Vinnie Caruana / The Fighting Cocks

There are many schools of thought when it comes to punk rock. Some people will have you believe it’s all about musical speed and aggression, others would say it’s about attitude, and yet more people would say it’s about honesty. One performer who falls into the latter category is Vinnie Caruana.

Formally of seminal punks the Movielife and now serving time with I am The Avalanche, Vinnie has more classic tunes in his canon than most, and tonight he is showcasing them at an intimate acoustic gig, put on by the guys at Banquet Records. Perched on a stool in this most punk rock of venues, Caruana seems a nervy if deeply charming performer peppering his songs with banter and stories. As amusing as it is discovering that he used to married to a girl from the East Midlands, It’s the music that matters and his punk anthems take on a new emotional rawness in the acoustic setting.

Caruana’s voice is both vulnerable and powerful at the same time. His keening vocals become a pining scream as he moves from Movielife classics like 'Hand Grenade' and 'Walking on Glass' to more recent thrashers like 'Brooklyn Dodgers'.

The Movielife may have had some small mainstream success, but they always remained too close to their hardcore roots to break through in the same way as Blink 182 or The Offspring. Vinnie’s come over to England with virtually no money, and just a few t-shirts and posters to sell, with the sole purpose of bringing his music to the people who want to hear it. He is the epitome of a troubadour, following in the footsteps of TV Smith, Billy Bragg and Chuck Ragan. Regardless of your definition of Punk Rock, it cannot be denied that Vinnie Caruana is it!