Cheeko's 60th (birthday bash) feat: The All New Jimmy Segus Review / Cheeko / The Groundlings @ the Elms Bar, Belfast, 29/06/13
The birthday meal and the accompanying pre gig drinking session in a nearby resturant was over, so now it was time for the real party to begin.
'The Groundlings' opened the show in the true gritty 60s garageland nuggets tradition of the 'Count Five, 'The Kingsmen' and 'Them' etc, their set of authentic sounding originals also included covers of a few not so over exposed Chuck Berry, Ramones and MC5 tunes. Good band, I'll definitely be checking them out again in the future.
The man of the moment then took to the stage, and after a short speech the 'Bard of Beechmount' proceeded to perform a punk poetry set of his own.
As a special surprise it had been arranged for a previously unheard recording of 'Cheeko' reciting his prose at the 1982 'Crass / Anarchy Centre' gig to be played over the PA, it was an emotional interlude, and for once the birthday boy was lost for words.
Finally it was time for the identities of Belfasts most infamous mystery punk combo to be revealed (lol), and 'The All New Jimmy Segus Review' didn't disappoint. They f**king ripped it up in Cheeko's honour, with a cracking 17 song covers set featuring an eclectic selection ranging from the Pistols & the Clash right through to the likes of Discharge, Anti Pasti , Asylum and beyond.
Its hard to believe that the band had only rehearsed for approximately three hours, but when you've got a line up featuring the likes Petesy Burns ( Outcasts / Stalag 17), Steven Donnelly (Solo / VX), Jimmy Gilso ( Asylum / Stalag 17) & Donal McCann (Asylum) on board then intensive rehearsal sessions are not required.
Mid set there was also another treat for the crowd, with an impromptu for one song only reformation of 'Stalag 17'. Tonights version of Belfasts premier anarcho outfit tore through the bands 80s anthem 'Smash The Front' much to the delight of the assembled punksters of a certain vintage.
Great crowd & fantastic craic, which continued well into the early hours down at the Warzone Centre post gig shindig, courtesy of dj 'Tony Spence' who deserves a special mention for his sublime mod, northern / soul, disco, punk etc etc classics soundtrack which had both venues grooving.
This turned out to be one of those brilliant nights , which lets be honest don't come around too often these days. So if you weren't in attendence at this soiree, then you missed out on a really special evening. Try not to make that mistake again if you get the opportunity to attend a rare live show by 'The All New Jimmy Segus Review' (hopefully with 'Tony Spence' in tow again) in the very near future.
Joe Donnelly. Belfast. 3.7.13.
'The Groundlings' opened the show in the true gritty 60s garageland nuggets tradition of the 'Count Five, 'The Kingsmen' and 'Them' etc, their set of authentic sounding originals also included covers of a few not so over exposed Chuck Berry, Ramones and MC5 tunes. Good band, I'll definitely be checking them out again in the future.
The man of the moment then took to the stage, and after a short speech the 'Bard of Beechmount' proceeded to perform a punk poetry set of his own.
As a special surprise it had been arranged for a previously unheard recording of 'Cheeko' reciting his prose at the 1982 'Crass / Anarchy Centre' gig to be played over the PA, it was an emotional interlude, and for once the birthday boy was lost for words.
Finally it was time for the identities of Belfasts most infamous mystery punk combo to be revealed (lol), and 'The All New Jimmy Segus Review' didn't disappoint. They f**king ripped it up in Cheeko's honour, with a cracking 17 song covers set featuring an eclectic selection ranging from the Pistols & the Clash right through to the likes of Discharge, Anti Pasti , Asylum and beyond.
Its hard to believe that the band had only rehearsed for approximately three hours, but when you've got a line up featuring the likes Petesy Burns ( Outcasts / Stalag 17), Steven Donnelly (Solo / VX), Jimmy Gilso ( Asylum / Stalag 17) & Donal McCann (Asylum) on board then intensive rehearsal sessions are not required.
Mid set there was also another treat for the crowd, with an impromptu for one song only reformation of 'Stalag 17'. Tonights version of Belfasts premier anarcho outfit tore through the bands 80s anthem 'Smash The Front' much to the delight of the assembled punksters of a certain vintage.
Great crowd & fantastic craic, which continued well into the early hours down at the Warzone Centre post gig shindig, courtesy of dj 'Tony Spence' who deserves a special mention for his sublime mod, northern / soul, disco, punk etc etc classics soundtrack which had both venues grooving.
This turned out to be one of those brilliant nights , which lets be honest don't come around too often these days. So if you weren't in attendence at this soiree, then you missed out on a really special evening. Try not to make that mistake again if you get the opportunity to attend a rare live show by 'The All New Jimmy Segus Review' (hopefully with 'Tony Spence' in tow again) in the very near future.
Joe Donnelly. Belfast. 3.7.13.