NOFX @O2 Academy Brixton – 15th June 2018

Loved, hated, disrespectful, inappropriate but successful, ironic and caustic. NOFX are the punk clowns, even though after thirty years they are still able to entertain and get together the kids. And so, let’s go, heading to Brixton, for my first summer concert.

First band to hit the stage Bad Cop / Bad Cop, female punk band under the Fat Wreck which is gathering success everywhere in the world and which deserves to be listen to, especially for their great song ‘Womanarchist‘. You find them this summer around Europe for their tour.

Second act: The Skints, ska reggae band from London which mix together electronic sounds, instruments, rap, reggae, punk and all results in a beautiful sound. The most worthy song is ‘This Town‘, and you can find it in their last album, ‘FM‘.

And then, after waiting thirty minutes, here they go, NOFX, starting their show! Because, it’s more a show than a concert, with Fat Mike, Melvin and El Hefe that exchange jokes on whatever crosses their minds. For this show Fat Mike is dressed with a woman dress and he comes with his inseparable drink, meanwhile the others are exactly the same way I remember, Melvin shirtless with his dreads and El Hefe who laughs and jokes with the public.

Telling the truth, they have played better and longer than the last time I saw them live in Italy, and, moreover, they have proved that they can still rock. Playing classics such as  ‘Bob‘, ‘Dinosaurs Will Die‘, ‘Stickin In My Eye‘ and ‘Linoleum‘, going through new songs such as  ‘I Don’t Like Me Anymore‘ and ‘I’m So Sorry Tony‘, dedicated to Tony Sly, of course, the only moment half-serious of the evening. They also played some of my favourite songs such as ‘Bottle To The Ground‘ and ‘Franco Un-American‘, among others. So, a set list which is granted: if you like it or not, this set is still captivating people under the stage. If you’ve never seen them live, it is the moment to go to see a NOFX live show!

And, sweating and tired, we leave the O2 Academy, happy once again!