The 900 play a whole bunch of raucous songs, all of which have appeared in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater videogames. Naughty but niche! See them in Sunderland in early April.

I spent a huge amount of my time in the early 00s (and beyond) trying to carve, grind and heelflip my way through various iterations of the Tony Hawk videogames. Hawk of course is the most recognisable name in skateboarding, a pioneer of ramp work and the fella who completed the first documented ‘900’ skateboarding feat back in 1999 (i.e. a two and a half aerial spin). 900, the band, took their name from this nifty trick and they exist to bring us cover versions of all those songs that lit up the Tony Hawk games. I’m talking stuff by Alien Ant Farm, Black Flag, System of a Down, The Ramones, Rage Against the Machine, Motorhead, Papa Roach, Green Day, Bad Religion, Less Than Jake, Dead Kennedys, AFI, Goldfinger, Powerman 5000 – i.e. all those bands who know the value of getting your blood pumping. 900 have even performed live onstage in the UK with the man himself, which is the kind of endorsement that you just can’t buy. GM

The 900, Saturday 5 April, Independent, Sunderland, 7pm, £17.50. independentsunderland.com