When word came in 2022 that former Hüsker Dü bassist and moustache-master Greg Norton was teaming up with The Mahone’s main-man Finny McConnell and U.K. Subs drummer Jamie Oliver to form a punk-rock supergroup called Ultrabomb, well, I was all in. The album Time to Burn came out last winter, and a U.S. tour supporting it was announced shortly after, only to be postponed after one show when Norton was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Fast-forward to winter `23: Mr. Norton was back and the band had legs again. The “It’s Got Legs!!!” tour dates were rescheduled, and gig three in Chicago it was.
We bellied up for some pre-gaming at Reggie’s Music Joint, next door to their Rock Club, where the show was, and made small talk with the staff and local openers Space Age Zeros over Old Style tall boys and Jeppson's Malört. I was surprised to hear that pre-sales were unexpectedly low given the high-profile members of this all-star band, but it’s not exactly front-page news that getting people out to rock shows is as difficult as ever, even with this lineup, a low ticket price, and the fact that it was an early show on a Saturday night.
Space Age Zeros
The `Zeros went on at 8 sharp and played 30 minutes of solid Chicago punk in the vein of Naked Raygun and Screaching Weasel. Matching black Dickies work-wear and consistent attention to the audience showed an appreciated focus on performance and showmanship, and they were a great choice for local support on this bill.
The Bar Stool Preachers
Up next were the Bar Stool Preachers from Brighton, UK. As the tubes were warming up and the amps were starting to growl, singer Tom McFaull took to the mic with a thick British accent and addressed the well-under-capacity crowd; “We may be small in numbers but we can be big in fah-kin' haaht - let's go!" and with that they ripped into a 7-song, half-hour set of sing-along ska-punk. At times a bit more Rancid, at times a bit more Clash, but non-stop energy and movement on the stage made for nary a dull moment. McFaull puts a lot of energy into the connection with the audience, not just through sing-along audience-participation, but an almost conversation-level of banter and lyrics around unity, brotherhood, equality and rock & roll. There were no shortages of references to running around with your mates, picking up those who have fallen, and living for the moment. I’m not a big ska fan, but these guys easily held my attention and then some, with enough straight ahead punk-rock in there and the obvious dedication to their craft to keep me actively engaged until the end.
Ultrabomb took the stage with the early Hüsker Dü track “Do You Remember” and proceeded for the next hour to hit the Hüsker catalog heavily as well as the majority of Time to Burn and a track or two from The Mahones and the U.K. Subs as well. The Hüsker songs leaned far on the Grant Hart side, with Norton taking the lead vocal on “It’s Not Funny Anymore” and McConnell handling the rest. This was just Ultrabomb’s 4th gig, and with that (as well as the challenges of being separated by oceans and seas) comes a looseness that was apparent throughout, but it was certainly never sloppy, and Jamie Oliver’s youth and relentless pounding kept the two guys up front in time. Greg Norton, known for his tendency to jump airborne when things get cookin’, addressed the crowd around mid-set to announce that he’s “much better now” since his cancer diagnosis, and that the only difference is that he now pees a little when he takes to the air. I have to admit it gave me the feels to see him up there again with that stance and familiar pacing around stage-right for the first time since Green Bay in December, 1987, just one show shy of the end of Hüsker Dü’s reign. After the second Norton vocal on a cover of the Dead Boy’s “Sonic Reducer” and a spirited “New Day Rising,” the band left the stage and the lights came up.
Afterwards all the bands were hanging around, sharing beers, taking photos, and generally being accessible and cool. There was no visible disappointment at the turnout or the rough edges – just some well-seasoned punk rockers out there making music, meeting the fans, and doing their best to keep at it in a time when “it” isn’t always so easy to keep at. Let’s hope there’s more albums and tours for Ultrabomb in the future. This well-seasoned punk rocker will be there with bells on.
Ultrabomb setlist: Do You Remember / Stickman vs Hangman / Bang Punk / It's Not Funny Anymore (Greg vocal) / Time to Burn / Fear Your Gods / The Hunger & The Fight / Star / I Can Make It / Don't Want to Know If You are Lonely / Tomorrow's Girls / Diane / Makes No Sense At All / Super Hero Shit / Like the Wind / Punk Rock Saved My Life / Sonic Reducer (Greg vocal) / New Day Rising
Bar Stool Preachers setlist: Choose My Friends / One Fool Down / Trickledown / State of Emergency / Flatlined / 8.6 Days (all the broken Hearts) / Barstool Preacher
Jeremy Porter is a Co-Editor in Chief at Pencil Storm. He lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
www.thetucos.com
www.facebook.com/jeremyportermusic
www.rockandrollrestrooms.com
Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic
