Live Review: Ugly Kid Joe - KK's Steel Mill, Wolverhampton
28th November 2025
Support: Scarlet Rebels, Muddibrooke
Words & Photos: Scott Clarke
It’s most definitely winter, cold temperatures and wooly hats are a plenty as the queues form on a Friday night outside the magnificent KK’s Steel Mill as tonight we throw it back to the 90s for Ugly Kid Joe. I have to say, it was a strange one in terms of the crowd tonight. Early doors it seemed a little sparse, especially for a Friday night, yet once things started up, it was as though a coach had pulled up and no sooner had the music began, the room was filling quite well.
It’s a stacked bill as we have three bands on tonight. Up first to warm up our frozen feet, hailing from Derby are MuddiBrooke. An alt rock trio blending grunge elements and a distinct amount of soul and passion. Brooke, Anna and Morgan waste no time or words in making an impact tonight for those in attendance.
It’s an aggressive, gritty sound and despite the short set permitted tonight in the support slot, the three piece treated it like their lives depended on it, wringing out every note and pounding every beat that may have caught some of the crowd by surprise.
The three song opening blitz of Cellar, Liverpool Guy and Float mark my time in the pit photographing, it’s a solid start that goes down well with the crowd and MuddiBrooke excel with their musicianship and on stage presence, full of confidence they make the most of their time with us.
The set consists of Fool Heart, ADHD, One Life, a fantastic cover of Lesley Gore’s You Don’t Own Me, the 60’s classic being reworked and given a new lease of life, it’s a rousing anthem, before culminating in Get Away.
It was an electric performance that never let up and, despite it being a support set which is naturally shorter, seemed to go by ever so quickly nevertheless. Brooke’s vocals are powerful and dynamic matched only by her on-stage presence as she commands the venue. Anna and Morgan are equally as adept providing bass and drums in a supporting presence that adds that distinct ‘oomph’ and driving force of the rhythm. Instrumentally speaking, the band are tight with no unnecessary baggage, it’s a tough thing for a trio who can’t hide behind others really, the sound is very dependant on each member working precisely and in harmony otherwise it would really stand out with no others to fall back on to fill in or support, they compliment each other incredibly well and the feeling of togetherness is evident to all.
In terms of the show for the evening as a whole, the majority were here to recapture the feelings of their youth with the main act, however they were also treated to the presence of youth and the prospect of the future. How many headlines will MuddiBrooke have and how many of the people here tonight will be travelling to see those shows in the future? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, the impact and stage presence of these musicians is undeniable and they’ve done their utmost to make a positive impression on everyone good enough to turn up early tonight. And for those that were late? that’s a shame, go check them out online because you missed a cracking set.
After a short time and a bit of change in set dressing, the lights dim for the second time tonight. The lights go down and the now much warmer and much fuller crowd increases their volume to welcome to the stage Scarlet Rebels.
From three to four we go, we’re upping the stakes in the band member numbers department as the guys from South Wales, Wayne Doyle, Gary Doyle, Carl Oag and Chris Jones take their places in front of the welcoming KK’s supporters where a splattering of Scarlet Rebels merch greets them with applause and cheer.
With three albums under their belt since 2019 (4 if you include the live album) the band had a bountiful amount of material to choose from to showcase their musical talents to their fans tonight but with limited time available given the three band show, we find that the tracks tonight come weighted more from the “Where The Colours Meet” album, their 2024 and latest release, however there is a track from every album to date amongst the set, it’s a nice well rounded balance that shows the bands work through their years.
Opening up with one of possibly the most upbeat intro’s I’ve heard from a band, the theme from Happy Days, plays through the PA to the cheers of the attendees who join in unison singing along. As the band make their appearance on stage to rapturous cheers, they launch into Secret Drug following with Take You Home and You Take My Breath Away, three tracks from three different albums, Where The Colours Meet, See Through Blue and Show Your Colours respectively.
Is it stereotypical to say that a Welsh guy has a great voice? Probably yes, however it doesn’t make it any less true. Wayne’s vocals are effortlessly smooth and powerful delivering the, sometimes politically charged, lyrics with passion. CJ’s guitar work is impeccable, tapping and bending for all he’s worth while bounding with energy across the stage. Gary, behind a modest drum kit, gives those things an absolute beat down throughout the entirety of the performance while Carl backs up the rhythm section with his driving bass tones. The remainder of the set consisted of selections from the latest album with Streets of Fire, Grace and the much more ballad like It Was Beautiful before closing out with Let Me In from the Made in Sonic One album.
They’re a polished troupe that deploy their brand of hard rock unapologetically. From driving rhythms to break neck, string bending, blistering tapping solos, they’re a complete package that blend together and deliver the goods consistently, there isn’t an “off track”, it’s a full on barrage from beginning to unfortunate end. Even some technical difficulties can’t hamper the bands performance or spirit. A failing guitar strap that saw CJ’s axe make an unceremonious crash to the deck and some technical issues with Wayne’s own guitar initially, were all overcome, Wayne at one point trying to reattach CJ’s strap to his guitar while he was mid solo and balancing the guitar upright on his knee, it was quite a sight. Nevertheless, the show went on and the band laughed it off and were unfazed.
