The Black Map #254: Buds. from a small town in Hampshire! (Summer Bash V Edition)

Ah the joys of a Bank Holiday Weekend. If you’re reading this outside of the United Kingdom then let’s just say that a national holiday for a good percentage of citizens is always a good thing. That means writing Metal Noise from the Beach while sipping a can of Brewdog Cold Front from a cool bag, the sand between this writers toes, the sound of the waves crashing upon the shore accompanied by a gentle breeze. That’s the segue into us talking about Summer Bash V, the Hawaiian themed beach party at the Facebar in Reading on Saturday 22nd July held by the unholy trinity known as Mercury’s Well. In case you didn’t know it, they’re a Progressive Death Metal band who deserve a lot of credit for their sublime self titled album. They’re having a party, all summers day long with no less than ten other bands joining them on stage…

Tape It Shut
One Last Day
Black Emerald
Hundred Year Old Man
Tribe Of Ghosts
Mercury’s Well
Treehouse
Perp Walk
Masquerader
Buds
Pteroglyph

If you’ve following us so far (a challenge, we know) then the question is: who the f*** Buds. are and why should you get your ass down to Summer Bash V to see them? Buds. (that’s Buds Full Stop) are a Punk Rock quartet from small town Hampshire who self describe as writing songs that make you feel good in spite of your dread. They launched their ship onto the seven seas of guitar orientated music with 2019 single “Bigger Fish” and have since released a self titled album and an EP “Full.” for your listening pleasure. Throwing down the Pop Punk hooks and earworm noodling riffs with a little more introspection and emotion in the lyrics than you generally find in the genre. Imagine if Blink 182 got serious and slowed down just a bit. But not quite to the level of Jimmy Eat World Some would call it maturity. We call it Buds. It’s not the studio work that should be the encouragement necessarily but the bands reputation for an energetic live show of fun and frolics because they’ve clocked up the miles in pursuit of perfecting the art. 2023 has seen them play some iconic venues like Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms, Southampton Joiners and London’s The Black Heart to name but three… so what are you waiting for? Rome wasn’t built in a day and Hell won’t freeze over overnight! Get a ticket and get down to Facebar this July for the most fun you can have without losing a limb…

Want a ticket for Summer Bash V? You can find yours here