80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster / The Shacklewell Arms

Some stories are best told backwards; 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster's reunion last Friday ended with a man leaving with a broken leg. Somewhere inbetween that and the cue which was about three times the size of the inside capacity that existed just over two hours before, EMBLD managed to return with the loudest, most visceral punch in the metaphoric nuts possible.

Back after getting a song on a football game and managing to make up with original members Andy Huxley and Marc R Norris (though the drummer is still lost), it's been a while since the 'Box were being tipped for big things, but their ability to perform is still unbeatable. While the band magically make a noise which sounds like they're cutting the head off of a Reservoir Dogs character while making no facial expressions, it's the ghostly stage presence of Guy McKnight which stands out. His newly adopted slicked back black hair revealing a white face, eyebrows and moustache either very well looked after or drawn on. He's the Victorian, Derren Brown-esque puppeteer of a hundred flailing bodies and breaking limbs.

80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster avoid stereotype despite the charactarisation they give themselves and their band. A cult band worth every bead of sweat devlivered to them, though maybe not the broken leg.

Here's photos from their Electric Ballrooms show on October 31 taken by Beki Cowey: