Punk-rock musical legend Mike Watt is to perform in Reading this June as mssv come to The Face Bar.
Club Velocity is organising the gig on Friday, June 13, giving people an ipportunity to hear one of the most influential and respected musicians in the business.
Mike Watt was a member of the influential band the Minute Men.
At the request of Iggy Pop, he was asked to play bass for the reformed Stooges during the 2000s.
And he has the respect and admiration of his peers including Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Henry Rollins, and the Beastie Boys.
Now, he is touring with mssv. And if you’re wondering what that stands for, it is Main Steam Stop Valve. The American band features Mike Watt with Mike Baggetta, and Stephen Hodges.
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Mike Baggetta and Mike Watt recorded Wall of Flowers with drummer Jim Keltner.
After releasing it, Stephen Hodges was brought in for the tour.
Hodges had previously worked with Mike Watt’s second solo album, Contemplating The Engine Room.
The resulting trio named themselves mssv and recorded the album Live Flowers, live at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia on March 28, 2019.
It comprises songs from Wall of Flowers with Pink Room from Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me, No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man), and Liberty Calls! from Watt’s Contemplating the Engine Room and a cover of Fun House by The Stooges.
In February 2020, the band announced their intention to play the 2020 Big Ears Festival The festival was later cancelled due to covid.
Soon after, mssv announced the postponement of their entire spring 2020 tour.
In the same message the band revealed the September 2020 release of their first studio album on BIG EGO Records. The album would be released with the title Main Steam Stop Valve.
Their second album, Human Reaction, came out in 2023.
This aims to traverse a deeply broad sonic landscape, as expected from this nearly unclassifiable group, though with even deeper twists and turns.
Their latest album is On And On, featuring songs from their 2023 tour, and they have been taking it on the road in the US from March, while they fly over to the UK at the end of this month.
They kept a tour diary, which is available to read on their website: http://hootpage.com/hoot_mssvharutour2025.html#tourdiary
The band say that the vinyl version of On And On includes some secret tracks to listen out for.
Now, some five years later than planned, the band are on tour, and they will be coming to Reading.
When can I hear Mike Watt and mssv in Reading, how much are tickets and how can I get them?
Mike Watt’s mssv will be performing at The Face Bar in Chatham Street, Reading on Friday, June 13.
Doors open at 8pm.
It is the penultimate show of a 17-date tour of the UK and Ireland, so the sound should be tight by there.
Tickets cost £22 each, and the show is open to those aged 14 and above but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
For more details, or to book, log on to wegottickets.com
Club Velocity hosts regular gigs across Reading. A full list of them are also available on the WeGotTickets website https://wegottickets.com/ClubVelocity
Among the highlights is a return visit from Shonen Knife, a band who started in Japan back in 1981, and ended up being one of Kurt Cobian’s favourite bands. They will be visiting The Face Bar on Thursday, May 29.
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