The Primitives + The Sabrejets - RAOB Club, Belfast, 08/05/15
TWO CULTURES CLASH
Checking out this year's Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival itinerary, obviously The Stranglers were my Number One priority - but, following on a week later, The Primitives' first Belfast gig in ages were a close second. Then, having heard that The Sabrejets had been asked to support, this gig was a definite must attend event. The last time The Primitives played here (a rarer event than even last week's headliners) they performed in a lounge in The Europa Hotel. The last time they played Dublin, in 1992 the band disbanded. Tomorrow night the band are once again playing Dublin (yikes!!).
Sean Kelly, the Festival organiser and mainman behind the CQAF, must possess a really twisted and anarchic mind. Who would ever conceive of pairing Belfast's greaser king rockers, The Sabrejets, with '80's Indie popsters, The Primitives? On paper this mis-match should never work - but last night, myself and a room full of like minded music fans were treated to an opposite-attracting marriage of styles that left everyone hopped up, popped up and enjoyment levels topped up.
Arriving at the bizarre choice of venue - The Royal Antidiluvean Order of the Buffaloes Masonic Lodge, reminiscent of the infamous Wheel-Tappers and Shunters Social Club of '70s TV history - and having purchased my first pint of the evening, I was hailed into the company of the NI Punk web-site's own web-meister Guy and his brother Neil. Chatting about our recent gig attendances and generally catching up over our drinks and furthermore outside over a smoke. Whilst sheltering from the persistant drizzle under the awning outside the Lodge, drawing the last lungfuls of nicotine enriched smoke from our dog-ends, Liam and Bill from The Sabrejets arrive and inform us even they are unsure what time the band are due onstage. Back inside and just as Brian arrives, it is basically showtime.
The Sabrejets never fail to disappoint and tonight is no different. With new drummer Louie behind the kit, beating out the redneck rhythm and blues, the band fire through a curtailed set as if it is the last gig they will ever play. Fired up and sizzling with red hot rockabilly electricity, the addition of strobe lighting only adds to the onstage buzz. The full frontal twin guitar attack of Liam's Fender and Brian's Gretsch spit out the riffs as Bill slaps the doghouse bass in accompaniment. Tunes come fast and furious, from 'Redneck Blues', 'Stewed, Screwed and Tattooed' through 'I Dig Dames' and the rockabilly purist delight of 'Don't Turn Your Back On Love'. The impressive Cramps inspired garage thrash of 'Shake' is fast becoming a fan favourite - it's certainly one of mine and, in tribute to friend of the band - the late, great Bo Diddley, 'The Devil Drives A Cadillac' gets the crowd going, with it's false ending, achieving premature applause from those not in the know. With a nod to the old punks in the audience, Brian introduces 'Seven Deadly Sins' - a cover from Belfast's own punk bad boys, The Outcasts, dedicated to attendees of The Harp bar and The Bailey. All too soon it is time to finish and after a cracking version of 'Too Fast To Live, Too Young To Die', the floor tom attack introduces The Bobby Fuller Four/Clash 'I Fought The Law' - bringing another five-star show to a close.
After replenishing the ever depleting pint glasses and allowing that part of the brain that craves nicotine it's required 'hit', we retake our seats just as The Primitives take to the stage. Initially it was only the male musicians, starting off the opening number. Then, making her way through the crowd and past our table, the diminutive figure of Tracy Tracy lightly skips onstage. The band kick off with 'Buzz Buzz Buzz' - the saccharine sweet vocals of the elfin blonde bombshell counter-balanced with fuzztone guitar and pounding backbeat. Although the sound starts off a bit 'messy' - at this moment The Sabrejets were blowing the main act away - it did improve as the performance progressed. Tracy calls the audience forward and as if at her beck and call, the crowd move forward. Having now to stand to get a half decent view of the band, the set is interspersed with shimmering guitar jangle and twangy feedback fuzz, and the rhythm soon has my feet tapping and body swaying as we are treated to a selection of old and new songs from their back catalogue.
Tracy dances and claps, sways and sings - it is as if time has stood still because she looks exactly the same - a sexy petite blonde dressed in sparkling skirt, ankle boots and stripped top, bedecked in baubles and braclets and a sequinned bow in her hair - an '80s indie chick personnified. Classic songs from the reportoire - 'Thru The Flowers', 'You're Killing Me' get the audience going, but also the lesser known tunes such as 'Rattle My Cage', 'Sick Of It All' and 'Spacehead' get an appreciative response. Even the newer songs, 'Spin-o-rama' and 'Turn Of The Moon' fit nicely inset betwixt the better known 'oldies' and get a good reaction from the floor. Despite her small stature, Tracy really possesses a commanding stage presence and seemed to connect with each individual present - she really had the audience eating out off her hand.
Classic '60s girl group vocals, The Velvet Underground and The Ramones influences are all there to be heard in the music, but between the shimmering guitar jangle of 'Crash' (surprisingly placed mid-set rather than the set finale) and the fizzing pop brilliance of 'Buzz' - in comparison it was as if The Jesus and Mary Chain really had a Mary on vocals.
After completing the set, the whole band departed the stage and exited through the crowd towards the makepiece dressing room off the main hall. However it was not too long before they returned for a four song encore. The final song 'We've Found A Way To The Sun' received a deserved reaction as the band once again made their way off stage. As the house lights came up and the crowd dispersed, either outside or to the bar, a number remained to get merchandise signed by the band as they re-emerged for a meet and greet session.
Two great bands, two great performances and a cross-over appeal (courtesy of Mr Kelly's insight), it was both 'Sin-sational' and 'Lovely' and made for another great night out at the CQAF in Belfast.
