BullyBones: Live Review

BullyBones: Live Review

The Joiners is pretty quiet. That is, until Bristol four-piece, BullyBones come out and crash into opener, ‘Set in Stone’. The quartet’s flair easily takes inspiration from a large range of decades with a plethora of styles seeping through. There are similarities to The Cramps and nods to Fat White Family filtering within, complete with added groove and a punk finish. The flood of styles delivered is impressive but not as impressive as how well they are executed. The set bounces between fast-paced, punk songs before a shift into ones that have early 60s rock 'n’ roll hints that, ironically, are the attention grabbers of the night.

Track, ‘Your Girl Calls Me Daddy Too’ is funny and catchy. It brings with it a loose similarity to Brian Jonestown Massacre with a rock ‘n’ roll spin. However, the band themselves hold a resemblance to Brian Jonestown Massacre with an angry tension between them that- when you see them off stage- is fortunately not also a replica of that famously bad relationship. However, the wit continues when they lead into track, ‘She Pays the Rent’ where drummer, Owain Casey shouts, “That’s sexist” before vocalist, Charlie Pullinger replies, “But it’s true”.

Pullinger is a true frontman. He brings charisma, and a sort of punk-like-charm that transforms him into a likeable, arrogant bastard. There is a Dead Kennedys love to hate relationship formed between him and the audience. However, the band have every basis covered: bass player, Illy throws himself round the stage forming the fundamental, hyperactive quarter; Casey is the hard-hitting drummer that oozes anger and integrity and finally, Aaron Lee on guitar who is the quietly confident one concluded with a blood stain on his guitar.

The set is erratic. The band are erratic. Their merch stand is just a smear of ‘zines created by the band labelled ‘free’ finalised with a couple cassettes up for sale. With half the band forming a favourite of mine named Quim Reaper, BullyBones are their groovier cousin and close to being my new obsession.