Lauded purveyors of fierce and rebellious street punk, London’s U.K. Subs have released 24 albums and toured extensively over the past 40 years, showing no signs of slowing down, let alone stopping.
Balancing just enough rough and tumble energy with choruses you want to shout along to and the occasional blistering solo, the Subs have crafted their own unique (but now thoroughly imitated) blend of punk, hardcore and “Oi!” — a subgenre of ’70s punk rock from the U.K.
Founder and vocalist Charlie Hepner and company have outlasted arguably bigger bands like The Sex Pistols and Crass, surviving lineup changes. The band’s endless touring has made them one of the longest-lasting punk bands in the world, influencing several generations of crust, street punk and rock in the process.
Though U.K. Subs definitely enjoyed the momentary Top 40 success they shared with bands like The Clash and The Damned in England during radio’s late-’70s embrace of punk rock, unlike many forgotten bands of that era, they remain socially vital and lyrically relevant.
Hot on the heels of 2014’s politically charged Yellow Leader, the British punk gods are returning to the road, leaving a trail of broken bottles, chipped teeth and smiles in their wake.
Eugene’s Not A Part of It and The Soothesayers open for U.K. Subs 9 pm Thursday, June 18, at Old Nick’s Pub, 211 Washington; $15, cash only at door. 21-plus. — Joshua Isaac Finch