Kicking Up A Racket For Henry:
fundraiser @ the Black Box, Belfast, 01/12/12
No nit-picking required, I'm not going to do a standard gig review to go along with my pics this time. All I'm going to say is "well done" to the organisers, the venue, the bands and the fans, so thats basically everyone. It was such a great day, and the good news is the event raised a very respectable £2,000.
We saw some fantastic live performances and sadly due to circumstances beyond our control we also missed some good bands sets . It was a very long day, and I'm sorry to say my new camera started to play silly buggers, then I started to fade out late in the evening and had to call it a night before the very end. 10 hours was my limit, jeez! I really need my afternoon nap these days lol.
There was a fantastically friendly vibe around 'The Black Box' all-day long, days like this are few and far between and good for your soul.
Best wishes from everyone back home 'Henry' and get well soon mate.
Joe Donnelly Belfast 2.12.12.
Finally : After the show, Belfast rockabilly legend and good guy 'Big Phil (The Bear) Long' was attacked by someone while making his way home. The Bear is a gentle giant, and wouldn't hurt anyone or anything. So we hope whoever you are that you're pleased with yourself, and feel good about assaulting and injuring such an easy and harmless target, a disabled man who needs to use a walking stick to get around.
Over to you Mully!
Joe Donnelly Belfast 3.12.12.
******************************************************************
When the news reached home that founding member and former SLF guitarist Henry Cluney had required major surgery to remove a tumour in his adopted home and land of the free (except when it comes to medical care!!) - a fundraising event was arranged to help out with the costs incurred. Each day after the event was announced another band was added to an ever-growing list to provide their support for one off their own. It really was a no-brainer (sorry Henry – couldn’t resist that one!!) that this was an essential, not to be missed gig, as not only were we to witness one of the best gig line-ups for god knows how long (if not ever), but also by contributing to a genuine worthwhile cause. So at half past two, on a sunny winter’s afternoon, I approached the venue - walking under the newly erected plaque to commemorate many off the people turning out today – looking forward to an exciting time ahead. Things were already running late as I entered The Black Box and got my hand stamped by (as I found out later) Henry’s brother. I was in time for Aidan Doherty’s stiff little busking set and sat with some of the proud parents as their VX siblings took to the stage to thrash out their youthful take on punk rock.
By now I was joined by ex-Idiot Barry Young in a forever bubble blowing good mood as The Hammers had just beaten Chelsea and therefore I was already looking forward to the meeting of Dee Wilson and Davy Treatment for a good old fashioned football slagging match. A ropey start by The Dollybyrds, sounding out of tune but were really playing different songs due to a set-list mix up, signalled my first foray outside for a smoke break. As the rest of the day and evening progressed, this was to be a regular journey, as apart from getting the obligatory nicotine fix, being away from the bands allowed you to chat and socialise with old mates, new mates and billy-no-mates without having to strain vocal cords and/or eardrums. I had a great chat with Aidan about The Stranglers (surprise!!) and King Hammond before heading back into the venue to find Barry sitting in the side café talking to The Androids. I sat in as the chat turned to their next gig perhaps featuring a rendition of ‘Parents’!! and, between Joe Moody asking Billy for football score updates, the conversation moved via the history of Victim to the impossible task of drawing up a Family Rock Tree of N.I. Punk – with an additional sole Gordy Blair Tree all to himself.
This interruption led to me missing out on the sets by 3-D Shark and the majority of the flag-wearing, tartan capped lead vocals of Buck Eejit as I popped in to get a pint from the bar. Outside, between being trailed off by Maureen to get your photo taken under the Harp Bar plaque or Petesy Burns turning you into an Olympic torch bearer, the crowd were milling around and the general bonhomie (Dr) feelgood factor was palpable. The Outcasts, even though pulling out of the event late on, were still one off the main topics of conversation at this stage and depending on which story you were told or believed, saw Greg either painting the British Embassy in Paris or attending a dinner party at home – you decide?
By now the effects of an early start and several (!!) alcoholic imbibings, not to mention the arrival of an eye-catching distraction, meant the rest of the evening becoming somewhat blurred in my memory banks. The Androids - the original Harp Bar lipstick heroes, The Sabrejets - rockabilly blitzkrieg boppers and The Defects dancin’ ‘til they dropped - all keeping the energy levels high - all performing to their usual high standards. Stop! Stop! Start Again continued banging on their back door but the highlight off the evening, I think everyone would agree, was the appearance of Jim Reilly and Ali McMordie onstage together. Joining them as the Jim Reilly All-star Revue were Buck (Defects) on vocals, Petesy (Outcasts, et al) and ****** on guitars. Together they regaled the crowd with a short selection of SLF toons with the obvious highlights being a blistering ‘Suspect Device’ and the N.I. punk’s national anthem ‘Alternative Ulster’. For this song the proudest man in the building was invited up to join two of his heroes onstage and to add his rigid digit busking talents to the ensemble. A video-link with Henry was displayed on the large screen in the corner that had been silently showing old SLF clips all day - but a combination of crowd, general chatter and distance meant I was unable to make out anything that was said. A nice touch all the same.
Shock Treatment and Protex continued with their poppier punkiness before Brian Young, after his earlier set with the greaser kings combo, retook the stage for an acoustic rendition of Rudi classics - ably joined onstage for the closing 'Big Time'. I have been informed (ulp!!) that the night was rounded off with a Glam Slam/Stardust amalgam producing songs such as 'Another Girl, Another Planet' and '20th Century Boy' - but that could just be a figbox of my imagination!!
It was a great day and an even better night - attended by the good and true from our punk past, with a special shout out to Grimmy for making an all too rare appearance. I have since been informed that a staggering £2000 was raised on the day from various sources - ticket sales, merchandise and torch-bearing photos, etc… A big thank you to all involved in making this event come together and here's to Henry, wishing you a speedy recovery big man and hope to see you kickin' up a racket again in the near future.
