By Kelly Dent
The Ship Isis has seen its fair share of loud nights, but this one felt like the Wear itself had climbed up Deptford bank to shake the walls. Sunderland punk has always carried its own pulse: melodic, moody, and tougher than week-old brick. And this gig captured that perfectly.
First up were newly-minted band, Ugly Criers, making their live debut with zero (visible) nerves and maximum impact. The trio, made up of Luke Garnham (bass), Nina Mackie (drums), and Greg Robson (guitar), ripped into their set like they had something to prove. And frankly, by the time they were three songs in, it was already obvious they didn’t need to.
Unveiling tunes from their forthcoming album Catching Spiders (Little Rocket Records/A.D.D.), they served up some sharp, melodic punk with the kind of immediacy that grabs you by the… collar.
‘Kick Down the Ladder’ in a particular makes for a perfect snapshot for what Ugly Criers bring to the table—raw, heartfelt punk cut straight to the bone, recorded at Sunderland’s own Rocket Studios under the steady hands of Graeme Philiskirk of Leatherface fame and a proper Mackem punk anthem in the making.
The entire set was punchy, hooky, and brutally honest, delivered with an attractive no-frills sincerity. For a first gig, it was flawless. For a Sunderland band, it was a proud moment: three musicians stepping onto the map with steel-toed boots.
Next, Tearjerker hit the stage, carrying enough local punk history in their back pockets to make the walls sweat. You all know the line-up by now: Mick O’Brien (vocals/bass), Chris “Frenchy” French (lead guitar/vocals), Marty “Jacka” Jackson (rhythm guitar/vocals) and Brent Copeland (drums/vocals). These guys didn’t just walk onstage, they arrived, bringing along that unmistakable 90s-infused growl that’s become their calling card.
Tearjerker’s sound has always nodded proudly toward Sunderland’s melodic punk heritage. It’s the emotional grit, the soaring choruses, that blend of tunefulness and bruised optimism that Leatherface carved into the guts of the city years ago.
Tonight, that spirit was alive and kicking. You could hear it in the jagged harmonies, the thick, driving guitars, and the way O’Brien’s vocals cracked the way you want them to right on the big lines. Not imitation, but continuation, a glimmering thread running from Mush to right now.
The crowd was also treated to some new tunes from the ‘Jerks. Bigger. Evolving. More open-hearted. Showing that Tearjerker aren’t coasting on legacy and crowd favourites; they’re experimenting, sharpening things up, and throwing it forward like a spear. Frenchy and Jacka’s guitars locked in tight, Brent hammered that kit like it owed him some money and rent was due, and O’Brien snarled and grinned his way through a set that felt like a victory lap with fresh legs.
So there you have it, Gan On reader. Ugly Criers announce themselves with a rumbling roar, and Tearjerker prove yet again that the Sunderland punk scene doesn’t just survive, it evolves. Very, very loudly.
Follow Tearjerker on Instagram
and Ugly Criers here
And listen here:
