live reviews july - December 2014.
SYLVAIN SYLVAIN / THE DUEL /
THE BEARS. 100 Club, 3/7/14. First gig of this issue and
I nearly missed it ! Apparently organised at rather short notice, I just didn‘t
hear about it from any of the usual sources and even when I did come across it,
I initially thought it was a mistake – after all, this was the same line-up at
the same venue as Sylvains’ previous gig in London, so I was half-thinking,
maybe the details have just been re-printed by mistake ? But, no, I
double-checked and it was indeed for real. Armed with that knowledge, I booked
a ticket and along I went.
The Bears were onstage unfortunately early, as it meant that a lot of people missed out on a particularly excellent set. As well as the tracks from their two original singles, they’ve got such a great bunch of songs and it’s almost criminal that they never got to record a full studio album back in the day. Surely that would’ve given them the respect they deserve ? But some things just aren’t to be, and we can just feel lucky that we get these occasional chances to catch them live once again. I was told afterwards that they’d played this gig without any recent rehearsals. You really wouldn’t have been able to tell. They were really good tonight and it’s just a shame that they were on so early because they really ought to be seen by a lot more people.
Also due to short-notice, The Duel are playing with a drum-machine rather than their usual timekeeper and, whilst they play with admirable determination, it is a bit unsettling. I’m sure I’ve said this before about them, that although they do have some good songs and great ideas to go along with them, they just seem a bit inconsistent. One gig will be heading in one direction, the next will be going somewhere else. What they really need is more focus to put their point across and really establish their identity. Once done, they’re going to be a band to reckon with.
The big difference with Sylvains’ set tonight is that he’s playing solo, just him and an acoustic guitar and no backing band, as there was last time. That being said, the set is still pretty similar, mixing his own solo material, New York Dolls classics and several appropriate covers, all held together with amusing tales from his illustrious past. He’s quite the raconteur and has a wealth of tales to tell, so it works really well (even though he does manage to kick over my pint of IPA when he jumps down from the small stage…) He’s also able to invite several guests to join him onstage, including Paul Ronney Angel to play some mean harp, and Glen Matlock, who turns up his jeans in homage to the main man (you had to be there to know what I mean…)There’s a real sense of fun and intimacy to the proceedings and, if anything, I enjoyed this even more than when he played with a full band. I’m really glad I made it to this gig, especially as I almost missed it altogether !
The Bears were onstage unfortunately early, as it meant that a lot of people missed out on a particularly excellent set. As well as the tracks from their two original singles, they’ve got such a great bunch of songs and it’s almost criminal that they never got to record a full studio album back in the day. Surely that would’ve given them the respect they deserve ? But some things just aren’t to be, and we can just feel lucky that we get these occasional chances to catch them live once again. I was told afterwards that they’d played this gig without any recent rehearsals. You really wouldn’t have been able to tell. They were really good tonight and it’s just a shame that they were on so early because they really ought to be seen by a lot more people.
Also due to short-notice, The Duel are playing with a drum-machine rather than their usual timekeeper and, whilst they play with admirable determination, it is a bit unsettling. I’m sure I’ve said this before about them, that although they do have some good songs and great ideas to go along with them, they just seem a bit inconsistent. One gig will be heading in one direction, the next will be going somewhere else. What they really need is more focus to put their point across and really establish their identity. Once done, they’re going to be a band to reckon with.
The big difference with Sylvains’ set tonight is that he’s playing solo, just him and an acoustic guitar and no backing band, as there was last time. That being said, the set is still pretty similar, mixing his own solo material, New York Dolls classics and several appropriate covers, all held together with amusing tales from his illustrious past. He’s quite the raconteur and has a wealth of tales to tell, so it works really well (even though he does manage to kick over my pint of IPA when he jumps down from the small stage…) He’s also able to invite several guests to join him onstage, including Paul Ronney Angel to play some mean harp, and Glen Matlock, who turns up his jeans in homage to the main man (you had to be there to know what I mean…)There’s a real sense of fun and intimacy to the proceedings and, if anything, I enjoyed this even more than when he played with a full band. I’m really glad I made it to this gig, especially as I almost missed it altogether !
BLACK SABBATH / SOUNDGARDEN
/ FAITH NO MORE / MOTORHEAD / SOULFLY. Hyde Park, 4/7/14.
Having made a point of going to see Black Sabbath last December, on the grounds
that I may not get another chance, it was virtually inevitable that I’d be
seeing them again within half a year. Not that I’m complaining, they were great
at the O2, and this time there’s a pretty fine line-up over the course of the
day, so I’m more than happy to be going along.
I meet up with Gaye first of all, and we work our way through various queues to collect our silly wristbands, then finally catch up with Kerry, Karen, Steve and Anna in the guest area which is sorta to the side of the stage. The view is pretty restricted but we can hear everything. Soulfly are already onstage and they sound okay, but not really outstanding. Time for a beer instead, we think.
The first real attraction is Motorhead, playing their first gig on British soil since Lemmy’s recent illness. There’s some concerns on how this may affect their performance but we shouldn’t worry, Motorhead wouldn‘t be onstage if they weren’t gonna be Motorhead. While I have to admit, Lemmy didn’t look as if he’s back to full health, his voice and the bands’ sound are just as strong as ever. No half-measures here ! The PA sound is appalling, no where near as loud as it needed to be (I mean, why book a band like Motorhead if you’re not gonna turn it up to Eleven ?) But, just like the Ramones, you know what you’re gonna get from Motorhead and you know it’s going to be great. Long live Lemmy, long live Motorhead, and long may they continue to play Rock’n’Roll !
I meet up with Gaye first of all, and we work our way through various queues to collect our silly wristbands, then finally catch up with Kerry, Karen, Steve and Anna in the guest area which is sorta to the side of the stage. The view is pretty restricted but we can hear everything. Soulfly are already onstage and they sound okay, but not really outstanding. Time for a beer instead, we think.
The first real attraction is Motorhead, playing their first gig on British soil since Lemmy’s recent illness. There’s some concerns on how this may affect their performance but we shouldn’t worry, Motorhead wouldn‘t be onstage if they weren’t gonna be Motorhead. While I have to admit, Lemmy didn’t look as if he’s back to full health, his voice and the bands’ sound are just as strong as ever. No half-measures here ! The PA sound is appalling, no where near as loud as it needed to be (I mean, why book a band like Motorhead if you’re not gonna turn it up to Eleven ?) But, just like the Ramones, you know what you’re gonna get from Motorhead and you know it’s going to be great. Long live Lemmy, long live Motorhead, and long may they continue to play Rock’n’Roll !
There’s a brief break while the stage is
redecorated with bunches of flowers, ahead of the main reason we’re here, Faith
No More. This is their only UK
appearance this year and it’s going to be a short set by their usual terms, but
knowing their usual mischievous approach to such things, I’m looking forward to
seeing what they get up to. They begin with the slow-burning ‘Zombie Eaters’,
before getting the hits (‘From Out of Nowhere’ and ‘Epic’) out of the way and
then delving into the more interesting stuff… ‘Caffeine’, ‘Gentle Art of Making
Enemies’… In contrast to the all-white costumes during their last UK visit,
this time, the band are all in black, complete with priest-style dog collars,
and Mike Patton takes the opportunity to berate the audience with ravings from
‘The Exorcist’. ‘Cuckoo for Caca’ and
‘King For a Day’ are both highlights for me, but then, especiallyunexpected in
these circumstances, they deliver a brace of brand new songs (called, as far as
I know, ‘Superhero’ and ‘Motherfucker’) basically making a silent announcement
that a new album is indeed on its’ way. Finally, they end with ‘We Care A Lot’,
just to leave everyone in a happy mood. Short, but to the point, Faith No More
delivered a fine set and, with the new material, started the countdown towards
the long awaited new album.
We return to the guest area, which is a lot
busier now, and I queue up to buy a couple of over-priced drinks. Just to the
side of me are two media types talking the usual kinda bollocks these people
indulge in… ‘Oh, I love the vibe of outdoor gigs’, says one. ‘Oh yeah’, says
the other. ‘I remember the first Lollapalooza festival, it was so cool. Janes
Addiction played and Perry arranged everything. It was amazing !’ ‘Oh wow’,
says the first idiot, ‘you were so lucky to be there !’ ‘Oh, I wasn’t there, but I read all about
it…’
Soundgarden are next onstage and we can hear them well enough, but apart from a few brief glimpses, I don’t bother to watch them. I have nothing against Soundgarden, they’re just one of those bands that are really popular but I can’t see why ? They’re not bad, but neither are they exceptional, and they seem to have been treading-water for several decades. Their early records showed a lot of promise, but since then, they’ve just stayed in a rut and somehow become very successful. Good luck to them, I suppose.
Finally, it’s getting dark and the PA has miraculously improved (it’s an old roadie trick, but it might just work…) Black Sabbath are another band who don’t need to stray far from the formula to deliver the goods. The set is almost exactly the same as last December (one or two omissions, I think) but with songs like ‘War Pigs’, ‘N.I.B’, or ‘Iron Man’ to choose from, whose gonna worry that they didn’t play some obscure b-side from 1984 ? As it is, two songs from the recent album (‘Age of Reason’ and ‘God is Dead ?’) fit nicely into the set and as a whole, they sound great. Ozzy’s voice may not be note-perfect all the time, but that’s not the reason why we love him. Tony and Geezer just swagger through the riffs with a laid-back style that totally belies that sheer power they create. Again, my only disappointment comes in the encore, when they teasingly start the intro to ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’, only to cut short my favourite song and go into ‘Paranoid’. Well, at least that’s my second-favourite Sabbath tune… And then, it’s all over. I can’t imagine much that would tempt me back to a gig in Hyde Park again, but as far as these outdoor events go, it wasn’t a bad venue. But Motorhead, Faith No More and Black Sabbath all on the same bill – that’s what made the day !
Soundgarden are next onstage and we can hear them well enough, but apart from a few brief glimpses, I don’t bother to watch them. I have nothing against Soundgarden, they’re just one of those bands that are really popular but I can’t see why ? They’re not bad, but neither are they exceptional, and they seem to have been treading-water for several decades. Their early records showed a lot of promise, but since then, they’ve just stayed in a rut and somehow become very successful. Good luck to them, I suppose.
Finally, it’s getting dark and the PA has miraculously improved (it’s an old roadie trick, but it might just work…) Black Sabbath are another band who don’t need to stray far from the formula to deliver the goods. The set is almost exactly the same as last December (one or two omissions, I think) but with songs like ‘War Pigs’, ‘N.I.B’, or ‘Iron Man’ to choose from, whose gonna worry that they didn’t play some obscure b-side from 1984 ? As it is, two songs from the recent album (‘Age of Reason’ and ‘God is Dead ?’) fit nicely into the set and as a whole, they sound great. Ozzy’s voice may not be note-perfect all the time, but that’s not the reason why we love him. Tony and Geezer just swagger through the riffs with a laid-back style that totally belies that sheer power they create. Again, my only disappointment comes in the encore, when they teasingly start the intro to ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’, only to cut short my favourite song and go into ‘Paranoid’. Well, at least that’s my second-favourite Sabbath tune… And then, it’s all over. I can’t imagine much that would tempt me back to a gig in Hyde Park again, but as far as these outdoor events go, it wasn’t a bad venue. But Motorhead, Faith No More and Black Sabbath all on the same bill – that’s what made the day !
MONTY PYTHON. O2 Arena,
16/7/14. I was in a dilemma as soon as the Monty Python
‘reunion’ dates were announced. Firstly, I really would’ve loved to have seen
them in their heyday, but this was gonna be a huge, arena show some 40 years
later and could that ever meet up to expectations ? Initially, the costly price
of the tickets was enough to make me decide it wasn’t worth the risk, but after
the first set of dates, I heard reports coming back from friends who had gone
along, and they were all pretty positive. Of course, the O2 was never going to
be the ideal place to see a show like this, but evidently, they built-up the
performance to accommodate for the venue and somehow managed to pull it off.
So, now I was more intrigued and, when I discovered that you could actually
find some ‘late-release’ tickets pretty cheap on official ticket sites, I
decided it was worth the £25 I paid to find out for myself. Funny that,
officially sold-out, but I end-up with a £95 ticket for almost quarter of the
face value… Not that I’m implying anything, squire, no, no, no…
As it turns out, I’m right above the side of the stage on the first terrace, close enough that I don’t even need to watch the screens. The place is certainly full-up, even despite my last-minute bargain, and I can hardly spot an empty seat. There’s also a very buoyant atmosphere, unusual in a place as large as this. The large stage has been built in an appropriate, ornate music hall style and as soon as the lights go down, it’s clear this is going to be a large scale production complete with, as we soon find out, a mini-orchestra, dance troupe and a massive screen. The introduction begins with an appropriately irreverent tribute to Graham Chapman, before the remaining Pythons emerge onstage for the opening Llama sketch, promptly followed by the ‘Four Yorkshiremen’. It’s still hilarious, even having heard it so many times before, and the way they’ve designed the stage-sets allows for a certain degree of intimacy even in these massive surroundings. Split into two halves, I would have to say
As it turns out, I’m right above the side of the stage on the first terrace, close enough that I don’t even need to watch the screens. The place is certainly full-up, even despite my last-minute bargain, and I can hardly spot an empty seat. There’s also a very buoyant atmosphere, unusual in a place as large as this. The large stage has been built in an appropriate, ornate music hall style and as soon as the lights go down, it’s clear this is going to be a large scale production complete with, as we soon find out, a mini-orchestra, dance troupe and a massive screen. The introduction begins with an appropriately irreverent tribute to Graham Chapman, before the remaining Pythons emerge onstage for the opening Llama sketch, promptly followed by the ‘Four Yorkshiremen’. It’s still hilarious, even having heard it so many times before, and the way they’ve designed the stage-sets allows for a certain degree of intimacy even in these massive surroundings. Split into two halves, I would have to say
that the first part was
perhaps the weaker, relying more on the musical productions, but there’s still
more than a few gems, including ‘Crunchy Frog’ (with John Cleese mercilessly corpsing
Terry Jones) and a great singalong with The Bruces. The Pope and Michelangelo
is another highlight, but it’s when we get into the second half that the really
great moments come out. The ‘Blackmail’ gameshow sketch is especially poignant
in this age of reality TV (and includes a cameo appearance from Simon Pegg,
which is a bit of a bonus) and Terry Gilliam’s brief lesson in Gumby Flower
Arranging is priceless. The highpoint for me is probably the Spanish
Inquisition sketch, with Michael Palin throwing so much energy into his role.
In fact, I’d have to say, Palin was probably the real life-force behind the
whole show, faultless in every appearance he made. John Cleese, despite his
grumpy public personna, also seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself at times,
particularly ad-libbing with Palin during the ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch. Eric Idle
excelled in the musical segments, Terry Gilliam was a little harder to judge as
his part in the team was always more behind the scenes, but the new film
segments were fine. Only Terry Jones seemed a bit lacklustre, but not so much
that it spoilt anything. The finale eventually built-up into a faultless medley
of ‘Spam’, ‘Dead Parrot’ and ‘Cheese Shop’, before ending with one last song
and dance routine. The encore, inevitably, brought out the ‘Always Look On The
Bright Side of Life’, which I can’t really say was my favourite moment (taken
out of the context of ‘Life of Brian’, it just isn’t that great a song…) but
with everyone singing along, I suppose it was pretty appropriate. So there it
was, Monty Python Live (mostly) and I have to say, it worked pretty
successfully. I enjoyed myself and laughed at jokes even though I already knew
them back to front. As a swan song, they deserved all the applause they
received. But don’t do it again !
RUTS DC / EIGHT ROUNDS RAPID
/ DOGTOWN REBELS. Southend Chinnerys, 18/7/14.
Chinnery’s is a fine little venue on Southend seafront, with a nice stage, a
great PA and a very fairly-priced bar (which is a bit irritating when I’m
driving, but that’s just my luck…) Anyway, alongside the usual tribute acts
that do the rounds in places like this, it does have the occasional decent gig,
and it’s really nice to have that just down the road from home.
Dogtown Rebels, from Ipswich, are already onstage when I arrive and sound rather good. They play upbeat, catchy street-punk with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, making it a great start to the evening.
Eight Rounds Rapid just seem to get better and better each time I see them. The guitar sound is sharp, the rhythm section is as tight as Hell and the singer sounds more and more confident. Obviously, their roots are in the early-70’s Canvey sound, but they seem intent on bringing it up to date and taking it forward, which is what makes them really stand out. Definitely one of the best young bands around at the moment, and one to keep watching very closely.
Ruts DC saunter on stage as if there’s no rush what so ever. They know they’re going to be good and they don’t have to worry about it. Sure enough, it’s an amazing gig. Mixing reggae from their recent album and older tracks from both the original Ruts and Ruts DC, they’re obviously enjoying themselves just as much as the audience. Segs even regales us with tales of growing up in the area (let’s hope that landlord doesn’t hear about his graffiti confession, eh ?) and the atmosphere is all in fine spirits. Halfway through the set an the audience are happily dancing along to new tracks like ‘Mighty Soldier’ and ‘One Step Forwards’ just as much as more familiar tracks like ‘Jah Wars’ or ‘Babylon’s Burning’. The encore is inevitably an extended ‘In A Rut’, but that’s still not enough, and they have to come back for a few more songs before everyone is finally satisfied. What a great gig, what a great band ! Not to be missed, at any cost.
Dogtown Rebels, from Ipswich, are already onstage when I arrive and sound rather good. They play upbeat, catchy street-punk with a lot of energy and enthusiasm, making it a great start to the evening.
Eight Rounds Rapid just seem to get better and better each time I see them. The guitar sound is sharp, the rhythm section is as tight as Hell and the singer sounds more and more confident. Obviously, their roots are in the early-70’s Canvey sound, but they seem intent on bringing it up to date and taking it forward, which is what makes them really stand out. Definitely one of the best young bands around at the moment, and one to keep watching very closely.
Ruts DC saunter on stage as if there’s no rush what so ever. They know they’re going to be good and they don’t have to worry about it. Sure enough, it’s an amazing gig. Mixing reggae from their recent album and older tracks from both the original Ruts and Ruts DC, they’re obviously enjoying themselves just as much as the audience. Segs even regales us with tales of growing up in the area (let’s hope that landlord doesn’t hear about his graffiti confession, eh ?) and the atmosphere is all in fine spirits. Halfway through the set an the audience are happily dancing along to new tracks like ‘Mighty Soldier’ and ‘One Step Forwards’ just as much as more familiar tracks like ‘Jah Wars’ or ‘Babylon’s Burning’. The encore is inevitably an extended ‘In A Rut’, but that’s still not enough, and they have to come back for a few more songs before everyone is finally satisfied. What a great gig, what a great band ! Not to be missed, at any cost.
THE MOB / HARDSKIN / ARMS RACE / FRAU. The Grosvenor, 25/7/14. It’s the last week of The Grosvenor, at least in terms of it being a real pub and venue. It’s been bought-out and closed-down by a bunch of profiteering wankers who care not for the community but just for their pockets. Whatever happens to the premises itself, I very much doubt it will be for the good of anyone but the accountants. Now, I’m not going to pretend The Grosvenor was the greatest venue in London or anything, but it was a genuine gaff and always a lot of fun. It’s a shame to see yet another small venue disappear.
Meeting up with my friends Steve and Jake at the tube station, we trudge down Stockwell Road one more time, arriving pretty early and finding the place relatively empty. No problems there, easy access to the bar ! The place gradually fills up as the first two bands play. Frau are noisy, sorta post-Riot Grrl stuff, which doesn’t do much for me, while Arms Race play a frantic hardcore style. They’re not bad, may be worth keeping an eye on them.
But it takes Hardskin to really bring the place to life, and on top of their usual top-notch musicianship, it’s also a night for plenty of profound statements. Fat Bob warns us about the headliners (‘bunch of aging hippies !’) admires the décor of the venue (‘could’ve done with a lick of paint over the years !’) and then tells us all about the dubious band Trollfront, who have recently released a song called ‘Hardskin Are OK If You Like Gay Shit !’ How are our heroes possibly going to respond to such a withering slur ? Simple – they play a quick cover of the track and get everyone to sing along ! That’s how much they care for these internet-based cretins. South London triumphs again - Death to False Oi ! But this gig isn’t just about winning, it’s also about loss, and Fat Bob shows that he’s a man in touch with his emotions when he pays a heart-felt tribute to the Grosvenor – ‘There’s not many other landlords who would’ve put up with you lot !’ How true. In many ways, The Grosvenor has been their second-home (literally in the case of Nipper… he passed out in the bogs once and slept there for three nights.) But now, that stall is never gonna be available again…
Despite the obviously-intimidating prospect of having to play after the greatness that is Hardskin, The Mob just get on with it and sound as great as ever, even despite some technical problems. It’s cool to be really up close to the stage and be able to watch them, as there’s a real chemistry between the three band members and it’s interesting to observe. They play a mix of old and new material, with new single ‘Rise Up !’ being one of the best moments, although it’s inevitably eclipsed by fine versions of ‘Witch Hunt’ and ‘No Doves Fly Here’. The main set finishes with ‘Gates of Hell’ and then I have to miss the encore to make a dash for my last train – one tradition from Grosvenor gigs that I won’t be missing but, in the long run, I’d rather still have that hassle and the Grosvenor still open than losing the place altogether, as has happened. At least this a great gig with which to bid farewell to the place.
Meeting up with my friends Steve and Jake at the tube station, we trudge down Stockwell Road one more time, arriving pretty early and finding the place relatively empty. No problems there, easy access to the bar ! The place gradually fills up as the first two bands play. Frau are noisy, sorta post-Riot Grrl stuff, which doesn’t do much for me, while Arms Race play a frantic hardcore style. They’re not bad, may be worth keeping an eye on them.
But it takes Hardskin to really bring the place to life, and on top of their usual top-notch musicianship, it’s also a night for plenty of profound statements. Fat Bob warns us about the headliners (‘bunch of aging hippies !’) admires the décor of the venue (‘could’ve done with a lick of paint over the years !’) and then tells us all about the dubious band Trollfront, who have recently released a song called ‘Hardskin Are OK If You Like Gay Shit !’ How are our heroes possibly going to respond to such a withering slur ? Simple – they play a quick cover of the track and get everyone to sing along ! That’s how much they care for these internet-based cretins. South London triumphs again - Death to False Oi ! But this gig isn’t just about winning, it’s also about loss, and Fat Bob shows that he’s a man in touch with his emotions when he pays a heart-felt tribute to the Grosvenor – ‘There’s not many other landlords who would’ve put up with you lot !’ How true. In many ways, The Grosvenor has been their second-home (literally in the case of Nipper… he passed out in the bogs once and slept there for three nights.) But now, that stall is never gonna be available again…
Despite the obviously-intimidating prospect of having to play after the greatness that is Hardskin, The Mob just get on with it and sound as great as ever, even despite some technical problems. It’s cool to be really up close to the stage and be able to watch them, as there’s a real chemistry between the three band members and it’s interesting to observe. They play a mix of old and new material, with new single ‘Rise Up !’ being one of the best moments, although it’s inevitably eclipsed by fine versions of ‘Witch Hunt’ and ‘No Doves Fly Here’. The main set finishes with ‘Gates of Hell’ and then I have to miss the encore to make a dash for my last train – one tradition from Grosvenor gigs that I won’t be missing but, in the long run, I’d rather still have that hassle and the Grosvenor still open than losing the place altogether, as has happened. At least this a great gig with which to bid farewell to the place.
DOWN BY LAW / SOUTHPORT / THE CUT-UPS. The Black Heart, Camden, 1/8/14.
This was another gig that caught me by surprise. Not only were Down By Law
releasing a new record, Revolution Time, they were also coming over to the UK for
their first dates here for ages. About time, too, I’d say.
This is also the first time I’ve been to a gig at this venue, having only visited the bar before, but I soon discover the actual gig room is upstairs and sneak into the soundcheck to catch up with Dave and Sam. It’s always good to see those guys, and nice to meet the new band members. I watch them run through a bunch of songs and the PA is sounding really great. I think this is gonna be a good one.
Once they’re done, there’s time for a few slices of pizza before the inevitable trek up to the Dublin Castle for a Guinness (it’s a Down By Law tradition going all the way back to ’94…) Then, back to the venue as it’s an early start. First band, The Cut-Ups, rather than a bunch of Burroughs-inspired experimentalists, apparently feature ex-members of the highly-rated Exeter band Annalise. Certainly in a similar musical vein to that band, anyway, and maybe not a million miles away from Down By Law, either, but they play a good set of DC-style melodic punk and it’s a good start to the evening.
Southport are one of those bands who never seem to get much recognition, but every time I see them I’m impressed. Of course, it’s Simon Wells’ guitar sound that makes the difference. He’s one of those guitar players who’s created their own instantly recognisable style, somehow squeezing infectious melodies out from the howling volume. It’s always a pleasure to hear, and tonight was not exception.
The room isn’t all that large and so is predictably packed by the time Down By Law are ready to play. Much that they deserve a larger audience, in many ways this is a perfect way to catch them. Kicking-off with a high-velocity version of ‘Independence Day’, they quickly set the pace for the show (only briefly interrupted due to a drum-mishap…) With songs taken from almost every album to date, this was timely reminder of just what a great band they have always been. I could never understand how relatively-mediocre bands like Offspring and Pennywise had so much success during the Epitaph-heyday, whilst much more talented and original bands like Down By Law (and SNFU, for that matter) remained under the radar in media terms. But seeing them again, here and now, it just reminds me that they were doing the right thing and their music still stands up for itself. ‘Last Brigade’, ‘Gruesome Gary’, ‘At Home in The Wasteland’, they’re all classics. We also get a frantic thrash through Sam’s ‘Punk As Fuck’, and even a version of ‘Girl With The Flower Tattoo’, which I don’t think I’d heard them play since Hunter was in the band. Great songs, great tunes and loads of energy – what more could you want ?
Running towards curfew-time, they dispense with the encore routine and dive straight into their wry cover of ‘500 Miles’, before ending with a version of ‘Under Your Influence’ from Dave’s Dag Nasty days. A perfect way to end leaving everyone wanting more ! All I can say is, I hope they don’t keep us waiting quite so long before they play over here again.
This is also the first time I’ve been to a gig at this venue, having only visited the bar before, but I soon discover the actual gig room is upstairs and sneak into the soundcheck to catch up with Dave and Sam. It’s always good to see those guys, and nice to meet the new band members. I watch them run through a bunch of songs and the PA is sounding really great. I think this is gonna be a good one.
Once they’re done, there’s time for a few slices of pizza before the inevitable trek up to the Dublin Castle for a Guinness (it’s a Down By Law tradition going all the way back to ’94…) Then, back to the venue as it’s an early start. First band, The Cut-Ups, rather than a bunch of Burroughs-inspired experimentalists, apparently feature ex-members of the highly-rated Exeter band Annalise. Certainly in a similar musical vein to that band, anyway, and maybe not a million miles away from Down By Law, either, but they play a good set of DC-style melodic punk and it’s a good start to the evening.
Southport are one of those bands who never seem to get much recognition, but every time I see them I’m impressed. Of course, it’s Simon Wells’ guitar sound that makes the difference. He’s one of those guitar players who’s created their own instantly recognisable style, somehow squeezing infectious melodies out from the howling volume. It’s always a pleasure to hear, and tonight was not exception.
The room isn’t all that large and so is predictably packed by the time Down By Law are ready to play. Much that they deserve a larger audience, in many ways this is a perfect way to catch them. Kicking-off with a high-velocity version of ‘Independence Day’, they quickly set the pace for the show (only briefly interrupted due to a drum-mishap…) With songs taken from almost every album to date, this was timely reminder of just what a great band they have always been. I could never understand how relatively-mediocre bands like Offspring and Pennywise had so much success during the Epitaph-heyday, whilst much more talented and original bands like Down By Law (and SNFU, for that matter) remained under the radar in media terms. But seeing them again, here and now, it just reminds me that they were doing the right thing and their music still stands up for itself. ‘Last Brigade’, ‘Gruesome Gary’, ‘At Home in The Wasteland’, they’re all classics. We also get a frantic thrash through Sam’s ‘Punk As Fuck’, and even a version of ‘Girl With The Flower Tattoo’, which I don’t think I’d heard them play since Hunter was in the band. Great songs, great tunes and loads of energy – what more could you want ?
Running towards curfew-time, they dispense with the encore routine and dive straight into their wry cover of ‘500 Miles’, before ending with a version of ‘Under Your Influence’ from Dave’s Dag Nasty days. A perfect way to end leaving everyone wanting more ! All I can say is, I hope they don’t keep us waiting quite so long before they play over here again.
THE DAMNED. The Forum,
16/8/14. This came as a bit of a surprise, especially as The
Damned had only played at the Forum back in April, but apparently some Festival
they were due to play got cancelled late in the day so, as they had a spare
date, they decided to play in London.
Short-notice, but again, they kept the ticket price down (a tenner this time,
rather than £1.70 for Captains’ Birthday Party, but still a relative bargain)
and the place is comfortably full-up. Neither of the support bands interest me,
so I time my arrival with just enough space to grab a beer before they arrive
onstage.
It’s a very different setlist tonight, starting-off with ‘Street of Dreams’ and ‘Wait for the Blackout’, before delving into ‘Lively Arts’ and ‘Silly Kids Games’. Good to hear some stuff the don’t often play… there’s a great rush through ‘Ignite’ promptly followed by the atmospherics of ‘13th Floor Vendetta’, and even their mid-Eighties hits ‘Eloise’ and ‘Grimly Fiendish’ (both sounding much better with Captain playing guitar…) ‘Nasty’ is appropriately dedicated to Rik Mayall, and even ‘Curtain Call’ gets an airing, before a manic encore of ‘Anti-Pope’, ‘Melody Lee’ and ‘Smash It Up’. It was a really fine set, and just goes to show, you can’t get too much of The Damned these days !
