The Members / Protex / Runnin Riot / Fubar
live @ Auntie Annies, Belfast, 02/02/2013
This was Scarred For Life's first event of the year and hell yeah, they got off to a flying start! This was a cracking gig.
On a bitterly cold night in Belfast, and with a number of other events taking place around the city (and elswhere) it was heartening to see a sizeable crowd had gathered as first band of the night, Fubar, took to the stage.
This was my first encounter with Fubar and I hope it won't be my last. Fubar are a punk covers band, unashamedly belting out a set of classic songs from the likes of Sex Pistols, Clash, The Jam, Ramones, The Damned, Dead Kennedys, Stranglers etc etc. These boys know their stuff and it was a great way to get the crowd warmed up. Highlights of the set? California Sun - a personal favourite which the band perform ever so well, and The Damned's Neat Neat Neat (I wonder what Rat Scabies, who was watching from the crowd,thought of that?) A great start to the evening.
Local heroes (and legends in their own right) Runnin Riot were up next and the venue was pretty much packed when they started into their action-packed set. It had been just over a year since I last saw the Riot, when they just about blew the roof off the Playhouse in Portrush, and they did pretty much the same thing at this gig in Auntie Annies! What can I say about this band that I haven't said many times before? They delivered another adrenalin-soaked set of anthemic, sing-a-long steetpunk classics from their now extensive back catalogue including Judge Jury Executioner, Alcoholic Heroes, and Lost Generation (how fuckin' good was that!). They even debuted a new song but I didn't catch the title. Runnin Riot fairly got the crowd fired up, with a few shapes being thrown around the dancefloor most notably by members of Hard Case and 1000 Drunken Nights. Good to see local bands supporting each other. Another outstanding performance.
Punky power-poppers Protex had the unenviable task of having to follow Runnin Riot. I feared that their catchy poppy songs would sound tame and lightweight after the bootboy stomp of RR and the crowd could lose interest. The band were further handicapped by their guitarist who got totally intoxicated before taking the stage (good lad). After a shaky start and polite response from the punters, the band rolled their sleeves up, notched it up a gear and slowly won the crowd over with a set full of high energy, powerpoppin' punky new wave tunes. Despite the handicaps, Protex managed to turn things around and even had the punters singing along to old classics such as Don't Ring Me Up, I Can't Cope and Look Out Johnny. Not every punks cup of tea, but I do admit to having a wee soft spot for Protex, used to love seeing them play down the Harp Bar, Pound etc. all those years ago. Turned out to be an excellent set, despite yer man being pissed-out-of-his-head!
I haven't really kept tabs on The Members for a number of years so I was a bit bemused when I saw three oul lads, who looked like they'd just walked off the set of Last Of The Summer Wine, scramble up on stage! The Foggy, Compo and Clegg of punk rock? lol
The one behind the drums was the unmistakeable figure of punk rock legend and original Damned drummer Rat Scabies, whose appearance probably helped ensure a good turn out for this gig. The other two are JC (guitar / vocals) and Chris Payne (bass / vocals). It would have been a bonus if the impish Nicky Tesco had've been there too, but he wasn't.
The Members are best remembered for being one of the first bands to fuse punk and reggae, a couple of outstanding singles, and a sense of fun. Basically, tonights gig was all about the latter - having FUN! And yes, it was fun - something I'm sure we could all do with a little more off, eh? The Members aren't gonna change your life, they aren't gonna change the world, but they will give you a damned (no pun intended) good night out. Don't be fooled by appearances either, 'cause these lads sure can play a mean punk rock electric guitar! Top choice of songs - Working Girl, Offshore Banking Business, Soho-a-go-go, etc plus the two that everyone wanted to hear - Solitary Confinement and Sound Of The Suburbs (which were worth the price of admission alone). They threw in a neat cover of Larry Wallis's Police Car plus some witty banter and encored with the T. Rex classic 20th Century Boy, a weird but wonderful reggaefied cover of Kraftwerk's The Model (and one more which I can't remember). All in all, very entertaining. What more could you ask for on a bollock freezing Belfast night?
Thanks again to Scarred For Life for putting on another top-notch show. Keep an eye on the SFL facebook page for news of more upcoming gigs and releases.