Mully
We saw some fantastic live performances and sadly due to circumstances beyond our control we also missed some good bands sets . It was a very long day, and I'm sorry to say my new camera started to play silly buggers, then I started to fade out late in the evening and had to call it a night before the very end. 10 hours was my limit, jeez! I really need my afternoon nap these days lol.
There was a fantastically friendly vibe around 'The Black Box' all-day long, days like this are few and far between and good for your soul.
Best wishes from everyone back home 'Henry' and get well soon mate.
Joe Donnelly Belfast 2.12.12.
Finally : After the show, Belfast rockabilly legend and good guy 'Big Phil (The Bear) Long' was attacked by someone while making his way home. The Bear is a gentle giant, and wouldn't hurt anyone or anything. So we hope whoever you are that you're pleased with yourself, and feel good about assaulting and injuring such an easy and harmless target, a disabled man who needs to use a walking stick to get around.
Over to you Mully!
Joe Donnelly Belfast 3.12.12.
******************************************************************
When the news reached home that founding member and former SLF guitarist Henry Cluney had required major surgery to remove a tumour in his adopted home and land of the free (except when it comes to medical care!!) - a fundraising event was arranged to help out with the costs incurred. Each day after the event was announced another band was added to an ever-growing list to provide their support for one off their own. It really was a no-brainer (sorry Henry – couldn’t resist that one!!) that this was an essential, not to be missed gig, as not only were we to witness one of the best gig line-ups for god knows how long (if not ever), but also by contributing to a genuine worthwhile cause. So at half past two, on a sunny winter’s afternoon, I approached the venue - walking under the newly erected plaque to commemorate many off the people turning out today – looking forward to an exciting time ahead. Things were already running late as I entered The Black Box and got my hand stamped by (as I found out later) Henry’s brother. I was in time for Aidan Doherty’s stiff little busking set and sat with some of the proud parents as their VX siblings took to the stage to thrash out their youthful take on punk rock.
By now I was joined by ex-Idiot Barry Young in a forever bubble blowing good mood as The Hammers had just beaten Chelsea and therefore I was already looking forward to the meeting of Dee Wilson and Davy Treatment for a good old fashioned football slagging match. A ropey start by The Dollybyrds, sounding out of tune but were really playing different songs due to a set-list mix up, signalled my first foray outside for a smoke break. As the rest of the day and evening progressed, this was to be a regular journey, as apart from getting the obligatory nicotine fix, being away from the bands allowed you to chat and socialise with old mates, new mates and billy-no-mates without having to strain vocal cords and/or eardrums. I had a great chat with Aidan about The Stranglers (surprise!!) and King Hammond before heading back into the venue to find Barry sitting in the side café talking to The Androids. I sat in as the chat turned to their next gig perhaps featuring a rendition of ‘Parents’!! and, between Joe Moody asking Billy for football score updates, the conversation moved via the history of Victim to the impossible task of drawing up a Family Rock Tree of N.I. Punk – with an additional sole Gordy Blair Tree all to himself.
This interruption led to me missing out on the sets by 3-D Shark and the majority of the flag-wearing, tartan capped lead vocals of Buck Eejit as I popped in to get a pint from the bar. Outside, between being trailed off by Maureen to get your photo taken under the Harp Bar plaque or Petesy Burns turning you into an Olympic torch bearer, the crowd were milling around and the general bonhomie (Dr) feelgood factor was palpable. The Outcasts, even though pulling out of the event late on, were still one off the main topics of conversation at this stage and depending on which story you were told or believed, saw Greg either painting the British Embassy in Paris or attending a dinner party at home – you decide?
By now the effects of an early start and several (!!) alcoholic imbibings, not to mention the arrival of an eye-catching distraction, meant the rest of the evening becoming somewhat blurred in my memory banks. The Androids - the original Harp Bar lipstick heroes, The Sabrejets - rockabilly blitzkrieg boppers and The Defects dancin’ ‘til they dropped - all keeping the energy levels high - all performing to their usual high standards. Stop! Stop! Start Again continued banging on their back door but the highlight off the evening, I think everyone would agree, was the appearance of Jim Reilly and Ali McMordie onstage together. Joining them as the Jim Reilly All-star Revue were Buck (Defects) on vocals, Petesy (Outcasts, et al) and ****** on guitars. Together they regaled the crowd with a short selection of SLF toons with the obvious highlights being a blistering ‘Suspect Device’ and the N.I. punk’s national anthem ‘Alternative Ulster’. For this song the proudest man in the building was invited up to join two of his heroes onstage and to add his rigid digit busking talents to the ensemble. A video-link with Henry was displayed on the large screen in the corner that had been silently showing old SLF clips all day - but a combination of crowd, general chatter and distance meant I was unable to make out anything that was said. A nice touch all the same.
Shock Treatment and Protex continued with their poppier punkiness before Brian Young, after his earlier set with the greaser kings combo, retook the stage for an acoustic rendition of Rudi classics - ably joined onstage for the closing 'Big Time'. I have been informed (ulp!!) that the night was rounded off with a Glam Slam/Stardust amalgam producing songs such as 'Another Girl, Another Planet' and '20th Century Boy' - but that could just be a figbox of my imagination!!
It was a great day and an even better night - attended by the good and true from our punk past, with a special shout out to Grimmy for making an all too rare appearance. I have since been informed that a staggering £2000 was raised on the day from various sources - ticket sales, merchandise and torch-bearing photos, etc… A big thank you to all involved in making this event come together and here's to Henry, wishing you a speedy recovery big man and hope to see you kickin' up a racket again in the near future.
Mully