Bristol thrashers Herb Garden celebrate 30th anniversary
Legendary Bristol prog-thrashers Herb Garden make a rare appearance at The Exchange, Old Market on Friday, 14 September 2018 – their first live gig in 10 years!
‘Herb Garden: 30 years of stinking riffs and pure manure’ sees the Bristol act hit the stage on Friday 14 September, supported by youthful upstarts Milo’s Planes. Doors open at 7.30pm and advice from those close to Herb Garden is: ‘don’t miss this rare show!’
Emerging from deep in Bristol’s thrash-punk rockery, Herb Garden will celebrate three decades years since their first forays into the riff-pits of the late ‘80s hardcore-punk scene. Plus, it was in 1988 they released their first, eponymously-titled 12” EP. And you’re invited. But they weren’t really hardcore right? They sometimes put fans in a punky blue funk or caused a psychedelic flashback.
Who can forget the chorus of Bulldozer Jones, the twin guitar riffing of Sunburn, the purple daze of Convicted Man, or the intense drum battery of Ice Cream Man? These chaps, that’s who! But fear not – they’ve got their heads together, printed the words out, pumped some iron, and learned the songs!
This follows FOUR years of coaxing and persuading band members out of early retirement, to take the stage and follow up the 2014 release of ‘Herb Garden Quartet’ – their first album in 20 years!
Famous for ‘not being very famous’, their excellent European rock-tours, and for Carl giving birth to a garden gnome live onstage (by Caesarean), the Herbs had a five-minute flirtation with rock stardom when their crunchy Warner Bros album Destructive Natural Agent fell slightly short of the Top 100. Staunchly independent ever after (i.e. they split up), this once-in-a-Keith-Moon appearance by our ‘mad Muppets on raver-fuel’ guarantees to “muck out your mojo, thump you in the gizzard, then kiss your mind” according to singer Carl.
Carl, Dave, Ben, Rat, Phil, and conga Martin, invite music fans to help them bump-start the band’s Red Van! Expect free tea, ‘Garden patches, artisan vinyls, download codes for the remasters, and … politely British, Brexit-questioning hugs!
The show is aided and abetted by the fine and dandy Milo’s Planes whose post-hardcore, guitar-driven capers grasp the older generation’s punk baton and tells them in no uncertain terms where to shove it! Let’s all share the lovage!
Notes for editors:
- Herb Garden appear onstage at The Exchange, Old Market, Bristol on Friday 14 September 2018. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 in advance and £8 on the door. Support band is Bristol suave-punks Milo’s Planes.
- Listing/ tickets: Exchange event
- Social media: Facebook event
