To go to this gig was a pretty late decision on our part, but the idea of hearing the songs of X Ray Spex again tipped the balance. This was my first time at this venue (in past lives it has been The Fridge and Brixton Ace) and it is fantastic. I have to say that Brixton does very well in the ornate ballroom stakes... an indication that way back when, as well as now, Brixton was a throbbing entertainment hot spot! Tonight was no exception.
The evening's programme was excellently compered by Vivien Goldman whose first task of the night was to introduce Essential Logic, the band saxophonist Lora Logic formed after her brief time in X-Ray Spex. Logic's work is included, although uncredited' on the 'Germ Free Adolescents' album. As will be well known to visitors of this site, she also provided sax on 'Hey! The Rise Of The Robots'. Still producing new music with Essential Logic, she was the logical choice (pun intended) to open up the night's Spex related proceedings.
Lora Logic of Essential Logic
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
Lora was proceeded onto the stage by Hot Wax, a three piece from Hastings who proved that as the original She punks enter their '70s, their legacy has indeed been passed onto the next generation. Hot Wax played a very noisy, very enjoyable set, the bass player was particularly good I thought.
Hot Wax
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
Gina Birch and the Unreasonables followed. Gina Birch is a force of nature, musician, artist and film-maker amongst other things she was also in the post punk band, The Raincoats. Tonight was her first gig as the Unreasonables. Amongst other tunes, such as Gina's 'Trouble' and 'I Play My Bass Loud' there was a song that celebrated the sensible shoes... Dr Martens or red patent leather shoes.... whilst asserting that 'I'll never wear stilletos!'.
Gina Birch & The Unreasonables
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
Last up before the unveiling of the promised 'punk supergroup' were 'Big Joanie', a black, feminist punk band who have supported Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill. Asked by Vivien about the origin of the name 'Big Joanie', singer and guitarist Stephanie said that it was from her mum, Joanie, with 'Big Joanie' being representative of 'a strong, confident woman'. Very much the theme of the evening.
Big Joanie
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
Four bands in and Gunta and I are rather pleased with ourselves having made the decision to drive instead of taking the train. Stage times have got much friendlier to the travelling gig goer in recent years, but it was still nudging 10.30 by the time that Vivien was able to welcome to the stage Poly's daughter, Celeste Bell, Holly Cook, Paul Dean and Lora Logic who together with a rotating cast of guests would once more bring the music of X Ray Spex back to the London stage.
Cue Poly's 'little girl'.
'Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard
But I think "Oh bondage, up yours!"
One, two, three, four...'
So started one of the greatest, most empowering anthems of punk and the rationale that drew 1,500 people to SW2 on this Friday night. The band stormed through about 50 percent of 'Germ Free Adolescents', 'Oh Bondage...', 'Identity', 'I Live Off You', 'Let's Submerge', 'I am a Poseur' and 'Art-I-ficial'. All of which sounded great. Celeste and Holly did great justice to the vocals. The fact that it sometimes took both of them to do the job says a lot about the power of Poly's vocal!
Brixton Electric 16th October 2026
The night however was not exclusively about Poly and her contribution to punk. Another female pioneer was to be honoured, Ari Up of The Slits, who was also lost very young to cancer was also at the forefront of the organiser's minds. Holly Cook spent some time in a later incarnation of The Slits and she lead the band into a rendition of 'Typical Girls'. Then, staying with The Slits, Rhoda Dakar performed the Marvin Gaye/Slits classic 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'. Poor Rhoda, once again she was struggling without her glasses... didn't impact on her performance though!
'Typical Girls'
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
'I Heard It Through The Grapevine'
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
During this musical interlude, the contribution of The Raincoats was recognised when their 'Fairytale In The Supermarket' was aired.
With the end in sight it was back to X Ray Spex and a great version of 'Germ Free Adolescence' featuring the vocal and sitar talents of Bishi.
'Germ Free Adolescence'
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
To close the night the band played a storming 'The Day The World Turned Dayglo' before Celeste invited the entire entourage of musicians and organisers onto the stage for a second blast of 'Oh Bondage Up Yours!'.
'The Day The World Turned Dayglo'/'Oh Bondage Up Yours'
(Brixton Electric 16th October 2026)
At this point the stage was very crowded, with John Robb back on, along with Skin from Skunk Anansie, and wait was that Mick Jones in the corner? And why is he dancing like Donald Trump? Only taking the mick, Mick!
All told it was a hugely uplifting celebration of punk and the immeasurable part that the She punks played in it... the walls they kicked down, the taboos that they broke and legacy they have passed down to millions of women who followed in their considerable wake.
All credit to Celeste and all of the other organisers who pulled off this brilliant event. It was a triumph!
Honestly, nobody would have wanted tonight's gig to be curtailed by a dash for the last train home!
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