JAWLESS, CLOBBER, NYLON, DISARMED , SHOW REVIEW BY JD PROSHO

Hardcore in TS1: A Night of Frostbite, Two-Steps, and Chaos

The last time I hit Café Etch, I was helping my kid demolish carrot sticks and hummus while hiding from a biblical downpour. Tonight, I’m back—still sheltering, but this time from a North East winter that feels like it’s trying to kill me. There’s less Vitamin A and way more aggression in the air.

First up, on a night so cold it could freeze your soul, Newcastle’s Disarmed take the stage for their swansong. Made up of faces familiar to the North East hardcore scene, these debutants waste zero time warming up the already packed room—literally and figuratively. For a first show, they play like seasoned pros. Frontman Jack Anderton owns the space like he was born for it. Their set swings between covers and fresh cuts, with tracks like Price to Pay spitting venom at the state of the world and firing up the crowd before closer Truth Decay detonates the room. Disarmed might be new blood, but they’re already dangerous.

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From rookies to royalty: Sheffield’s NYLON roll in like Steel City stormtroopers on their third visit to Boro. They bring a set stacked with old favourites and new bangers, reminding everyone why they’re perched at the top of UK hardcore’s food chain. Wind Your Neck In and Cuttlefish & Asparagus—both off last year’s killer LP Chariot of the Gods—shake the brickwork and spark the first circle pits of the night. It’s anarchy, and it’s glorious.

Then it’s time for the South to show its teeth. London’s Clobber hit the stage in what’s probably the smallest room they’ll play for a while, so everyone here should feel smug about witnessing this up close. Fresh off a European rampage and a slot at Revolution Calling fest, they waste no time necking Red Stripes, roasting the crowd, and unleashing a cocktail of Cockney swagger and two-stepping melodic hardcore. Frontman Charlie Longman stalks the floor like a man possessed, personally injecting life into every body in the pit. Their set is fast, furious, and fun—but also sharp and political, reminding us that hardcore, like the country, works best when we smash division. They want their country back too—just not for the flag-waving brigade. The climax? A feral cover of Cro-Mags’ Hard Times featuring a cameo from Jawless frontwoman Theresa Vendetta. Bonus weirdness: a mid-set kick drum failure sparks an impromptu 2016 internet phenomenon ‘Mannequin Challenge’ throwback, freezing the pit in mid-battle stance before all hell resumes.

Finally, the headliners: Jawless. Technical gremlins try to derail them early, but they bulldoze through, proving why they’re revered in UK hardcore and why legends like Agnostic Front and Cro-Mags have invited them on tour. With members hailing from Spain, Mexico, and Poland but calling London home, Jawless rip through a set dripping in thrash and skate-punk energy. Theresa Vendetta is a whirlwind—spitting stories about dumping a partner for not skating and flipping off London’s finest in blue. Jawless are unapologetically fast, loud, and essential.

Normally, I’d avoid the gender angle—it’s lazy and hacky—but Theresa deserves props for calling all the women in the room to the front, carving out a safe space in the pit. It’s something I’ve seen more and more at hardcore shows, and it rules. This scene is for everyone. Long may that continue.

Photo credit : Callum Leach

Show review by : James Prosho @jdprosho