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NOZFEST 2009 - STOCKPORT, THE THATCHED HOUSE - 30th May 2009 by FUNGALPUNK

The X-Rippers - fuckin' hell I have seen these guys a few times. The trips to Barnsley were always fun and I have yet to see this lot and come away unhappy. Tonight was no exception and despite the mikes playing up and the initial sound being totally piss poor the lads battled through and turned what could have been a pimpled rump of a set into a real smooth ass of brilliance. All the old faves were there with 'Pop Idol' a crowd winner, 'Jimmy Kelly' and 'Who's The Doctor' both fuckin' awesome tunes that have a meaner side, 'Rolex' as usual the swift snippet of idiocy that provokes and brings fun and a couple of covers (cheers for 'CID') thrown in for the nostalgia brigade. 'Kill A Clown' is a fuckin' awesome song that hasn't been around for that long and shows there's life in these old dogs yet. 'Troglodyte' always raises a smile with Brent's charm more than apparent and 'Five O' is a good piece of footballing thump-up tomfoolery. A great band with a great set of classics - what more do you fuckin' want? It seems at last that this crew are turning a few more heads and I think it is about time. Stockport take well to these buggers and I hope this continues further afield for a band who always hit the mark.

THE SAS TOUR - STOCKPORT, THE THATCHED HOUSE - 3 DAY BASH - 16th Jan - 18th Jan 2009 - DAY ONE by FUNGALPUNK

After much swapping and changing of line-ups over the previous two weeks it was my good fortune to have the mighty X-Rippers jump on board, and believe me when I say that this lot are always a bonus to have on any gig. Me, my missus and little un' used to go to Barnsley quite regularly to attend the Rippers 'Blimey Charlie' nights and on each and every occasion a darn good punk night was had. We have seen this lot over a dozen times over the last few years and after several hiccups in the bands proceedings it was good to have memories rekindled and see the band back on form. The crowd was a little better now and this lot played it just right and snuck out a set filled with familiar classics and cheeky boy fun. 'Troglodyte', 'Magnet Blues', 'You Don't Like Us', 'Rolex, 'Richard Hillman', 'Pistol Whip A Frenchman', 'Pop Idol', 'Jimmy Kelly', 'Who's The Doctor' and the UK Subs cover 'CID' just gushed quality and the new song ' Do The World A Favour, Kill A Clown' embraced everything that’s great about the Rippers - total fuckology and fun. Crackin' stuff to say the least.

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20th September 2008 - Halifax, The Shay - Most Likely To Fail, Cayn White, Geoffery OiCott, Sounds of Swami, The X-Rippers by FUNGALPUNK

And lastly for us tonight came The X-Rippers. It has been over a year I think since I last saw these buggers and it was good to catch up with them again after such a while and a band lay-off. Now a four piece this started a bit loosely and I had worries as to whether the set was going to be a real let down. By the end though the crowd was won over and The Rippers produced a really good do. The main thing about this band is that they have some real crowd pleasing ditty's that tickle the right areas at the right time. Couple this with the fact you have one of the cheekiest frontmen in the game and you are always going to do well. 'Whose The Doctor', 'Richard Hillman', 'Rolex', 'Pop Idol', 'Jimmy Kelly', '49 Bus', and the two covers 'CID' and 'English Civil War' made this a hugely enjoyable set despite the stuttering start. Me and my family like the Rippers a lot and have had some good times in Barnsley and hopefully they can get cracking again and get the gig ball rolling.

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20th September 2007 - The Gasworks, Bradford - Most Likely To Fail, Flat Back Four, X-Rippers, The Lurkers by FUNGALPUNK

A change of style next with Barnsley upstarts The Mighty X-Rippers strutting their crowd baiting stuff in fuckin' fine style. Its up front, in yer face and belligerent but really does the business. 'Pistol-Whip A Frenchman' embraces the whole X-ripping flavour with many more antagonistic tunes in tow. 'Rolex', 'Stick Pop Idol Up Your Arse', 'Richard Hillman', 'Who's The Doctor' and the best of the lot, namely 'Jimmy Kelly' were exemplary moments from a crackerjack set. I used to watch this lot quite a bit but with the Barnsley scene going tits-up its been a fair while since I last caught up with them but on this evidence they haven't lost any of the old cheekiness and fun-filled style. 'CID' was covered brilliantly and in truth this was a good X-Rippers performance. Nice lads as well which always goes well with me.

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CD REVIEW BY FUNGALPUNK

X-RIPPERS - NO NONSTANCE

The finest effort to date from the Barnsley boys that hopefully goes some way to convincing all doubters of the potential of this underrated band. The excellent opening guitar riff of 'Who's the Doctor' starts a CD that never lets up in both acoustic quality and lyrical sharpness. 'Jimmy Kelly' is a fuckin' stunner and stands out from a great quintet of studio tracks. The sing-a-long classic 'Pop Idol' is always a pleasure to hear and see and 'See My Rolex' is a Freddie Red 'get up your nose and fuck right off' special. However, for me, the biggest surprise of all are the live tracks which are so well recorded that they real do give you an inkling of what a great live band the Rippers are. Full on, in yer face, fun and fuckin' entertaining this does a more than deserving band full justice. All the classics are there and one guarantee I do have is that X-Ripper Munk who passed away last year (and who this CD is dedicated to) must be looking down with that impish grin on his face and be chuffed to bits with this superb album. And so he should be! Well done to everyone concerned and let the Rippers continue for many a year to come.