Henry Cluney, Hard Case, Buck Eejit, Hooligan
@ the Storehouse, Antrim, 14/09/12
Despite the initial sound / equipment problems this turned out to be a cracking wee gig. Hooligan from Dublin (a band I rate highly) were first on stage and they were up against it from the off. First of all their bass player couldn't make it so they had to play as a two piece. The sound was pretty shite due to a lack of monitors, a dodgy mic and a drum kit that kept falling apart! However, in true punk spirit - the show had to go on - and Hooligan delivered a fine set of original material including Cops and Robbers, Bandit Country, the Joe Strummer tribute Joe Strummer and the Pièce de résistance No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs. Good solid, melodic punk with Clash and Angelic Upstarts influences shining through. No Blacks.... is a bona fide punk classic and the good news is that's it being released on a vinyl EP soon and will also appear on CD on the bands forthcoming album. A valiant effort from the lads on the night despite the handicaps - catch them again when the sound is better and you'll hear how good they really are.
I loved the Hard Case debut album and had been looking forward to seeing them live for ages, but until this gig our paths never crossed (so to speak). They certainly didn't disappoint and were in fact fucking excellent! HC are a fairly tight knit combo and Billy is turning into a right old showman, prowling around in a Dave Vanian meets Olga kinda way! lol. It's hard to define HC but their ethos of 'putting the boot in and having a laff' can be heard in the lyrics throughout the set of self-penned songs such as New Dark Age, Romper Room, Glitter To The Gloom, I'm Here For The Ginge (from the debut album) and more recent numbers such as Waiting For My Ship To Come In and Fuck Me Boots. Believe me when I tell you that Mr B. Riot is one of the sharpist, wittiest and intelligent lyricists around! The band mix 77 style punk and 80's Oi with consumate ease and pepper the set with a few choice covers such as the Cockney Rejects Bad Man, the Ramones Beat On The Brat and the Sex Pistols Bodies. Well impressed! Oh, and I must thank Mr Riot and co for dedicating their Joe Strummer tribute Come Back Mr Mellor to me, something which has been done on a number of ocassions I'm led to believe, at least I was there to hear it this time. Thanks lads.
Buck Eejit, Lisburn's finest (only) punk band - another band who like to put the boot in while taking the piss, and very good they are at it too. The Eejits put the fun back into punk with classic self-penned tunes such as Cameron (You Cunt), Best Punk Band In Town, Terri Hooley, and Last Bus To Nowhere. Highlight of the set (and the debut album) was undoubtably When The Morning Comes - the best sing-a-long Oi song this side of Cock Sparrer. The band also throw in the odd cover including the Test Tube Babies Run Like Hell. So if you fancy a few bevvies, a bit of craic and some pulsating punk tunes delivered by a complete lunatic of a frontman called Paddy O'Doors and his trusty henchmen, then take yourself along the next time Buck Eeejit visit your town - you won't be disappointed!
Star guest on the night was Henry Cluney, founder member of Stiff Little Fingers who was on hand to deliver an intimate solo set of SLF classics. However, Henry's initial attempts to start the set were hampered by an over exuberant audience member wanting to join Henry on stage to sing some rock and blues numbers. It was all good natured and Henry indulged for a short while. When the set did get underway Henry would stop mid song to offer an anecdote about the song or SLF or Jake and it was all very relaxed and a bit of banter. Sadly, I had to leave before the end but I believe that Mark (the gig promoter) joined Henry on stage later on for a spot of drunken warbling!!!!! All in all, an excellent wee night - well done Mark for putting it on.
GT
A big thanks to Rodney Snr Pennie for the photos below.....
I loved the Hard Case debut album and had been looking forward to seeing them live for ages, but until this gig our paths never crossed (so to speak). They certainly didn't disappoint and were in fact fucking excellent! HC are a fairly tight knit combo and Billy is turning into a right old showman, prowling around in a Dave Vanian meets Olga kinda way! lol. It's hard to define HC but their ethos of 'putting the boot in and having a laff' can be heard in the lyrics throughout the set of self-penned songs such as New Dark Age, Romper Room, Glitter To The Gloom, I'm Here For The Ginge (from the debut album) and more recent numbers such as Waiting For My Ship To Come In and Fuck Me Boots. Believe me when I tell you that Mr B. Riot is one of the sharpist, wittiest and intelligent lyricists around! The band mix 77 style punk and 80's Oi with consumate ease and pepper the set with a few choice covers such as the Cockney Rejects Bad Man, the Ramones Beat On The Brat and the Sex Pistols Bodies. Well impressed! Oh, and I must thank Mr Riot and co for dedicating their Joe Strummer tribute Come Back Mr Mellor to me, something which has been done on a number of ocassions I'm led to believe, at least I was there to hear it this time. Thanks lads.
Buck Eejit, Lisburn's finest (only) punk band - another band who like to put the boot in while taking the piss, and very good they are at it too. The Eejits put the fun back into punk with classic self-penned tunes such as Cameron (You Cunt), Best Punk Band In Town, Terri Hooley, and Last Bus To Nowhere. Highlight of the set (and the debut album) was undoubtably When The Morning Comes - the best sing-a-long Oi song this side of Cock Sparrer. The band also throw in the odd cover including the Test Tube Babies Run Like Hell. So if you fancy a few bevvies, a bit of craic and some pulsating punk tunes delivered by a complete lunatic of a frontman called Paddy O'Doors and his trusty henchmen, then take yourself along the next time Buck Eeejit visit your town - you won't be disappointed!
Star guest on the night was Henry Cluney, founder member of Stiff Little Fingers who was on hand to deliver an intimate solo set of SLF classics. However, Henry's initial attempts to start the set were hampered by an over exuberant audience member wanting to join Henry on stage to sing some rock and blues numbers. It was all good natured and Henry indulged for a short while. When the set did get underway Henry would stop mid song to offer an anecdote about the song or SLF or Jake and it was all very relaxed and a bit of banter. Sadly, I had to leave before the end but I believe that Mark (the gig promoter) joined Henry on stage later on for a spot of drunken warbling!!!!! All in all, an excellent wee night - well done Mark for putting it on.
GT
A big thanks to Rodney Snr Pennie for the photos below.....