is endless though!”

Paul: “Finally, what can we expect from Route 215 in the future?”
Route 215: “Same as always – Rock and Roll! We’re going out on tour again in January with The Travoltas and The BombJacks round the UK, then in February we’re out again round the UK with 20 Deck’s American connection Brodie and Uncle Brian – so make sure to check out some shows!”

Paul: “Thanks very much guys.”
Route 215: “Just got to say that we love playing Rock and Roll music and we want to thank everyone who has enabled and helps us to do it all over the country and reach so many people. Most of all of course a huge thanks to everyone who comes to our shows, buys our records and supports us however they can. Word to Lightbulb our merch man and roadie!”