Frank Turner und Chuck Ragan

The truly unique feeling about a Frank Turner gig is the feeling of community that comes with every single one of them. Frank's mission statement is to make his every show a place where everyone is an equal, where he himself is on the same footing as everyone in the audience, both united in their love of rock & roll and singing it at the top of their lungs.

He's also confident that at least half of the multitude of people who come to see him play the O2 Arena, or Wembley Arena or any of the enormodomes he currently slays on his home turf, have also seen him play in a room that holds under a hundred people.

At least half of them care enough about his music and what he represents to see him in any and every environment they can, be it the back room of a pub, a cavernous arena, a sodden festival field and everything in between. And at 1577 shows and counting Frank knows how to utterly slay any audience in he finds himself in front of.

Frank may not be reinventing the wheel with his brand of quintessentially British folk rock but it's nothing if not passionate, intelligent and emotionally honest. That passion is reflected in everything about his concerts from Frank and his backing band the Sleeping Souls to the love that comes from his audience, and for that reason a Frank Turner concert is a truly inspiring, humbling and life-affirming thing to be a part of.

Hot Water Music front man Chuck Ragan puts one an endearing and intimate live acoustic and folk-punk performance as a side project from his regular gig, although lately he has put more focus into the side project than Hot Water Music. He has gone from headlining gritty punk rock shows to headlining his own form of laid back punk influenced acoustic tunes.
I saw Chuck play at The Old Rock House back in April of 2013. The venue is relatively small, with some seating in the back. I was able to get right up next to the stage, just feet from the band, and got to feel all of the emotion put forth through songs like "Glory" and "The Trench".
These shows have been a far cry from the norm that is Hot Water Music, and is much more tame, showing that Chuck Ragan can break the barriers of hardcore and melodic punk and enter a quieter and more relaxed realm, but his music is still full of the passion and fury of a punk rock legend in the making.
The relatively new style that Chuck Ragan has adopted has been gaining popularity over the last few years, and I would expect him to continue releasing albums (like 2014's 'Till Midnight') for a long time to come.
Check him out, for sure, next time he comes rambling through your city -- you won't regret it.

Simply brilliant. Really intimate setting, Cory Branan and Sam Russi were also excellent. At least a hundred people there too which just goes to show how many people love good ol' Tim! Great rapport with the crowd too, Chuck Ragan, the bar has been raised sir.