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The house lights drop and the audience, bristling with excitement, begin to raise their voices in anticipation of the next band. Suddenly, a light hearted show tune breaks over the PA as five figures can be seen lumbering on the stage. "Is that the band?" someone asks his neighbor as others wonder what is wrong with the deejay. The drummer can be seen to tap lightly on his rack toms, like a conductor calling his orchestra into attention. The show tune reaches its crescendo and as it resolves, the drums begin to sound a desperate, frenzied beat, a barbaric and frantic march; feedback rings from guitar amplifiers. Still wrapped in darkness, the figure in the middle cries, "We're the Spitfires United...let's go!" as the stage lights hit, basking the band in a glorious wash of colors and sending the band past the intro's climax and into the first song with a fury befitting their name. The twin guitar attack of Mikey Stilts and Jack Rejekt flank the stage, their sound stabilized by Chris Suspect on bass and Kent Stax on drums. Piloting this ruthless and efficient crew, frontman Will Field lets the crowd know who's the boss for the next half hour as he leads these lads from DC on a half hour strafing run that leaves bodies spent and eardrums ringing.
Spitfires United began their tour of duty in the autumn of 1999, taking up the streetpunk banner where United 121 left off. Several line up changes allowed the band to branch out from its original early '80s UK punk sound, as the boys embraced everything from Bad Brains and Bob Marley to Motorhead and Black Sabbath. In early 2002, the band said goodbye to long time vocalist and newlywed Will Field and guitarist Jack Rejekt. After too many auditions and even more headaches, little Timmy Spalding and his brother Daniel Fury were brought on board. The changing of the guard has reinvigorated the band, sending them out on forays up and down the East Coast, playing for ever-growing crowds from Massachusetts to Georgia on tours that would make a lesser band fold but make SFU only thirst for more.
The boys were finally shot down in late October 2003 as they prepared for yet another tour of New England. Rumor has it someone shoved a dirty pillowcase into the engine, causing the well oiled machine to seize. They were last seen flying over Falls Church, VA...
...and the rumors are true. There will be a Spitfires United reunion show June 1st, 2007 at the legendary 9:30 Club.
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