GT
03/02/2013
(All photos © Bernie McAllister)
On a bitterly cold night in Belfast, and with a number of other events taking place around the city (and elswhere) it was heartening to see a sizeable crowd had gathered as first band of the night, Fubar, took to the stage.
This was my first encounter with Fubar and I hope it won't be my last. Fubar are a punk covers band, unashamedly belting out a set of classic songs from the likes of Sex Pistols, Clash, The Jam, Ramones, The Damned, Dead Kennedys, Stranglers etc etc. These boys know their stuff and it was a great way to get the crowd warmed up. Highlights of the set? California Sun - a personal favourite which the band perform ever so well, and The Damned's Neat Neat Neat (I wonder what Rat Scabies, who was watching from the crowd,thought of that?) A great start to the evening.
Local heroes (and legends in their own right) Runnin Riot were up next and the venue was pretty much packed when they started into their action-packed set. It had been just over a year since I last saw the Riot, when they just about blew the roof off the Playhouse in Portrush, and they did pretty much the same thing at this gig in Auntie Annies! What can I say about this band that I haven't said many times before? They delivered another adrenalin-soaked set of anthemic, sing-a-long steetpunk classics from their now extensive back catalogue including Judge Jury Executioner, Alcoholic Heroes, and Lost Generation (how fuckin' good was that!). They even debuted a new song but I didn't catch the title. Runnin Riot fairly got the crowd fired up, with a few shapes being thrown around the dancefloor most notably by members of Hard Case and 1000 Drunken Nights. Good to see local bands supporting each other. Another outstanding performance.
Punky power-poppers Protex had the unenviable task of having to follow Runnin Riot. I feared that their catchy poppy songs would sound tame and lightweight after the bootboy stomp of RR and the crowd could lose interest. The band were further handicapped by their guitarist who got totally intoxicated before taking the stage (good lad). After a shaky start and polite response from the punters, the band rolled their sleeves up, notched it up a gear and slowly won the crowd over with a set full of high energy, powerpoppin' punky new wave tunes. Despite the handicaps, Protex managed to turn things around and even had the punters singing along to old classics such as Don't Ring Me Up, I Can't Cope and Look Out Johnny. Not every punks cup of tea, but I do admit to having a wee soft spot for Protex, used to love seeing them play down the Harp Bar, Pound etc. all those years ago. Turned out to be an excellent set, despite yer man being pissed-out-of-his-head!
I haven't really kept tabs on The Members for a number of years so I was a bit bemused when I saw three oul lads, who looked like they'd just walked off the set of Last Of The Summer Wine, scramble up on stage! The Foggy, Compo and Clegg of punk rock? lol
The one behind the drums was the unmistakeable figure of punk rock legend and original Damned drummer Rat Scabies, whose appearance probably helped ensure a good turn out for this gig. The other two are JC (guitar / vocals) and Chris Payne (bass / vocals). It would have been a bonus if the impish Nicky Tesco had've been there too, but he wasn't.
The Members are best remembered for being one of the first bands to fuse punk and reggae, a couple of outstanding singles, and a sense of fun. Basically, tonights gig was all about the latter - having FUN! And yes, it was fun - something I'm sure we could all do with a little more off, eh? The Members aren't gonna change your life, they aren't gonna change the world, but they will give you a damned (no pun intended) good night out. Don't be fooled by appearances either, 'cause these lads sure can play a mean punk rock electric guitar! Top choice of songs - Working Girl, Offshore Banking Business, Soho-a-go-go, etc plus the two that everyone wanted to hear - Solitary Confinement and Sound Of The Suburbs (which were worth the price of admission alone). They threw in a neat cover of Larry Wallis's Police Car plus some witty banter and encored with the T. Rex classic 20th Century Boy, a weird but wonderful reggaefied cover of Kraftwerk's The Model (and one more which I can't remember). All in all, very entertaining. What more could you ask for on a bollock freezing Belfast night?
Thanks again to Scarred For Life for putting on another top-notch show. Keep an eye on the SFL facebook page for news of more upcoming gigs and releases.
GT
03/02/2013
(All photos © Bernie McAllister)