Sham 69 + The Defects + Hooligan - live @ Auntie Annies, Belfast, 30/11/12
Gig of the year? Well, certainly a contender.
Arrived late (as usual) at the already packed venue, just in time to catch the end of Hooligan's set, and they were sounding pretty impressive. I heard just enough to let me know that I'd missed a brilliant set by this excellent Dublin band. Gutted, as I rate this band highly and was looking forward to seeing them again. Their new 'No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs' EP is available this month on limited edition vinyl from US label oi! the boat Records Grab a copy while you can, the title track has 'punk classic' written all over it!
Next up were local heroes The Defects, all fired up after their recent tour Down Under. This was a Belfast blitzkrieg as the Fex delivered a powerhouse set which really got the mixed crowd of skins, punks and herberts buzzin'. All the old favourites were there Brutality, Guilty Conscience, Metal Walls, etc plus the obligatory crowd pleasing Ruts cover as well as more recent songs such as Revelator and the excellent Hill Street (which has just been released by Punkerama Records as a limited edition CD single in an old Good Vibrations style wraparound sleeve.) This band are on fire at the minute and are (in my humble opinion) the best live punk band around today.
The heat was rising so when The Defects finished up I went outside for some air and a ciggie. Bumped into Fallsy (Outcasts drummer) and had a bit of a yarn. Fallsy is a regular gig goer and its great to see a member of one of our premier punk bands still giving so much support to the local scene. An all round top bloke. We made our way back in thinking 'its gonna go mental' when Sham 69 hit the stage.
A few years back I went to see the 'Pursey-less' Sham 69 when they played the Empire, Belfast. Tim V is a more than able frontman but without Pursey it could be said that the band that night were no more than a quality tribute act. Having said that, it turned out to be an excellent gig.
But you knew this one was gonna be a wee bit special. Pursey and Parsons reunited. And lets be honest, it was the presence of Jimmy P that ensured that this gig was a sellout. There was a mad rush to the front when the band finally hit the stage, and they received a rapturous welcome. We were then treated to a set full of working class, terrace-style sing-a-long punk anthems - Rip Off, I Don't Wanna, George Davis Is Innocent, Hey Little Rich Boy, Give A Dog A Bone etc (not necessarily in that order). It was so good to hear these songs performed live and sung by the man himself. The crowd were enthusiastic enough but when the opening bars of Hersham Boys finally rang out the place did indeed go mental. And thats the way it stayed as Sham blasted out all the hits - Hurry Up Harry, Borstal Breakout, Angels With Dirty Faces, Questions And Answers and the biggie If The Kids Are United. The atmosphere was electric as the punks and skins bounced, sang along, and fist-pumped the air in unison. If The Middle-aged Kids Are United, indeed! Now, a few comments have been made about the band sounding a bit flat, and it is fair to say that they didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders, but it didn't really matter - the quality of the songs plus Jimmy's persona / stage presence carried them through (even though Jimmy resembles a Rolling Stones reject and is looking a little knackered). It is one thing to listen to the records or watch the band on TOTP re-runs but hearing the songs live, up close and personal in a small venue like Auntie Annies is something else altogether. Some of the local oul punks gave the gig a bye-ball, stating that it was 30+ years too late - fair enough - I'm glad I wasn't one of them!
Another great night out in Belfast. 3 great bands, a bona-fide punk legend in Jimmy P, and once again The Defects stole the show! A big round of applause for Stevie and Danielle of Scarred For Life for making it happen. Scarred For Life, Belfast's newest record label have a lot more treats lined up over the coming months including the Moscow Mules debut (out this week), the 2nd compilation CD (due out soon), plus upcoming gigs by The Members, Vibrators, Anti-Pasti and others. Click on the label's link for more info.
GT
thanks to Pier Gael, Rab Taylor, Liam McDonald and Alan Giff for use of their photos.
Arrived late (as usual) at the already packed venue, just in time to catch the end of Hooligan's set, and they were sounding pretty impressive. I heard just enough to let me know that I'd missed a brilliant set by this excellent Dublin band. Gutted, as I rate this band highly and was looking forward to seeing them again. Their new 'No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs' EP is available this month on limited edition vinyl from US label oi! the boat Records Grab a copy while you can, the title track has 'punk classic' written all over it!
Next up were local heroes The Defects, all fired up after their recent tour Down Under. This was a Belfast blitzkrieg as the Fex delivered a powerhouse set which really got the mixed crowd of skins, punks and herberts buzzin'. All the old favourites were there Brutality, Guilty Conscience, Metal Walls, etc plus the obligatory crowd pleasing Ruts cover as well as more recent songs such as Revelator and the excellent Hill Street (which has just been released by Punkerama Records as a limited edition CD single in an old Good Vibrations style wraparound sleeve.) This band are on fire at the minute and are (in my humble opinion) the best live punk band around today.
The heat was rising so when The Defects finished up I went outside for some air and a ciggie. Bumped into Fallsy (Outcasts drummer) and had a bit of a yarn. Fallsy is a regular gig goer and its great to see a member of one of our premier punk bands still giving so much support to the local scene. An all round top bloke. We made our way back in thinking 'its gonna go mental' when Sham 69 hit the stage.
A few years back I went to see the 'Pursey-less' Sham 69 when they played the Empire, Belfast. Tim V is a more than able frontman but without Pursey it could be said that the band that night were no more than a quality tribute act. Having said that, it turned out to be an excellent gig.
But you knew this one was gonna be a wee bit special. Pursey and Parsons reunited. And lets be honest, it was the presence of Jimmy P that ensured that this gig was a sellout. There was a mad rush to the front when the band finally hit the stage, and they received a rapturous welcome. We were then treated to a set full of working class, terrace-style sing-a-long punk anthems - Rip Off, I Don't Wanna, George Davis Is Innocent, Hey Little Rich Boy, Give A Dog A Bone etc (not necessarily in that order). It was so good to hear these songs performed live and sung by the man himself. The crowd were enthusiastic enough but when the opening bars of Hersham Boys finally rang out the place did indeed go mental. And thats the way it stayed as Sham blasted out all the hits - Hurry Up Harry, Borstal Breakout, Angels With Dirty Faces, Questions And Answers and the biggie If The Kids Are United. The atmosphere was electric as the punks and skins bounced, sang along, and fist-pumped the air in unison. If The Middle-aged Kids Are United, indeed! Now, a few comments have been made about the band sounding a bit flat, and it is fair to say that they didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders, but it didn't really matter - the quality of the songs plus Jimmy's persona / stage presence carried them through (even though Jimmy resembles a Rolling Stones reject and is looking a little knackered). It is one thing to listen to the records or watch the band on TOTP re-runs but hearing the songs live, up close and personal in a small venue like Auntie Annies is something else altogether. Some of the local oul punks gave the gig a bye-ball, stating that it was 30+ years too late - fair enough - I'm glad I wasn't one of them!
Another great night out in Belfast. 3 great bands, a bona-fide punk legend in Jimmy P, and once again The Defects stole the show! A big round of applause for Stevie and Danielle of Scarred For Life for making it happen. Scarred For Life, Belfast's newest record label have a lot more treats lined up over the coming months including the Moscow Mules debut (out this week), the 2nd compilation CD (due out soon), plus upcoming gigs by The Members, Vibrators, Anti-Pasti and others. Click on the label's link for more info.
GT
thanks to Pier Gael, Rab Taylor, Liam McDonald and Alan Giff for use of their photos.