It’s a very different setlist tonight, starting-off with ‘Street of Dreams’ and ‘Wait for the Blackout’, before delving into ‘Lively Arts’ and ‘Silly Kids Games’. Good to hear some stuff the don’t often play… there’s a great rush through ‘Ignite’ promptly followed by the atmospherics of ‘13th Floor Vendetta’, and even their mid-Eighties hits ‘Eloise’ and ‘Grimly Fiendish’ (both sounding much better with Captain playing guitar…) ‘Nasty’ is appropriately dedicated to Rik Mayall, and even ‘Curtain Call’ gets an airing, before a manic encore of ‘Anti-Pope’, ‘Melody Lee’ and ‘Smash It Up’. It was a really fine set, and just goes to show, you can’t get too much of The Damned these days !
THE DICKIES / CHELSEA. The Garage,
23/8/14. I did my best to miss Chelsea, but unfortunately
arrived in time to see their last few songs. I’ve only ever rated two songs by
this band (‘War Across The Nation’ and ‘Evacuate’) but the possibility that
they might get played was not enough to make me endure the whole set. They
finish their set with their first single, ‘Right to Work’, with Gene October
dedicating it to David Cameron. Hmm, talk about getting it wrong… Cameron wants
us all to work, just for a lot less money.
But at least The Dickies can always be relied upon to deliver a great gig. With the current line-up being pretty consistent over the past few years, they’re now a more solid unit than ever. Leonard is looking even smarter than usual, and Stan plays the Rock God to the hilt. Not many surprises in the setlist but, like the Ramones, you pretty much get what you want to hear… ‘Give It Back’, ‘Fan Mail’, ‘Paranoid’, ‘Gigantor’... There’s room for a few unexpected choices, including ‘See My Way’ and a great version of ‘Attack of The Mole Men’, but as the main set builds to a climax with ‘If Stuart Could Talk’, complete with Leonards’ puppet for the umpteenth time, you realise that The Dickies just have to be The Dickies to make the gig worthwhile. The encore features another unexpected choice in the instrumental ‘Rondo – The Midgets Revenge’, promptly followed by the inevitable ‘Banana Splits’. So, still nothing new, but even in Dickies-time, surely there ought to be a new album soon ? Come on guys – the World needs it !
But at least The Dickies can always be relied upon to deliver a great gig. With the current line-up being pretty consistent over the past few years, they’re now a more solid unit than ever. Leonard is looking even smarter than usual, and Stan plays the Rock God to the hilt. Not many surprises in the setlist but, like the Ramones, you pretty much get what you want to hear… ‘Give It Back’, ‘Fan Mail’, ‘Paranoid’, ‘Gigantor’... There’s room for a few unexpected choices, including ‘See My Way’ and a great version of ‘Attack of The Mole Men’, but as the main set builds to a climax with ‘If Stuart Could Talk’, complete with Leonards’ puppet for the umpteenth time, you realise that The Dickies just have to be The Dickies to make the gig worthwhile. The encore features another unexpected choice in the instrumental ‘Rondo – The Midgets Revenge’, promptly followed by the inevitable ‘Banana Splits’. So, still nothing new, but even in Dickies-time, surely there ought to be a new album soon ? Come on guys – the World needs it !
THE LURKERS / THE FITS. The
12 Bar, 5/9/14. I had no idea at the time, but this would be
the last gig I’d see at the 12 Bar. Yeah, another great little venue consigned
to the all-consuming ogre of re-development. No place for real character or
culture in this Big Society, eh ?
Anyway, it’s a really hot evening so although I get to the gig quite early, I hang around with various friends outside. Finally, it’s time for The Lurkers, so we brave the tropical conditions in the main room and get our places to watch the set. Of course, there’s only Arturo from the original band in this current, 3-piece line-up, but with so many great old songs, and more than a few decent new ones, they can still playreat set. They even start with the recent ‘Come & Reminisce If You Think You’re Old Enough’, before blasting through older classics like ‘Freak Show’ and ‘I Don’t Need to Tell Her’. Arthur is a bit of a chatterbox between songs, but it’s all in good humour and adds to the fun. I know some people will whinge and say, it’s not really The Lurkers, it’s just Arthur and a couple of his mates, but this line-up has been together for a long time and certainly put-in a lot of work. As far as I’m concerned, if they continue to sound as good as they did tonight, they’re more than entitled to be The Lurkers and continue adding to the legacy.
Odd set-up at the 12 Bar – technically, The Fits are supporting, but The Lurkers went on before them to allow everyone to see the main band before having to leave for last trains or whatever. Consequently, The Fits don’t get onstage until 11.45, but I still manage to catch most of their set before making my own last-minute dash. Again, an old band that have returned with the intent on mixing new material in with the old. Mick Crudge is a great frontman and the band play a loud, tight set, including older tracks like ‘Last Laugh’ and ‘Straps’ alongside ‘Son of a Gun’ from the latest EP. Mick makes the most of the confined area, clambering up from the stage to the small balcony. Luckily, I’m able to hear their classic ‘Tears of a Nation’ before having to depart, but that’s a great way to end the night.
Anyway, it’s a really hot evening so although I get to the gig quite early, I hang around with various friends outside. Finally, it’s time for The Lurkers, so we brave the tropical conditions in the main room and get our places to watch the set. Of course, there’s only Arturo from the original band in this current, 3-piece line-up, but with so many great old songs, and more than a few decent new ones, they can still playreat set. They even start with the recent ‘Come & Reminisce If You Think You’re Old Enough’, before blasting through older classics like ‘Freak Show’ and ‘I Don’t Need to Tell Her’. Arthur is a bit of a chatterbox between songs, but it’s all in good humour and adds to the fun. I know some people will whinge and say, it’s not really The Lurkers, it’s just Arthur and a couple of his mates, but this line-up has been together for a long time and certainly put-in a lot of work. As far as I’m concerned, if they continue to sound as good as they did tonight, they’re more than entitled to be The Lurkers and continue adding to the legacy.
Odd set-up at the 12 Bar – technically, The Fits are supporting, but The Lurkers went on before them to allow everyone to see the main band before having to leave for last trains or whatever. Consequently, The Fits don’t get onstage until 11.45, but I still manage to catch most of their set before making my own last-minute dash. Again, an old band that have returned with the intent on mixing new material in with the old. Mick Crudge is a great frontman and the band play a loud, tight set, including older tracks like ‘Last Laugh’ and ‘Straps’ alongside ‘Son of a Gun’ from the latest EP. Mick makes the most of the confined area, clambering up from the stage to the small balcony. Luckily, I’m able to hear their classic ‘Tears of a Nation’ before having to depart, but that’s a great way to end the night.
HAGAR THE WOMB / COP ON FIRE
/ SHOCK & MIGHTY. T-Chances, 7/9/14. A Sunday night in Tottenham
is not an enticing prospect, but I always love seeing The Hags. Plus, my mate
Steve lives around the corner from the venue, so I’ll meet him there as well.
I’ve also found out that there’s a train from Liverpool Street to Tottenham, so
I think I’ll be smart and catch that rather than meandering around on the
tubes. Of course, what I didn’t account for is that there are two train
stations in Tottenham and I, typically, arrive at the wrong one. So I walk out
onto the street and think, where the Hell am I ? But I figure it out and get to
my destination and it still saves me some time.
The gig is being held in the smaller bar area tonight, but there’s hardly anyone there. As I said, Sunday evening in Tottenham. Hardly a number one spot for the jetset. Or anyone. That being said, Shock & Mighty are already playing and sound really good tonight, the best I’ve ever seen them. Sometimes, playing against the odds can really bring the best out of a band.
On the subject of playing against the odds, Hagar The Womb have had to employ a last-minute stand-in drummer as their regular one has had to leave due to a girlfriend-having-a-baby situation. Karen threatens to go into graphic details, but then gets confused as to just who is having the baby, and Ruth has to set the record straight. All this chaos before they’ve even started the first song ! Anyway, eventually, they get under way with ‘Idolisation’ and they sound great. New song ‘Showing Off’ is a fine tune, while they also include all three tracks from their new single (‘Life of Lies’, ‘You Never Learn’ and ‘Distant War’.) Mitch lurks into the audience during ‘One Bright Spark’ and the set finally ends with a great version of ‘Dressed to Kill’. Chaotic, yes, but perfectly-so.
Being a Sunday, I have to leave pretty promptly to catch my last train, but I catch a couple of songs from Cop On Fire, a Spanish band, and they sound pretty interesting. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to stay and watch them properly.
The gig is being held in the smaller bar area tonight, but there’s hardly anyone there. As I said, Sunday evening in Tottenham. Hardly a number one spot for the jetset. Or anyone. That being said, Shock & Mighty are already playing and sound really good tonight, the best I’ve ever seen them. Sometimes, playing against the odds can really bring the best out of a band.
On the subject of playing against the odds, Hagar The Womb have had to employ a last-minute stand-in drummer as their regular one has had to leave due to a girlfriend-having-a-baby situation. Karen threatens to go into graphic details, but then gets confused as to just who is having the baby, and Ruth has to set the record straight. All this chaos before they’ve even started the first song ! Anyway, eventually, they get under way with ‘Idolisation’ and they sound great. New song ‘Showing Off’ is a fine tune, while they also include all three tracks from their new single (‘Life of Lies’, ‘You Never Learn’ and ‘Distant War’.) Mitch lurks into the audience during ‘One Bright Spark’ and the set finally ends with a great version of ‘Dressed to Kill’. Chaotic, yes, but perfectly-so.
Being a Sunday, I have to leave pretty promptly to catch my last train, but I catch a couple of songs from Cop On Fire, a Spanish band, and they sound pretty interesting. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to stay and watch them properly.
SLEAFORD MODS. Cambridge, Portland
Arms, 11/9/14. I’m ashamed to say it’s taken me this long to see a
full gig by Sleaford Mods, but I’m really glad I made it to this one. The
Portland Arms is a great little venue and predictably full-up. It’s also rather
warm in there, but there’s a good atmosphere to go with it. I get down towards
the front to get a good view, just in time to watch Andrew setting up his
laptop. Certainly a lot easier than sound-checking a full drumkit ! Once done,
Jason joins him onstage and they launch into ‘Middlemen’. There’s a really odd
juxtaposition between Jason frenetic delivery and Andrews laid-back observation
of proceedings, but it’s actually quite an interesting balance. Somehow, it
works (especially during the ‘teapot’ routine in the middle of ‘Donkey’… I’m
not even going to try to explain that one !) Anyhow, the songs are played at an
appropriately furious rate, ‘Jolly Fucker’, ‘Jobseeker’, ‘Tied Up in Nottz’,
all sounding great. The place is really hot by the end of the main set, so the
encore just features ‘The Wages Don’t Fit’ and ‘£5.60’ – sadly, no ‘Tweet Tweet
Tweet’ or ‘Air Conditioning’ (which would have been highly appropriate in the
circumstances) but I still leave the gig feeling exhilarated and very
impressed. At the moment, they’re still playing relatively small venues, where
you can still see them up close. I strongly suggest you catch them while you
can.