MULLY 09/05/15
Checking out this year's Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival itinerary, obviously The Stranglers were my Number One priority - but, following on a week later, The Primitives' first Belfast gig in ages were a close second. Then, having heard that The Sabrejets had been asked to support, this gig was a definite must attend event. The last time The Primitives played here (a rarer event than even last week's headliners) they performed in a lounge in The Europa Hotel. The last time they played Dublin, in 1992 the band disbanded. Tomorrow night the band are once again playing Dublin (yikes!!).
Sean Kelly, the Festival organiser and mainman behind the CQAF, must possess a really twisted and anarchic mind. Who would ever conceive of pairing Belfast's greaser king rockers, The Sabrejets, with '80's Indie popsters, The Primitives? On paper this mis-match should never work - but last night, myself and a room full of like minded music fans were treated to an opposite-attracting marriage of styles that left everyone hopped up, popped up and enjoyment levels topped up.
Arriving at the bizarre choice of venue - The Royal Antidiluvean Order of the Buffaloes Masonic Lodge, reminiscent of the infamous Wheel-Tappers and Shunters Social Club of '70s TV history - and having purchased my first pint of the evening, I was hailed into the company of the NI Punk web-site's own web-meister Guy and his brother Neil. Chatting about our recent gig attendances and generally catching up over our drinks and furthermore outside over a smoke. Whilst sheltering from the persistant drizzle under the awning outside the Lodge, drawing the last lungfuls of nicotine enriched smoke from our dog-ends, Liam and Bill from The Sabrejets arrive and inform us even they are unsure what time the band are due onstage. Back inside and just as Brian arrives, it is basically showtime.
The Sabrejets never fail to disappoint and tonight is no different. With new drummer Louie behind the kit, beating out the redneck rhythm and blues, the band fire through a curtailed set as if it is the last gig they will ever play. Fired up and sizzling with red hot rockabilly electricity, the addition of strobe lighting only adds to the onstage buzz. The full frontal twin guitar attack of Liam's Fender and Brian's Gretsch spit out the riffs as Bill slaps the doghouse bass in accompaniment. Tunes come fast and furious, from 'Redneck Blues', 'Stewed, Screwed and Tattooed' through 'I Dig Dames' and the rockabilly purist delight of 'Don't Turn Your Back On Love'. The impressive Cramps inspired garage thrash of 'Shake' is fast becoming a fan favourite - it's certainly one of mine and, in tribute to friend of the band - the late, great Bo Diddley, 'The Devil Drives A Cadillac' gets the crowd going, with it's false ending, achieving premature applause from those not in the know. With a nod to the old punks in the audience, Brian introduces 'Seven Deadly Sins' - a cover from Belfast's own punk bad boys, The Outcasts, dedicated to attendees of The Harp bar and The Bailey. All too soon it is time to finish and after a cracking version of 'Too Fast To Live, Too Young To Die', the floor tom attack introduces The Bobby Fuller Four/Clash 'I Fought The Law' - bringing another five-star show to a close.
After replenishing the ever depleting pint glasses and allowing that part of the brain that craves nicotine it's required 'hit', we retake our seats just as The Primitives take to the stage. Initially it was only the male musicians, starting off the opening number. Then, making her way through the crowd and past our table, the diminutive figure of Tracy Tracy lightly skips onstage. The band kick off with 'Buzz Buzz Buzz' - the saccharine sweet vocals of the elfin blonde bombshell counter-balanced with fuzztone guitar and pounding backbeat. Although the sound starts off a bit 'messy' - at this moment The Sabrejets were blowing the main act away - it did improve as the performance progressed. Tracy calls the audience forward and as if at her beck and call, the crowd move forward. Having now to stand to get a half decent view of the band, the set is interspersed with shimmering guitar jangle and twangy feedback fuzz, and the rhythm soon has my feet tapping and body swaying as we are treated to a selection of old and new songs from their back catalogue.
Tracy dances and claps, sways and sings - it is as if time has stood still because she looks exactly the same - a sexy petite blonde dressed in sparkling skirt, ankle boots and stripped top, bedecked in baubles and braclets and a sequinned bow in her hair - an '80s indie chick personnified. Classic songs from the reportoire - 'Thru The Flowers', 'You're Killing Me' get the audience going, but also the lesser known tunes such as 'Rattle My Cage', 'Sick Of It All' and 'Spacehead' get an appreciative response. Even the newer songs, 'Spin-o-rama' and 'Turn Of The Moon' fit nicely inset betwixt the better known 'oldies' and get a good reaction from the floor. Despite her small stature, Tracy really possesses a commanding stage presence and seemed to connect with each individual present - she really had the audience eating out off her hand.
Classic '60s girl group vocals, The Velvet Underground and The Ramones influences are all there to be heard in the music, but between the shimmering guitar jangle of 'Crash' (surprisingly placed mid-set rather than the set finale) and the fizzing pop brilliance of 'Buzz' - in comparison it was as if The Jesus and Mary Chain really had a Mary on vocals.
After completing the set, the whole band departed the stage and exited through the crowd towards the makepiece dressing room off the main hall. However it was not too long before they returned for a four song encore. The final song 'We've Found A Way To The Sun' received a deserved reaction as the band once again made their way off stage. As the house lights came up and the crowd dispersed, either outside or to the bar, a number remained to get merchandise signed by the band as they re-emerged for a meet and greet session.
Two great bands, two great performances and a cross-over appeal (courtesy of Mr Kelly's insight), it was both 'Sin-sational' and 'Lovely' and made for another great night out at the CQAF in Belfast.
MULLY 09/05/15
Primitives photos by Neil Trelford.