Hot Hot Hot photo taken by Simon Gothard

Penetration
played
Derby
Victoria Inn
on
Friday 30th August 2002.

Fake Flames taken by Simon Gothard
Big thanks to
Dave Hindmarsh for promoting this gig despite an upcoming OFSTED at his school!
Dave
a comfy vantage point before the gig starts
Ant keeping watch on the mikes!
A HOT gig!!!

They leave the stage to rapturous applause and return with a pile-driving version of 'Stone Heroes' before rounding off with 'Firing Squad'.
Afterwards the band were their usual approachable selves: Robert, still smiling and seemingly slightly bemused by the reception they've just been given, said they'd never have got back together unless they thought they were going to enjoy it - a sentiment echoed by Gary, although he confided that he has to pace himself a bit more these days!
So there you are - I needn't have worried. Penetration delivered way beyond my expectations. Ironically, the twiddly guitar riffs and thoughtful lyrics which alienated them from main-stream punk in the 1970'¹s has rendered their music fresh and considered in the new century. Simon Gothard

A review by Simon Gothard
This was one of those nights filled with an air of excitement and anticipation, but tinged with more than a little sense of foreboding.It has, it must be said, been a long time since Penetration split and I was surprised to hear that they'd reformed.

I can tell you that merely walking into that room full of warm bodies was an almost spiritual experience due to my hypothermic state, but when the band came on, fronted by this gorgeous woman, I truly thought was in heaven!
Since those heady times, I must admit that, once I'd sold my vinyl
collection, Penetration were consigned to some small corner in the back of my subconscious.

Anyway, fast forward twenty-odd years (gulp) and now we're in an mpv heading to Derby from Lincoln - three big fans and one who's only ever heard Don't Dictate. We crank up the stereo - Moving Targets for the uninitiated one in
the back.
We arrive at the rather cosy Victoria - it seems a very small venue - but at least it¹s heaving. After a couple of beers and two support acts, Penetration take the stage and immediately all my doubts melt away. The band have lost none of their passion and, very appropriately, Pete Shelley's 'Nostalgia' fills the air. Robert Blamire is all smiles and Pauline has emerged from her Cryogenics chamber looking just the way she did all those years ago. The two new
guitarists slot in nicely and tend to let Pauline and Rob take centre stage,whilst Gary Smallman's powerful drumming drives the whole thing along like an express train. Next up is 'She is the Slave' - I look around - everybody knows the words -everybody's enjoying it! The brilliant 'Lovers Of Outrage' follows - we're three tracks in and already you know this is something special.

Sticking with 'Moving Targets' we're given 'Future Daze', 'Life's A Gamble' and the quirky 'Movement' which always worked much better as a live track than a studio one.A quick cut to the 'Coming Up For Air'¹ album for 'What's Going On?' then straight back to 'Targets' for the hauntingly beautiful duo of 'Vision' and ' Free Money' followed by 'Silent Community'.
Next came the one that most punters had waited for - the anthemic 'Don't Dictate' - ironically one of the band's weaker moments on vinyl, but a rebel-rousing live track. Keeping up the pace, it's straight into 'Danger Signs' before finishing with two classics from 'Coming Up For Air' - 'Come Into The Open' and 'Shout Above The Noise'.

I was dreading seeing a jaded performance from a band who had got back together simply for the sake of getting back together.Way back in the late seventies they were my favourite band, a fact no doubt helped by them being the first band I ever went to see.I'd waited outside Retford Porterhouse in the freezing cold for four hours after being told I wasn't old enough to get in (which I probably wasn't). At last a kindly bouncer (now there's a thing!) no doubt impressed by my dogged determination invited me inside just before the band came on.