UK
SUBS / ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE. Southend Chinnerys, 19/9/14.
This should have been a nice, easy Friday evening. All I had to do was get
home, have something to eat and then drive the relatively short distance to
Southend. So, what happens ? The trains fuck up ! My usual 35 journey back from
work takes nearly two hours due to ‘flooding’ (or so they said.) I spent most
of the journey squashed against a window and didn’t see anything more than a
puddle anywhere along the tracks. So, I get home just in time to grab my camera
and head straight to the gig.
I arrive, literally, five minutes before UK Subs are due onstage. Technically, this is a co-headliner, but the Subs will be playing first. Which makes no sense whatsoever as it’s clear that most of the packed-audience are there to see them. From the very first song, people are slamming and jumping around, by far the liveliest audience I’ve ever seen in Southend ! Older songs like ‘Rocker’ or ‘Down on The Farm’ go down a storm, while recent material is embraced just as enthusiastically. When the set reaches classics like ‘Warhead’ and ‘Stranglehold’, people are literally climbing over each other to clamber onstage and sing a few lyrics with Charlie. The PA sound isn’t great, there’s water dripping from a leak in the ceiling, and the crowd is so packed and boisterous that it’s impossible to stand still for more than a moment, but it’s so much fun ! Alvin and Jamie are a great rhythm section, Jet is beyond doubt the best guitarist the band have had since Nicky Garrett himself, and Charlie, even at 70 years old, just shows no sign of slowing down. In recent years, UK Subs have been totally revitalised and are a real force to be reckoned with. There was a point in time when I would never have thought to say that, but the proof is in the performance. Even when Charlie sings ‘Teenage’ as the final song of the encore, you can believe every word of it again.
Which is more than can be said of the Anti Nowhere League. Apart from singer Animal, I have no idea if there are any other original members in the line-up, but they plod through their set and the audience reacts a lot less enthusiastically. The thing is, along the way they have actually written some great songs (‘For You’, ‘I Hate People’ and, of course, the ultimate fuck-you anthem, ‘So What’) but in between, they’ve more often than not just sounded like a bad pub-metal band. I stay for a while as I’m chatting with my friend Steve, but after a few songs I decide to sneak out. It had been a hectic evening and the Subs had obviously been the band worth seeing.
I arrive, literally, five minutes before UK Subs are due onstage. Technically, this is a co-headliner, but the Subs will be playing first. Which makes no sense whatsoever as it’s clear that most of the packed-audience are there to see them. From the very first song, people are slamming and jumping around, by far the liveliest audience I’ve ever seen in Southend ! Older songs like ‘Rocker’ or ‘Down on The Farm’ go down a storm, while recent material is embraced just as enthusiastically. When the set reaches classics like ‘Warhead’ and ‘Stranglehold’, people are literally climbing over each other to clamber onstage and sing a few lyrics with Charlie. The PA sound isn’t great, there’s water dripping from a leak in the ceiling, and the crowd is so packed and boisterous that it’s impossible to stand still for more than a moment, but it’s so much fun ! Alvin and Jamie are a great rhythm section, Jet is beyond doubt the best guitarist the band have had since Nicky Garrett himself, and Charlie, even at 70 years old, just shows no sign of slowing down. In recent years, UK Subs have been totally revitalised and are a real force to be reckoned with. There was a point in time when I would never have thought to say that, but the proof is in the performance. Even when Charlie sings ‘Teenage’ as the final song of the encore, you can believe every word of it again.
Which is more than can be said of the Anti Nowhere League. Apart from singer Animal, I have no idea if there are any other original members in the line-up, but they plod through their set and the audience reacts a lot less enthusiastically. The thing is, along the way they have actually written some great songs (‘For You’, ‘I Hate People’ and, of course, the ultimate fuck-you anthem, ‘So What’) but in between, they’ve more often than not just sounded like a bad pub-metal band. I stay for a while as I’m chatting with my friend Steve, but after a few songs I decide to sneak out. It had been a hectic evening and the Subs had obviously been the band worth seeing.
NEGATIVE APPROACH / MADBALL.
Camden
Underworld, 28/9/14. Always great to meet up with Negative
Approach, real nice bunch of chaps, so I turn up early to hang out, only to
find they’re not there. Apparently, they’ve been held-up on their way over from
France
and it’s looking doubtful that they’re even going to make it on time. It’s
7.00, they’re due onstage at 9.00. Nah, they’ll make it, I assure myself. So I
wander off and get something to drink, returning to the venue at 8.30. They
still haven’t arrived. Well, I’m not fussed about seeing Madball on their own,
so I hang around outside. If they’re not here by 9.00 they won’t be able to
play, so I’ll give it until then. At 8.50, their van pulls up ! They all jump
out, I go over to say Hi and offer to help them load-in. Not an easy task,
because now they have to use the side-door and carry all the equipment through
the audience. The previous band have already finished, so everything goes
straight onstage. 15 minutes later, they’re ready to go and the first song
serves as their soundcheck ! Somehow, it’s all sounding really good and they
blast through a great set, pausing only briefly when Ron busts a bass string
(typical luck !) The audience reaction is very positive and all-too-soon, the
set is over. But once off-stage, all the band members are buzzing. They’ve
over-come the delays and hassles of their day and delivered a great set. That’s
what it’s all about.
The venue is absolutely rammed by the time Madball play. They’ve always been a powerful live band and Freddy is a good frontman, but they do seem to attract the more meathead elements of the hardcore crowd, which is a bit unfortunate. They sound fine, but after the blistering performance from Negative Approach, they were always going to be second-best.
The venue is absolutely rammed by the time Madball play. They’ve always been a powerful live band and Freddy is a good frontman, but they do seem to attract the more meathead elements of the hardcore crowd, which is a bit unfortunate. They sound fine, but after the blistering performance from Negative Approach, they were always going to be second-best.
SUPERSUCKERS. Islington Academy, 4/10/14.
Again, it’s been a long break since Supersuckers were last in the UK. Three years
since they were supporting Thin Lizzy, to be precise. But they’ve been keeping
the current line-up busy with shows around America and recording a brand new
album, Get The Hell. Unfortunately, finding copies of the new LP prior to this
gig has been pretty difficult, so I’m not going to be familiar with a lot of
the new material, but sometimes that can be interesting. Hearing the
Supersuckers live is really what it’s all about, and while they do have a habit
of making great records, they can never compete with the live show.
There’s quite a few other gigs on this evening, including the Jim Jones Revue farewell gig, but the venue is still pretty full-up for the Supersuckers. They are heralded onstage by a ZZ Top live recording – few bands could get away with something like this, but in the context of the Supersuckers’ sense of humour, it works. Starting with the title track of the new LP, they blast through a lot of new material, before gradually introducing older favourites like ‘Bad Bad Bad’ and ‘Evil Powers of Rock’n’Roll’. Middle of the set and it’s time for my personal favourite ‘Creepy Jackalope Eye’, a song as close to perfection as any band have managed. There’s also a weird cover, which I’m later told was a Depeche Mode song (something, I’m glad to say, I wouldn’t know about) and their regular cover of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song’. It’s also guitarist Metal Marty’s birthday, so I think he manages to scam a few shots out of that one. As usual, they don’t do the whole encore thing and just play right up to the final moment, ending with a great version of ‘Pretty Fucked Up’ and, of course, the classic ‘Born With A Tail’, accompanied by every middle-finger in the room. Still the Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band in the World ? Well, they’ve certainly got a good claim to it !
There’s quite a few other gigs on this evening, including the Jim Jones Revue farewell gig, but the venue is still pretty full-up for the Supersuckers. They are heralded onstage by a ZZ Top live recording – few bands could get away with something like this, but in the context of the Supersuckers’ sense of humour, it works. Starting with the title track of the new LP, they blast through a lot of new material, before gradually introducing older favourites like ‘Bad Bad Bad’ and ‘Evil Powers of Rock’n’Roll’. Middle of the set and it’s time for my personal favourite ‘Creepy Jackalope Eye’, a song as close to perfection as any band have managed. There’s also a weird cover, which I’m later told was a Depeche Mode song (something, I’m glad to say, I wouldn’t know about) and their regular cover of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song’. It’s also guitarist Metal Marty’s birthday, so I think he manages to scam a few shots out of that one. As usual, they don’t do the whole encore thing and just play right up to the final moment, ending with a great version of ‘Pretty Fucked Up’ and, of course, the classic ‘Born With A Tail’, accompanied by every middle-finger in the room. Still the Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band in the World ? Well, they’ve certainly got a good claim to it !
JOHN LYDON. Old Truman
Brewery, 16/10/14. He seems to have become something of a
‘national treasure’ these days and has taken advantage by releasing a second autobiography,
‘Anger Is An Energy’. As a consequence, he also seems to be making something of
a media blitz to publicise it, with signings and appearances all over the place.
Tonight, he’s being interviewed live onstage in an event set-up by The Times.
Problem was, you could only get a ticket if you were a Times subscriber.
Fortunately, my friend Willy works out a scam to become a subscriber, book the
tickets and then opt out before he has to pay anything. Clever chap ! And even
more impressively, he offers two of the tickets to me and Tom, so we’re all
rather chuffed.
Once inside, it’s a bit of an odd set-up. It’s just a big, cavernous room with a small stage at one end and rows of temporary seating. We find ourselves a reasonable place and, fortunately, don’t have to wait too long for things to get underway. John is introduced onstage, shadowed as ever (these days) by that Rambo character. This bothers me. There’s something about this blokes’ continuous presence that somehow cheapens Lydons’ credibility. I mean, does he really expect to get mugged by a bunch of Times readers ? Maybe he is just an old mate, but it seems a bit unnecessary and heavy-handed.
