Patrick Cooper reviews Sorry Not Sorry at The Half Moon in Bishop’s Stortford
Patrick Cooper, aka The Cat in the Hat, went to The Half Moon in North Street, Bishop’s Stortford, to see Sorry Not Sorry on Saturday April 5
Saturday evening turns into night. The Cat assesses a sky where hangs a halved moon. It suggests only one venue.
Sorry Not Sorry are playing. Singer Sarni, bold in black T, strapped combat strides and boots, drapes a sign from the mic stand. It looks a bit like a pulpit: “For what you are about to receive, may you be truly thankful.”
They let rip with Teenage Kicks. We are truly thankful. Kick up a bit more fun with foam footballs bearing the band’s logo, hoofed into the audience. Then she channels Joan Jett with I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll. I rest my pint: the bar mat has their logo.
Then The Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop - “Hey! Ho! Let’s go!” - before, without pause, she anticroons the Pistols’ Silly Thing. Night’s livenin’ up.
Rebel Yell don’t come as no surprise. Axeman Steve chops a familiar riff. Sarni loudly accuses someone, maybe everyone, of giving love a bad name. Drummer Gaynor hurts them skins.
Bassman Terry drives rhythm to deliver American Idiot. Masks are tossed into the crowd. The face has an orange hue. Let’s play Trumps! This band is a laugh.
Time for a pint and a chat. I mention that Sabbath has never been a favourite. Axeman tells me I got a surprise coming.
Shoutout here for the attentive staff who seamlessly provided chairs for two giggers who needed them. Shows class.
Steve makes me Paranoid. OK, it was pretty good. Then makes up for it with a soaring, searing Whiskey in the Jar.
Exuberant rugby boys join the dancefloor. Now it Smells Like Teen Spirit. We cruise in our Silver Machine. Hawkwind? Been a while.
Thunderous outro of Pretty Vacant and Time Warp. Some of us know the steps and do it again. It looks like two youngsters at the back have never heard or seen either, but are gratifyingly keen.
This Cat enjoyed his bangers and mosh. We got all the music in the world in our pocket. But we ain’t got this. Start diggin’ the giggin’.
