The Pokers

Rob Poker spits venom when he sings.

The vocalist of the punk rock foursome the Pokers has a perfect voice for his band. Brash, snotty, it’s the kind of attitude that punk was founded on. He’s the kind of guy you’d hear and immediately assume that he sings for a punk band, and he couldn’t fit in better with his band-mates, Blink, Stiff, and Paul. With thirteen songs rattled off in just over 25 minutes, you know just what to expect here. These guys aren’t virtuosos, but every song packs a powerful punch, and an overall ‘fuck you’ attitude.

The rough production lends itself brilliantly to this punk‘n’roll assault, and within the first 10 seconds of “Drill,” you know just what you’re getting into. The vocals are sure to immediately suck you in, as the anthemic shouting over buzzsaw guitars is just what you’ll need to get your foot tapping, fist pumping, and mouth moving while you shout every word. The musicianship is basic, but it gets everyone involved. Bassist Stiff Poker has a much more prevalent roll than most bassists these days, and he lets people know what he’s all about. Complimenting him perfectly is guitarist Blink Poker, whose razor sharp riffs cut to the core of each and every track. “My Baby Hates Rock ‘N’ Roll” is a rousing, guitar-driven effort where the entire band really shows their stuff, but there’s not a single song that disappoints. “Beat It” has some back and forth shouting between the vocalists, until it launches into an all-out assault at full throttle until the song is over.

There’s not a ton to really say here. It’s a real straightforward, old-school punk record with a lot to offer. All of you kids about to go check out the next album released by Drive-Thru or Vagrant, you should be supporting this band instead. Well done.