Anyway, the talk is pretty interesting although it covers a lot of familiar territory. Lydon has always been an interesting interview-subject, especially when he speaks his mind rather than acting up, and this is an intriguing hour or so. The only dampener comes at the end when members of the audience are offered the chance to ask him some questions. This really was embarrassing… could none of them think of something intelligent to ask ? Seriously, one plonker just asked ‘Can I give you a hug ?’ John obliges, but the look on his face was priceless. Anyhow, that section doesn’t last long, and then Lydon and his entourage are out of there faster than a MP out of a brothel-raid. No problem, gives us some time for a few pints down the road !
Once inside, it’s a bit of an odd set-up. It’s just a big, cavernous room with a small stage at one end and rows of temporary seating. We find ourselves a reasonable place and, fortunately, don’t have to wait too long for things to get underway. John is introduced onstage, shadowed as ever (these days) by that Rambo character. This bothers me. There’s something about this blokes’ continuous presence that somehow cheapens Lydons’ credibility. I mean, does he really expect to get mugged by a bunch of Times readers ? Maybe he is just an old mate, but it seems a bit unnecessary and heavy-handed.
Anyway, the talk is pretty interesting although it covers a lot of familiar territory. Lydon has always been an interesting interview-subject, especially when he speaks his mind rather than acting up, and this is an intriguing hour or so. The only dampener comes at the end when members of the audience are offered the chance to ask him some questions. This really was embarrassing… could none of them think of something intelligent to ask ? Seriously, one plonker just asked ‘Can I give you a hug ?’ John obliges, but the look on his face was priceless. Anyhow, that section doesn’t last long, and then Lydon and his entourage are out of there faster than a MP out of a brothel-raid. No problem, gives us some time for a few pints down the road !
RUTS DC / EVIL BLIZZARD. The
Garage, 25/10/14. Early gig, so the second band are already
onstage when I arrive. Evil Blizzard consist of four bass players and a
singing-drummer, all masked and costumed, making a peculiar blend of metallic
rhythms and space-rock weirdness. I only saw a few songs, but I get the
impression they will either be the kinda band you’ll totally love, or they will
completely irritate you. There will be a reaction one way or another, and that
can only be a good thing.
The venue is pretty packed by the time Ruts DC take to the stage. No Molara tonight, so just the three piece line-up, but they lose none of their power. What do you need to know ? Great atmosphere, great musicians , great songs, simple as that. A mix of old and new, with tracks from ‘Rhythm Collision 2’ as solid a part of the set now as any of the older Ruts classics. We even get a version of ‘Different View’, the first Ruts DC single, which I’m pretty sure this line-up haven’t played live before now. Good to hear it as well. They have a special guest, Jet from UK Subs, join them onstage for a particularly fine version of ‘In A Rut’, and you can see he’s enjoying himself as much as the audience are. I’ve heard they’ve been working on some new material, so I was hoping we might hear one or two new songs tonight, but such was not to be. No problem, I can wait… I’m sure it’ll be worth my patience.
The venue is pretty packed by the time Ruts DC take to the stage. No Molara tonight, so just the three piece line-up, but they lose none of their power. What do you need to know ? Great atmosphere, great musicians , great songs, simple as that. A mix of old and new, with tracks from ‘Rhythm Collision 2’ as solid a part of the set now as any of the older Ruts classics. We even get a version of ‘Different View’, the first Ruts DC single, which I’m pretty sure this line-up haven’t played live before now. Good to hear it as well. They have a special guest, Jet from UK Subs, join them onstage for a particularly fine version of ‘In A Rut’, and you can see he’s enjoying himself as much as the audience are. I’ve heard they’ve been working on some new material, so I was hoping we might hear one or two new songs tonight, but such was not to be. No problem, I can wait… I’m sure it’ll be worth my patience.
SYLVAIN SYLVAIN. Chelmsford Bassment,
1/11/14. I
wasn’t expecting to see Sylvain quite so soon after his recent 100 Club gig,
and certainly not so close to home ! But it’s Saturday night and he’s playing a
solo, acoustic gig in Chelmsford,
so we catch the train and arrive at the club ten minutes later.
There’s quite a mixed crowd for this event and everyone crowds around as there’s no raised-stage and, well, Sylvain isn’t the tallest performer, so you need to be up close to see what’s going on. I do have to say that the set and most of the between-song stories were pretty-much the same as the last gig, but it’s still very entertaining. Sylvain has that natural kind of charm that will make a story amusing even if you have heard it before. And the choice of songs is a good mix of his own material, covers and New York Dolls classics, so it’s plenty to keep everyone happy. At one point, with Sylvain close up to the audience, one woman leans forward and gives him a great big kiss. I think he was impressed with Chelmsford ! Ending the set with versions of ‘Trash’ and ‘Personality Crisis’, he then closes with a reprise of his recent single ‘Leaving New York’ as he walks through the crowd back to his dressing room. A nice way to end the evening.
There’s quite a mixed crowd for this event and everyone crowds around as there’s no raised-stage and, well, Sylvain isn’t the tallest performer, so you need to be up close to see what’s going on. I do have to say that the set and most of the between-song stories were pretty-much the same as the last gig, but it’s still very entertaining. Sylvain has that natural kind of charm that will make a story amusing even if you have heard it before. And the choice of songs is a good mix of his own material, covers and New York Dolls classics, so it’s plenty to keep everyone happy. At one point, with Sylvain close up to the audience, one woman leans forward and gives him a great big kiss. I think he was impressed with Chelmsford ! Ending the set with versions of ‘Trash’ and ‘Personality Crisis’, he then closes with a reprise of his recent single ‘Leaving New York’ as he walks through the crowd back to his dressing room. A nice way to end the evening.
HARDSKIN / SHIT. T-Chances,
7/11/14. Back up to Tottenham again. Well, I guess that’s the
result of so many small venues closing down. Independent promoters are having
to find new venues in different locations, and make the most of them while they
can. Anyway, we arrive to see about half the set by SHIT, an
unfortunately-named Canadian hardcore band. I’m sure they had a reason for
choosing that name, but to me, it’s off-putting. It’s too easy to jump to the
conclusion that they’re gonna be a bunch of stupid crusties or something. In
fact, they play a fairly good style of hardcore punk and I wouldn’t mind
hearing them some more. Next time I’m in HMV I’ll ask if they’ve got any SHIT…
I’m sure they’ll have plenty of it…
Hardskin are well out of their manor, right up north in Tottenham, but they’re not scared. They’ve come mobbed-up and they’re gonna show these peasants what it’s all about. Two Chords, Two Fingers, indeed. This is about making a racket and sticking it to the man. Whoever he is. Johnny Takeaway isn’t certain… Fat Bob thinks it might be a bloke he met in the pub. Either way, he’s gonna find out he shouldn’t mess with these lads. They’re here to bring a bit of class to these desolate streets. Anthems ring out, bringing tears to the eyes of aging punks and skins. ‘When we get down the pub, it’s gonna be Alright !’ Have truer words ever been spoken ? I doubt it very much. And the passion behind ‘The Boys in Blue’ was certainly enough to convert at least a few Tottenham supporters to the Millwall cause ! They finish with ‘Beer And Fags’, telling you how it is and how it’s always gonna be. In Fat Bob’s case, he had both in his hands even before he turned his amp off.
Hardskin are well out of their manor, right up north in Tottenham, but they’re not scared. They’ve come mobbed-up and they’re gonna show these peasants what it’s all about. Two Chords, Two Fingers, indeed. This is about making a racket and sticking it to the man. Whoever he is. Johnny Takeaway isn’t certain… Fat Bob thinks it might be a bloke he met in the pub. Either way, he’s gonna find out he shouldn’t mess with these lads. They’re here to bring a bit of class to these desolate streets. Anthems ring out, bringing tears to the eyes of aging punks and skins. ‘When we get down the pub, it’s gonna be Alright !’ Have truer words ever been spoken ? I doubt it very much. And the passion behind ‘The Boys in Blue’ was certainly enough to convert at least a few Tottenham supporters to the Millwall cause ! They finish with ‘Beer And Fags’, telling you how it is and how it’s always gonna be. In Fat Bob’s case, he had both in his hands even before he turned his amp off.
ALTERNATIVE TV / BODY OF
PEOPLE / LONDON DIRTHOLE COMPANY. Dublin
Castle, 22/11/14. I plan to arrive in time to see London
Dirthole Company, but they’re already onstage by the time I get there. Not so
many band members these days, but they still make a glorious racket. Loud,
raucous garage punk that sounds like it’s trying to demolish the garage along
the way ! But for all this, they’ve also got some memorable tunes in there.
They’re unpredictable but always worth seeing, just to hear how they’re gonna
twist things around this time. Fine stuff.
Which is more than can be said for the next band, Body of People, who were just dire. I fled to the bar.
Fortunately, Alternative TV more than make up for the preceding band. They don’t play very often these days, but when they do it becomes more of an event. Mark Perry seems to be intent on presenting a full overview of ATV’s career, including more experimental tracks like ‘The Force is Blind’ and ‘Strange Looks’ in the midst of older favourites like ‘Still Life’ and ‘Splitting In Two’. On top of this, there are some great selections from later incarnations of ATV, including ‘Victory’ and ‘Let’s Sleep Now’ from the excellent and very underrated ‘Peepshow’ album. There’s also one brand new song (didn’t catch the title, but it sounded good) and a superb version of ‘Lost in Room’, before the gig ends with ‘Action Time Vision’, a cover of ‘Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue’ (a fitting tribute to both the Ramones and Mark’s fanzine) and a great rush through ‘You Bastard’. Putting all the different songs and styles together in this way really works for ATV, and the audience are totally drawn into all of it. Let’s just hope that there’s some more new material on the way, as that’s what will make it really interesting.
Which is more than can be said for the next band, Body of People, who were just dire. I fled to the bar.