Being in the leagues of the NWOCR, they have a heavy instrumental tone yet the rhythms are so melodic it’s crazy. To say that their songs are instant earworms is probably a great description. They have a great “classic rock” vibe going on with groovy beats, catchy hooks and chorus’s and I want to say that if you like one song, you’d like them all. They have a great, easily palatable sound, perfect for holding their own headline, being in an arena, venue, a festival, even in your car, its fantastic driving music, I think it’s the positivity that oozes out of every track, it’s feel good music for the most part which is exactly what music should be.
So far it’s been an entertaining evening to say the least. The cold weather has nothing on the warmth of the community that have gathered in these walls tonight and the stage had been red hot with talent, leaving only the headline to go. The lights drop again for the final time and the biggest cheer of the night from an enthused and now packed out audience goes up to welcome to the stage Ugly Kid Joe.
The band have traded the sunny skies of California for our dreary and dark Wolverhampton suburbs and we are very grateful for them bringing a spot of light to brighten our evening this Friday night
Opening tonight with a long instrumental intro that blends into the track Neighbor as Whitfield Crane takes to the stage to join his band mates and lets rip his vocals. Jesus Rode a Harley, Panhandlin’ Prince and God Damn Devil get the biggest cheer thus far tonight as Whit’s vocals cut through the loud, brash instrumentals and sees him marching around the stage, left to right and front to back. In my short time in the pit taking the photos, I don’t think theres a part of the stage the man hasn’t covered already. It was shaping up to be an electric show. As I made my way out after my allotted three songs had passed, I couldn’t help but notice how much more difficult it was to make my way back through the crowd, I’m not sure where they’d all come from but the venue was definitely rocking now.
Kill The Pain is next up on the night and one of two tracks from the Rad Wings of Destiny album, the fifth and latest release from 2022 before we return again to America’s Least Wanted for So Damn Cool. Cat’s in the Cradle, coming in roughly mid set is one that took me by surprise as I thought it would’ve been later in the set.
What can be said about Whitfield Crane? Adorned tonight with a t-shirt featuring a photo of a young Ozzy Osbourne, the charismatic leader, is an incredible showman and has the crowd in the palm of his hand from the very beginning. Charisma is a word that’s thrown around in regards to confidence an awful lot, especially when it comes to performers, its the nature of their job, but Whitfield genuinely exudes it by the bucketful and it’s not cockiness or arrogance, it’s a charming charisma that captivates the fans and everyone in attendance. Are you a life long fan? Is it your first time at an Ugly Kid Joe show? Did you only come for the support and weren’t even born in the bands heyday? It doesn’t matter, Whitfield works his magic across all comers. His on stage energy and the quality of his vocals haven’t diminished in the slightest. To say it was like being transported back 30 years seems a cliched thing to say, but it’s true.
Speaking of which, it was very much a thirtieth anniversary show for Menace to Sobriety, an album that launched in 1995 and as such saw a bit of representation on the setlist tonight including C.U.S.T and Milkman’s Son. We also see a good few tracks featured from the 1991 EP, Stairway to Hell with No One Survives, I’m Alright and Devils Paradise. It’s a well crafted set, featuring fan favourites, more recent stuff as well as moments to reminisce.
From the outset theres a distinct connection with the fans, its a wonderful thing to see, how one band can have such an impact and bring so many people together for good. The band never let up and I have to say the years have not taken a toll in the slightest.
Ably accompanied by Klaus Eichstadt on lead guitar duty, he and Whitfield make up the original contingent from the hey day, they are joined by Chris Catalyst and Mike Squires on rhythm guitar and bass respectively and Cam Greenwood on Drums. The relative newbies to the line up are fantastic additions and although technically adept, they never try to outshine the band as a whole, instead its very much a group in sync that create a wall of sound that hits like a truck. The band gel like a finely tuned machine, with talent honed over the years, their experience contributes to their comfort on stage that in turn develops the show into what it is. When skill levels are so high and the talent comes so naturally, it provides an element of freedom and the ability to enjoy the time with the fans on that stage and although they’re in familiar settings, I don’t get the feeling that this is any less fun as the first time the group got up in front of fans, in fact their experience and the relaxation that comes along with that may in fact make it more enjoyable which in turn transitions to the crowd at the same time.
The positive energy and good vibes on display permeate the people in the room, its a Friday night of frivolities and fun as the crowd sing along enthusiastically with the classic tracks. Although the evening started off as a slow burner in terms of crowd capacity, by the time the headliners took to the stage, the room was heaving, word must’ve got around, but it was fantastic to see such humble and giving artists receive such a reception. It was made all the better with a little interjection of material from local legends Slade and a rendition of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid.
Throughout the whole night, Whitfield interjects stories and adds interaction and crowd participation that bring a closeness with the fans, its little touches that cement the bands fandom and popularity and keeps them coming back to our shores to such a warm welcome on even the coldest nights. Ending appropriately and in the only way it could with Everything About You, it’s quite ironic seeing as there’s nothing about this band to hate at all.
There are no airs and graces about Ugly Kid Joe, they have climbed the ladder and been there and done it, theres a genuine appreciation and fun with back and forth banter and love for the fans along with a desire to leave everything on the stage and put on a hell of a show and its things like this that really make the evening special and memorable, it builds a well deserved fan following and ensures that their legacy continues on, its probably a big part of their longevity.
Photo credit: Scott Clarke
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