With the last notes of GLC's headline set still ringing out over Newport's John Frost Square, thus bringing 'TJ's in The Square' to its natural conclusion, those of us still up for yet more rocking were making our way across town to Le Pub. 

The prospect of simply seeing yet more live music was just too good an offer to turn down for most.  But for me this was something of a personal crusade, as tonight I would finally get to see a band that although they originate from a village less than 2 miles from my hometown, have taken me nearly four years to see in a live setting.  Yeah I was finally going to see The (muthafuckin) Guns live and I was so caught up in it all I managed to totally miss the opening band tonight.  Sorry guys.

Hitting the venue's packed tight stage to the sound of REO Speedwagon on the in house P.A, The Guns immediately struck me as something like Head Automtica with a nuclear rocket up their arse, The band defying those prone to genre pigeonhole bands by simply playing straight up, balls out Rock 'n' Roll.  It is however the strength of the songs that make up this straight up, balls out Rock 'n' Roll display that has me scratching my head thinking "how the fuck are these guys not signed?"   Drawing tracks from their debut album 'With The Guns' like the phenomenal 'It's On Like Donkey Kong' and the riotous 'Gordons And Lemonade', frontman/guitarist Alex Wiltshire is something of a titian duck walking superhero.  Cajoling the crowd to "Step The Fuck Up" until he finally got the response his band demands, he is also someone bursting in self confidence, and so he and his band mates should be, as they just about to release a fantastic new single in the shape of  'Treacle And Pie' via iTunes.  When this tune was unleashed tonight the pit that ensued told enough of a story for any sceptics left in the building.  Oh and before I forget, in new drummer Rhian Williams, The Guns have the best female drummer I've seen this side of The STARTS's Chelsea Davis, unorthodox of style maybe, but as well as being a bit of a babe, she is one hell of a drummer.

Put simply The Guns are the best local band I've ever seen, but don't let that 'local' tag fool you, as this is a band with songs strong enough to conquer the world not just the UK. 

A man who knows all about conquering the Punk Rock world, and who has been doing just that for as long as I can remember is John Robb journalist, talking head, author and lead singer extraordinaire with tonight's headliners Goldblade. Having played TJ's well over twenty times in various guises throughout the years, if ever one man could pay fitting tribute to John Sicolo's legacy it is this man.  So with Darrel missing the band's set earlier in the day at TJ's In The Square and Russ P getting up a little too close to John Robb for his own comfort, it was left to yours truly to set sail on the good ship Mutiny with the usual crew.

But wait a god damn minute here, what's this? 

The familiar silhouette of Brother Keith on bass was conspicuous by its absence, and I'm suddenly starting to worry about what might be about to happen here tonight.  I'm even more worried when Keith's replacement Brother Simon bears an uncanny resemblance to my next-door neighbour, who is more prone to serenading us on his Salvation Army tuba at festive times, than laying down tight as fuck punk rock bass lines.

But fear not me hearties, as even when stripped down to a three-man core (Brothers Pete and Rob still very much in the fold) Goldblade are still better than about 99.9% of the bands currently peddling their wares on the UK punk rock scene.  It only takes a quick 1-2-3 blast through 'Strictly Hardcore', 'Jukebox Generation' and 'Rebel Songs' to show that in fact Brother Simon is a pretty shit hot bassist (and not a tuba player) and with Brother John covering every inch of the venue's stage and dance floor the band were as ever looking to take no prisoners.

I challenge anyone who says they love good music not to be totally consumed by the party hardy sounds of Goldblade live, especially when they dust off their greatest hits set, with the infectious nature of tracks like 'Black Elvis' and  'Psycho' soon having everyone screaming along at the tops of their voices.  It's left to 'Do You Believe In The Power Of Rock 'N' Roll' and Brother John's usual evangelical preacher slot to take the night off the fun-o-meter scale one last time before 'Mutiny' sent us all home that little bit more piratey.

I have to admit to missing tracks like 'Who Was The Killa' and 'Home Turf', which were both absent from tonights set list, but when you're playing with a stand in bassist (John revealed Brother Keith was busy elsewhere today) and your guitarist is playing with a broken finger I have to be simply thankful the gig was happening at all.

So thank you Goldblade and The Guns for such a fittingly chaotic and noisy end to a near perfect day, I could just see John Sicolo looking down on us smiling. It's just such a crying shame that none of today's events could have taken place in the venue he loved so much.