Fortunately, Alternative TV more than make up for the preceding band. They don’t play very often these days, but when they do it becomes more of an event. Mark Perry seems to be intent on presenting a full overview of ATV’s career, including more experimental tracks like ‘The Force is Blind’ and ‘Strange Looks’ in the midst of older favourites like ‘Still Life’ and ‘Splitting In Two’. On top of this, there are some great selections from later incarnations of ATV, including ‘Victory’ and ‘Let’s Sleep Now’ from the excellent and very underrated ‘Peepshow’ album. There’s also one brand new song (didn’t catch the title, but it sounded good) and a superb version of ‘Lost in Room’, before the gig ends with ‘Action Time Vision’, a cover of ‘Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue’ (a fitting tribute to both the Ramones and Mark’s fanzine) and a great rush through ‘You Bastard’. Putting all the different songs and styles together in this way really works for ATV, and the audience are totally drawn into all of it. Let’s just hope that there’s some more new material on the way, as that’s what will make it really interesting.
JOHNNY MOPED / YE NUNS.
Shacklewell Arms, 5/12/14. Forget xmas, the true messiah can only be the
redoubtable Mr Moped. And he is gracing us his presence once again. We are
truly blessed.
Actually, this is my first visit to the Shacklewell Arms, even though there have been quite a few decent gigs there in recent times. They just always seem to clash with something else, but on this occasion, nothing could take precedence. It’s only a short walk from Dalston train station as well, so nice and convenient.
Not claiming to be Mr Popular or anything, but I seem to bump into so many people I haven’t seen for a while at this gig. It takes me 15 minutes just to reach the bar ! Have a nice chat with Slimy Toad, catching up on all the Moped gossip – yes, there is a new record on the way, which should include several old songs that hadn’t ever been recorded properly in the old days, plus some brand new material. 2015 could be a good year for the faithful !
The main room is already packed as Ye Nuns arrive onstage to deliver their exuberant, all-female tribute to The Monks. They’re always good, but this evening is exceptional, no doubt fired-up by the packed audience and resultant atmosphere. Ye Nuns play it authentically and, in a world where we will never get a chance to see the original band again, Ye Nuns are an important reminder of just how vital The Monks really were. I wouldn’t normally heap praise upon a tribute band, but in the case of Ye Nuns, they make perfect sense and should be seen at your earliest opportunity.
And now it’s Moped time ! The band assemble and begin with the intro-version of ‘Maniac’. Johnny is introduced onstage to a huge cheer from the audience and then, ‘One-Two-Cut Your Hair !’, straight into ‘Incendiary Device’. They keep the pace up with ‘Panic Button’ and ‘No One’, before playing some less likely (but no less worthy) songs like ‘I Believed Her Lies’ and the wonderful ‘Save The Baby Seals’. Then comes the real treat for fans, a selection of new songs, including ‘I’m Not A Rock’n’Roll Rookie’ and ‘Super Woofer’. They’re great, catchy upbeat tracks in the Moped tradition and, if the live versions are anything to go by, the new record is gonna be fun ! Then it’s back to the rest of the set, with ‘V.D.Boiler’ and ‘Darling Let’s Have Another Baby’ displaying Johnny’s more sentimental side. Xerxes makes his traditional appearance onstage for ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’, and they end by being called back for an extra encore, playing ‘Panic Button’ one more time, and an excellent version of ‘Wild Breed’. The thing with Moped has always been that you either get it or you don’t. The recent documentary has certainly helped to open people’s eyes to the latent genius that possesses the band, but you’ve really got to open your heart as well. Once you realise that the characters who make up this band are as genuine as anything you’ll ever encounter, then you’ll begin to see the charm. And love them for it.
Actually, this is my first visit to the Shacklewell Arms, even though there have been quite a few decent gigs there in recent times. They just always seem to clash with something else, but on this occasion, nothing could take precedence. It’s only a short walk from Dalston train station as well, so nice and convenient.
Not claiming to be Mr Popular or anything, but I seem to bump into so many people I haven’t seen for a while at this gig. It takes me 15 minutes just to reach the bar ! Have a nice chat with Slimy Toad, catching up on all the Moped gossip – yes, there is a new record on the way, which should include several old songs that hadn’t ever been recorded properly in the old days, plus some brand new material. 2015 could be a good year for the faithful !
The main room is already packed as Ye Nuns arrive onstage to deliver their exuberant, all-female tribute to The Monks. They’re always good, but this evening is exceptional, no doubt fired-up by the packed audience and resultant atmosphere. Ye Nuns play it authentically and, in a world where we will never get a chance to see the original band again, Ye Nuns are an important reminder of just how vital The Monks really were. I wouldn’t normally heap praise upon a tribute band, but in the case of Ye Nuns, they make perfect sense and should be seen at your earliest opportunity.
And now it’s Moped time ! The band assemble and begin with the intro-version of ‘Maniac’. Johnny is introduced onstage to a huge cheer from the audience and then, ‘One-Two-Cut Your Hair !’, straight into ‘Incendiary Device’. They keep the pace up with ‘Panic Button’ and ‘No One’, before playing some less likely (but no less worthy) songs like ‘I Believed Her Lies’ and the wonderful ‘Save The Baby Seals’. Then comes the real treat for fans, a selection of new songs, including ‘I’m Not A Rock’n’Roll Rookie’ and ‘Super Woofer’. They’re great, catchy upbeat tracks in the Moped tradition and, if the live versions are anything to go by, the new record is gonna be fun ! Then it’s back to the rest of the set, with ‘V.D.Boiler’ and ‘Darling Let’s Have Another Baby’ displaying Johnny’s more sentimental side. Xerxes makes his traditional appearance onstage for ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’, and they end by being called back for an extra encore, playing ‘Panic Button’ one more time, and an excellent version of ‘Wild Breed’. The thing with Moped has always been that you either get it or you don’t. The recent documentary has certainly helped to open people’s eyes to the latent genius that possesses the band, but you’ve really got to open your heart as well. Once you realise that the characters who make up this band are as genuine as anything you’ll ever encounter, then you’ll begin to see the charm. And love them for it.
THE PHOBICS / THE DUPLICATES
/ MARK MOYNIHAN – The Duke, Deptford, 6/12/14.
It’s Deirdre ‘Dee’ Malones’ 50th birthday, so there’s gotta be some
live music, right ? The pub is full of friends, everyone loves Dee. There’s not a bad bone in her body (and after
tonight, probably not a sober one, either…)
It’s a bit of a weird set-up because the pub has very strict volume-controls. If it gets too loud, the power cuts out. This is all due to complaints from the neighbours, but get this – the neighbours are a bunch of student dorms ! I mean, students have, generally, always been pretty wanky but this takes the biscuit. Students complaining that the music’s too loud… no wonder the world is going down the pan.
None the less, The Phobics play a fine set, all the songs we want to hear, from ‘Punk Rock Show’ through to ‘Down & Out in Deptford’ (appropriately.) The sound could have been better, but it’s a party so that doesn’t matter too much. No ‘Sonic Reducer’ at the end of the set, despite plenty of calls from the audience, but it had already been lots of fun and that was the main thing.
Mark Moynihan gets up to play a bunch of acoustic punk rock covers. He does this really well and it’s a good way to fill the time and space while the other two bands switch around. Cheers !
I had no idea who The Duplicates were in advance, but it turns out to be Ruts’ drummer Dave Ruffy and occasional Ruts DC member Seamus Beaghen, plus a guitarist whose name I never found out, but he was rather good. Anyway, they mostly play Sixties soul instrumentals, starting with a duo of Booker T classics, and by this point, there’s plenty of people getting up to dance. These guys really know how to play and while it may just be a bit of fun for them, rather than a serious band project, it’s perfect for this kind of occasion. That being said, time has moved along fast this evening, so come 11.00 and we make our exit. Great little evening.
It’s a bit of a weird set-up because the pub has very strict volume-controls. If it gets too loud, the power cuts out. This is all due to complaints from the neighbours, but get this – the neighbours are a bunch of student dorms ! I mean, students have, generally, always been pretty wanky but this takes the biscuit. Students complaining that the music’s too loud… no wonder the world is going down the pan.
None the less, The Phobics play a fine set, all the songs we want to hear, from ‘Punk Rock Show’ through to ‘Down & Out in Deptford’ (appropriately.) The sound could have been better, but it’s a party so that doesn’t matter too much. No ‘Sonic Reducer’ at the end of the set, despite plenty of calls from the audience, but it had already been lots of fun and that was the main thing.
Mark Moynihan gets up to play a bunch of acoustic punk rock covers. He does this really well and it’s a good way to fill the time and space while the other two bands switch around. Cheers !
I had no idea who The Duplicates were in advance, but it turns out to be Ruts’ drummer Dave Ruffy and occasional Ruts DC member Seamus Beaghen, plus a guitarist whose name I never found out, but he was rather good. Anyway, they mostly play Sixties soul instrumentals, starting with a duo of Booker T classics, and by this point, there’s plenty of people getting up to dance. These guys really know how to play and while it may just be a bit of fun for them, rather than a serious band project, it’s perfect for this kind of occasion. That being said, time has moved along fast this evening, so come 11.00 and we make our exit. Great little evening.
THE BEARS / TV SMITH / HAGAR
THE WOMB / THE PHOBICS @ The Fiddlers Elbow, 17/12/14.
Okay, this was my 50th birthday so I had to do something to mark the
occasion. After all, getting this far is a bit of an achievement ! People who
are scared of getting older are missing the point – it’s not how old you are,
it’s what you’re doing and whether you’re happy with it. In my case, I decided
to set up a gig with four bands that play music I love, and who are also really
lovely people. Of course, it didn’t go according to plan. Original headliners
Punks Not Dad, had to cancel at the last minute due to a severe case of man-flu,
but TV Smith nobly offered to fill the breach with a solo-set. So, many thanks
to Punks Not Dad for their thwarted-intentions, and mega-thanks to TV Smith for
being as reliable as always. I also want to thank Dee
for helping out and saving the day.
