Punks Play for Autism – 3 months ago who would have thought the two terms Punk and Autism would be placed in a the same sentence, except when someone who was ill informed, described an Autistic child’s behaviour….

Well, Friday 18th June 2010 put paid to old stereotypes and preconceptions about both Autism and Punk Music. The evening had been a long time in the planning, but a team of committed individuals from Nova-Caine Music and The Autism Trust put on a show to rival the very best, with 3 acts that came together for a night of music to help raise funds and awareness about Autism.

From the introduction when the crowd was asked to gather round for the first act and listen to a speech delivered by Autism Trust representative Kate Barber, to the scenes at the end with many of the crowd on stage in a free for all sing-a-long with headline act The Razorbax and the other bands, the night was filled with the air of people committed to a cause that touches over 6 million people in the UK alone, and affects many people in the crowd that night either directly or indirectly.

Opening the night were The Write Off’s, an old school Punk act whose drummer suffers from Aspergers syndrome.What better way to start the evening than playing to a packed crowd.

The Write Offs got the crowd on their feet with their brand of Punk that evoked memories of nights at CBGBs and what it was to be a Punk back in the 70s but with a modern and relevant edge. The set may have been short but the impact was immediate and people knew they were in for a night of great music.

Balancing the need to raise funds and awareness is never easy, but the interludes between acts was used wisely and briefly to promote the cause, and remind people that raffle tickets were on sale for some excellent signed memorabilia donated by Warner Music, Atlantic Records, Frank Turner and of course Green Day. Sets were switched round in quick order with the night flipping between Punk Rock, To Acousta-Punk, back to Punk.

The second act was Sam Moloney, a rare talent known to Nova-Caine from a captivating cameo performance at the X109 Festival. Taking the stage with just an acoustic guitar and a bag full of amazing songs; he opened the night acapella , stomping his foot to a beat and blasting out a tune that once again left the audience spellbound and in no doubt that the next few songs were to be listened to, the crowd soon clapping along to the opening song in time with the beat of his foot. Sam is an all too rare talent in today’s music market place, a musician, singer/songwriter, and poet, his songs are both melodic, poignant and angry much in the Frank Turner or Billy Bragg mould but with his own distinctive style and take on his music and the world around him. Commanding the respect of his peers to such an extent that Leigh Bucknall, lead singer with The Razorbax insisted on introducing him, to a standing ovation. Sam’s set left an appreciative crowd wanting more; knowing that a headline act was to follow the question was could the music on the night get any better.

With a brief interlude the sale of raffle tickets was brisk with people facing an impossible dilemma of whether to queue for the bar or the merchandise stall first.

The Razorbax were coming and the crowd were expectant, the background music was changing. The Ramones, and The Clash were doing their bit via the in-house audio system to build the anticipation with a crowd containing people from all over the UK, Europe, Australia and America the chant was starting ‘Razorbax’, ‘Razorbax’ …. It was too late, no time for introductions the crowd knew what they wanted and they wanted it now, bursting on stage came The Razorbax to cheers, squeals and applause. This may not have been an arena or stadium, but closing your eyes for a second and feeling the energy in the room could have left you believing you were in the pit at the MEN or NEC. The acoustics at The Luminaire club are good enough for you to believe it as the noise comes straight back down from the low ceilings, and the music comes straight off the stage and into your appreciative ears.

Blasting through their recent album release ‘Something to Believe In’ The Razorbax held the stage and the room was bouncing up until the final song …. Thank you and good night … The band left the stage. Was that it? Not on your life, Leigh returned to the stage for a much demanded encore, with just an acoustic guitar and introduced the official song for the evening ‘Better Place’, a single to be released soon with all proceeds donated to The Autism Trust.

Visibly moved that the song was so well known in the crowd as they sang along; Leigh delivered it with power and passion that had the room wiping away the odd tear; even amongst the hard core punks in the crowd. Was that it, no way this was a show, but The Razorbax were turning it into an event, delivering two more songs from the album the band left the stage to cheers and chants of ‘1 more song’, ‘1 more song’. A few discussions back stage ensued, and again they take the stage blasting out ‘Shooting Stars’, a brilliant tune that never made the final album; which goes someway to demonstrating how good the album actually is.

Then with a final blast of the guitar a nod, a bow and a thank you, goodnight they were gone……… but the crowd weren’t ready to go yet, the last trains were leaving the station and people still hadn’t had enough. With a few thank you’s to deliver at the end, Nova-Caine were wrapping up when a few people stormed the stage demanding one more song; coming back on the band delivered a few classic Green Day numbers finishing with Good Riddance with a stage full of people helping (or hindering but at that point who cared) deliver the final sounds of the night before the star raffle draw closed the night, with Greet Druyts from Beerse, Belgium winning the signed 21st Century Vinyl Book Set, the only copy in the world signed by the entire touring Green Day line-up.

In a round of cheers and hoarse thank yous, the evening came to a close and people drifted away with smiles on their faces, a ringing in their ears and knowing that they had contributed to a worthy cause what Better Place could there have been to spend an evening….

A Very Special Thank You from all the staff at Nova-Caine goes to:

Every single person that bought a ticket in advance or on the night, all those that have shown us support we thank you, thank you, thank you!

Polly Tommey, Kate Barber and Natasha at The Autism Trust, for helping us and supporting us with the event and single release

Kat Mitchell and Jess Chambers who worked the box office and merchandise stand on the night and helped set up during the day

Graham Mitchell, for helping on the day and doing the photography and videoing on the night

Tim Mallender for pitching in where and when needed and just been around to lend a hand.

Jon Hancock for recommending The Luminaire Club to Nova-Caine as a venue……

Frid Solheim at The Luminaire Club for putting up with Nova-Caine’s endless emails and stupid questions, we think the final stupid question count was 4,904,222…. Thanks Frid you made the night run a lot smoother than we could have hoped.

Andy Inglis and all the staff at the Luminaire Club.

Massive thank you to

Kerry Harris, Janette Clutton and Dorie Watts, you know what you did

The Write Offs, Sam Moloney and The Razorbax, whose music and passion made the night what it was.

Warner Music
Atlantic Records
Frank Turner

And of Course, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt, Jason White, Jason Freeze, Jeff Matika aka Green Day, Bill Schneider and Scott Pelkey from the Green Day family for an awesome and unexpected raffle prize x …..