Opening up for CJ Wildheart was a localish band The Scumbags. On first impressions they looked like a metal outfit so wasn’t sure about watching them or stand in the lengthy queue for a drink! I’m glad I watched them as they played some pretty catchy punk rock.

From the moment they hit the stage they were on fire and a great opening act for sure. The guitarist and vocalist really moved about without compromising anything. The drummer bashed his kit like it was his worst enemy and kept everything in time. The bassist impressed me with his bass lines and being fierce with his instrument.

A band I certainly want to see again!

Next up were Face Up a band that has completely missed my radar and I’m gutted I’ve never seen them before! I need to catch up on missing time as I was left stunned with their intensity. Fast and hard driven punk rock with a HC edge is best to describe Face Up! And there was me thinking these were going to be a Ska-Core band going on the Operation Ivy t-shirt!

These guys are on a totally different level and at times I was thinking how is CJ Wildheart going to follow this band! Face Up are one of the best bands I’ve seen this century and I don’t say that lightly!

The vocalist was like a demon possessed – She was all over the stage and owning it! I felt tired watching her, haha! Seriously this woman is the business and her vocal range incredible.

The band are top notch musicians who really deliver the goods. Their drummer is one fit dude to hit those skins like he did! I’d have been having a heart attack for sure!

If you’ve not heard of Face Up you need to rectify that.

Top Band!

Having met CJ earlier for an interview I eagerly awaited his solo band as this was the first time I had seen them despite seeing CJ’s past bands a few times over the years.

Come 9.15pm and it was time for CJ Wildheart to hit the stage and they certainly hit it in style. Imagine a harder edged Ramones with a bit of rock thrown in the mix is the best way to describe CJ and his band!

For a hour they took no prisoners and the audience were lapping it up!

There’s plenty of communication with the audience with CJ telling us a funny story to why Honeycrack will never reform and his first experience of eating fish and chips!

It was great to see CJ play a couple of numbers back from his days in Honeycrack as well as songs CJ had written from his Wildhearts days.

I loved CJ’s dig at the likes of Andrew Tate and other angry men on X that used to be known as Twitter. S.D.E. from the Split album was based on Greta Thunberg’s response to Andrew Tate who insulted her. It was awesome to see CJ take a stand against toxic masculinity.

For a hour it was like being in a special place where nothing can harm you!

CJ’s band are so in tune with his you’d have thought they had been playing together for years. They were bang on with their performances.

Tune after tune was delivered in style and I like the rest of the audience didn’t want this show to end! However it had to and CJ and his band ended it in style!

If you get a chance to see CJ Wildheart you really do need to go as not only is he a great musician but a wonderful human being too!

Thank to CJ Wildheart for arranging everything for me on the night

Words / Photos – Kathleen Riot