Anyway, I’m not going to go into a full review because, frankly, I spent a lot of time talking to friends and drinking too much Guinness. But all the bands were Great ! (Official statement, not to be contradicted.) I’ll leave it at that and you can check out the following photo’s…
Anyway, I’m not going to go into a full review because, frankly, I spent a lot of time talking to friends and drinking too much Guinness. But all the bands were Great ! (Official statement, not to be contradicted.) I’ll leave it at that and you can check out the following photo’s…
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SPARKS with THE HERITAGE
ORCHESTRA. The Barbican, 19/12/14. To celebrate the 40th
Anniversary of, perhaps, their most renowned album, ‘Kimono My House’, Sparks returned to the
city where they first found success to perform the album in its’ entirety, this
time accompanied by The Heritage Orchestra. In many cases, this would be a
pompous idea, but for the Mael brothers, much of their music has always
incorporated elaborate arrangements and so lends itself perfectly towards
grander orchestration. These two dates are the only ones in Europe
(well, touring with a full orchestra would be pretty impractical) so unsurprisingly
they sell-out very quickly.
The performance begins with a ‘Sparks overture’ from the orchestra, before Ron and Russell, looking smart and exotic in their kimonos, join them onstage. From there on, we were all in familiar territory, but never previously heard like this. ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ is promptly followed by ‘Amateur Hour’ and the rest of the album. I’ve seen them play all these songs before with a regular band line-up, but this is a really intriguing reinterpretation. Now, to be honest, I have to say that not all the songs from ‘Kimono’ worked as well in this format as others did, but ‘This Town…’ was certainly an epic production, while ‘Falling in Love With Myself Again’ worked superbly. Other songs would probably have worked better with a few loud guitars but overall, with so many great songs, I doubt if anyone was disappointed and, as they ended with a wonderful version of ‘Equator’, there was a really inclusive atmosphere throughout the venue.
There’s a break before the second half of the show which will feature a selection of career-spanning songs which, presumably, have been chosen more for their suitability for orchestration rather than just being from a specific album. This works much better and from here on, the standard is consistently high. It’s perhaps unexpected, but a lot of the more recent material, like ‘Dick Around’ and ‘The Rhythm Thief’, work really well, while older tracks like ‘Get In The Swing’ and ‘Looks Looks Looks’ have always been demanding this kind of treatment. ‘When Do I Get To Sing My Way’ reached new heights and during a surprisingly effective version of ‘Number One Song in Heaven’, Ron even gets to perform a brief shuffle across the stage. Eventually, with the main set complete, we get a short but stunning encore of ‘Change’ played by just Ron and Russell, stripped down but just as evocative as the rest of the show. I’m not sure if this was an intended nod towards their previous ‘Two Hands One Mouth’ tour, but it’s incredible that they can go from a tour where they played unaccompanied by any other musicians, onto a full orchestral performance, and both formats are just as wonderful. I suppose it just goes to show that, in Sparks world, whatever they end up doing next, you really have to keep paying attention.
The performance begins with a ‘Sparks overture’ from the orchestra, before Ron and Russell, looking smart and exotic in their kimonos, join them onstage. From there on, we were all in familiar territory, but never previously heard like this. ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us’ is promptly followed by ‘Amateur Hour’ and the rest of the album. I’ve seen them play all these songs before with a regular band line-up, but this is a really intriguing reinterpretation. Now, to be honest, I have to say that not all the songs from ‘Kimono’ worked as well in this format as others did, but ‘This Town…’ was certainly an epic production, while ‘Falling in Love With Myself Again’ worked superbly. Other songs would probably have worked better with a few loud guitars but overall, with so many great songs, I doubt if anyone was disappointed and, as they ended with a wonderful version of ‘Equator’, there was a really inclusive atmosphere throughout the venue.
There’s a break before the second half of the show which will feature a selection of career-spanning songs which, presumably, have been chosen more for their suitability for orchestration rather than just being from a specific album. This works much better and from here on, the standard is consistently high. It’s perhaps unexpected, but a lot of the more recent material, like ‘Dick Around’ and ‘The Rhythm Thief’, work really well, while older tracks like ‘Get In The Swing’ and ‘Looks Looks Looks’ have always been demanding this kind of treatment. ‘When Do I Get To Sing My Way’ reached new heights and during a surprisingly effective version of ‘Number One Song in Heaven’, Ron even gets to perform a brief shuffle across the stage. Eventually, with the main set complete, we get a short but stunning encore of ‘Change’ played by just Ron and Russell, stripped down but just as evocative as the rest of the show. I’m not sure if this was an intended nod towards their previous ‘Two Hands One Mouth’ tour, but it’s incredible that they can go from a tour where they played unaccompanied by any other musicians, onto a full orchestral performance, and both formats are just as wonderful. I suppose it just goes to show that, in Sparks world, whatever they end up doing next, you really have to keep paying attention.
HARDSKIN / PERTTI KURIKAN
NIMIPAIVAT / GOOD THROB / INTERROBANG. The Lexington, 20/12/14. The
Hardskin Xmas Beano is becoming as much a part of traditional festivities as
left over mince pies, but whose to complain ? More guaranteed fun than a grope
in the grotto !
First up are Interrobang, who are already playing when I arrive. Apparently, they feature ex-members of Chumbawumba, which means they’re both bleedin’ hippies and Northerners !Even their smart dress-sense doesn’t fool the likes of me, I know they’ll have a dog on a string somewhere backstage. People seem to like them although I don’t really see enough to figure them out. Probably worth investigating further.
Next up are Good Throb (which is probably what my head will feel like, the morning after another Hardskin gig !) Three birds with a geezer on the drums, they play a sorta arty, noisy post-punk, rhythmic thing while the singer wears a pair of yellow Marigold gloves throughout the whole set. It ain’t the Rejects, it ain’t even Sham (though Pursey did a few odd things in his time) but it doesn’t sound like anyone else and I’d recommend ‘em.
Main support comes from PKN, all the way from Finland for a second tour with Hardskin. They obviously liked what they heard last time and bonded with the Gypsy Hill mob. To celebrate, they’ve even released a split single, with each band covering a song by the other. How’s that for international co-operation ! Now, if only the politicians could work together like that to release more Oi records, wouldn’t the world be a much better place ? Natch ! Actually, PKN sound rather good this time around. Maybe it’s because I’ve got a better idea of what to expect, or maybe it’s because they’ve been playing a lot more, but I find myself enjoying them as a good little band in their own right, rather than admiring them because of their background. They’ve got some fine-sounding songs, they put a lot of energy into it and they’ve certainly got the attitude and intent to put it over, even if I still don’t know a word of Finnish. They’re just one of those bands that you know are on the right side. Good for them !
Time for the main event. Is it me or are Hardskin getting more mellow as they get older ? Nah, it’s the 12 pints of lager that I’ve already poured down my throat, but Hardskin can appreciate that. All of the Southside Crew are here, ready to ruck or queuing for the Gents. Johnny, Bob and Nipper clamber onstage and, not even bothering with tuning-up or any of that middle-class shit, just tear into the set. It’s another classic, but we don’t expect anything less. The tunes rip through all the bullshit that us geezers (and some of the birds) have to put up with everyday and says it like it is. ‘Bollocks’, declares Johnny Takeaway, and who could argue ? Anthem after anthem keeps the crowd on its’ feet, and there’s even a few new numbers to make sure we remember that this is all about living for the weekend (it’s a Saturday after all) every night ! At one emotion-charged moment, they invite their brother-from-across-the-seas, Kari from PKN, onstage to join them in a rousing rendition of ‘We Are The Wankers’. How could it get any better than this for the Finnish punks ? Let’s face it, the Eurovision Song Contest is going to be a big let-down after tonight. Well, the set eventually comes to an end, but we will remember the good times and the drinking continues for many hours afterwards. The last thing I recall is Fat Bob being rolled back into the tour bus ! Stuff of legends, know what I Mean ? Stuff of legends…
First up are Interrobang, who are already playing when I arrive. Apparently, they feature ex-members of Chumbawumba, which means they’re both bleedin’ hippies and Northerners !Even their smart dress-sense doesn’t fool the likes of me, I know they’ll have a dog on a string somewhere backstage. People seem to like them although I don’t really see enough to figure them out. Probably worth investigating further.
Next up are Good Throb (which is probably what my head will feel like, the morning after another Hardskin gig !) Three birds with a geezer on the drums, they play a sorta arty, noisy post-punk, rhythmic thing while the singer wears a pair of yellow Marigold gloves throughout the whole set. It ain’t the Rejects, it ain’t even Sham (though Pursey did a few odd things in his time) but it doesn’t sound like anyone else and I’d recommend ‘em.
Main support comes from PKN, all the way from Finland for a second tour with Hardskin. They obviously liked what they heard last time and bonded with the Gypsy Hill mob. To celebrate, they’ve even released a split single, with each band covering a song by the other. How’s that for international co-operation ! Now, if only the politicians could work together like that to release more Oi records, wouldn’t the world be a much better place ? Natch ! Actually, PKN sound rather good this time around. Maybe it’s because I’ve got a better idea of what to expect, or maybe it’s because they’ve been playing a lot more, but I find myself enjoying them as a good little band in their own right, rather than admiring them because of their background. They’ve got some fine-sounding songs, they put a lot of energy into it and they’ve certainly got the attitude and intent to put it over, even if I still don’t know a word of Finnish. They’re just one of those bands that you know are on the right side. Good for them !
Time for the main event. Is it me or are Hardskin getting more mellow as they get older ? Nah, it’s the 12 pints of lager that I’ve already poured down my throat, but Hardskin can appreciate that. All of the Southside Crew are here, ready to ruck or queuing for the Gents. Johnny, Bob and Nipper clamber onstage and, not even bothering with tuning-up or any of that middle-class shit, just tear into the set. It’s another classic, but we don’t expect anything less. The tunes rip through all the bullshit that us geezers (and some of the birds) have to put up with everyday and says it like it is. ‘Bollocks’, declares Johnny Takeaway, and who could argue ? Anthem after anthem keeps the crowd on its’ feet, and there’s even a few new numbers to make sure we remember that this is all about living for the weekend (it’s a Saturday after all) every night ! At one emotion-charged moment, they invite their brother-from-across-the-seas, Kari from PKN, onstage to join them in a rousing rendition of ‘We Are The Wankers’. How could it get any better than this for the Finnish punks ? Let’s face it, the Eurovision Song Contest is going to be a big let-down after tonight. Well, the set eventually comes to an end, but we will remember the good times and the drinking continues for many hours afterwards. The last thing I recall is Fat Bob being rolled back into the tour bus ! Stuff of legends, know what I Mean ? Stuff of legends…