The Undertones + Wonder Villains + Soak
+ DJ Terri Hooley - CQAF Marquee, Belfast, 12/05/2012
(review & photos © Joe Donnelly)
I was actually looking forward to this gig as its been a few years since my last live encounter with the band, plus Steven had never seen them onstage and this evening was his chance to continue his musical education and see yet another legendary Irish punk band doing their thing in the flesh instead of watching retro video clips.
Another blast from the past 'The Monochrome Set' who back in the glory days actually played the local punk mecca the 'Harp Bar' were also in town tonight playing in the 'Dockers club'' as part of the Cathedral Arts festival. Punky / New Wavers were spoilt for choice this year as John Cale & Hazel O'Connor were also part of the programme.
For those of you like me who have never been inside the 'CQAF marquee', it is a very spacious , calming & impressive venue with a luverly twinkling faux night sky fairylight display ceiling. By the time we arrived the marquee was rapidly filling up, there was already a band I'd never heard off called ' Wonder Villains' onstage and apparently we'd missed a previously unannounced combo called 'Soak' . So no report or pics to pass on regarding them as I know or have nothing to present .
As for 'Wonder Villains' , their incredibly sickly sweet and featherweight indie was definitely not for me, but they had some hometown travelling support with them .so they must be doing something right, but sadly what it is I don't know!
Future matinee idol 'Mr Hooley' was doing his dj set before, after and between the bands, spinning classic garage / punk vinyl from the likes of 'The Ramones, The Kingsmen, The Ruts, Buzzcocks etc etc. He was also brought onstage to say a few words and to introduce 'The Undertones'. 'Mickey Bradley' later in the gig would dedicate a tune to Terri and give his longawaited bio pic a heads up , I heard some idiot (who wasn't a young kid) standing behind me ask his girlfriend "Who is Terri Hooley" and her reply was " he own's a record shop or something". Phillistines .
Suddenly there seemed to be a lot of Derry punters here tonight , no doubt some of them were down for their home teams 'Setanta Cup final' defeat earlier in the day by Belfast club 'Crusaders' (NI Punk site boss GT is a fan). They gave the Undertones a heroes welcome as they took to the stage, 'Jimmy Jimmy' the opener was the first of so many crowd pleasing tunes played during a blistering '30' song setlist ,yes! you read it correctly, a '30' song set.
There wasn't to many familiar local punky faces to be seen, and wouldn't it be silly to think that this was because the Undertones have some ancient history with the older Belfast punks . The set progressed at speed and we laughed as a 40 /50 something guy who had been building up a head of steam dancing on the spot wanted to go and join all the other embarrassing oldies tempting fate in the middle of the dancefloor , but was then told in no uncertain terms by his wife to stay where he was . And what is this new trend with women bringing two pairs of shoes to a gig, changing into flats to dance and walking round with their high heels in their hands allnight!.For all you fashionista's out there I've been reliably informed that this is quite common these days, but I'd never seen it before tonight.
Throughout the gig 'Mickey Bradley' who likes a laugh and is a bit of a cheeky chappy had been sharing his witty rapartee with the audience , one highlight was when he thanked the CQAF organisers for putting the band on with the 'Wonder Villians' & 'Soak' as it could easily have been 'The Outcasts' or some band like that lol.
And as if the 'Tones' hadn't already gone well beyond the call of duty by playing a 25 song set , after a very short break they came back on and played a cracking five song encore which included a first time stab at John Lennon's 'Instant Karma'. It sounded fantastic, the band members glam rock / TRex influenes were all over it .
22.58 pm and it was time for 'Mars Bars' which was definitely going to be the last tune of a great night , some wag had obviously came prepared and started throwing the self same chocolate bars onto the stage . The surprise in-bound missiles flying towards their heads had a couple of the band members ducking down, but once 'Micky Bradley' worked out it was only a bit of craic with no malice intended and what it actually was coming his way, he quickly lifted one and started eating it while still playing his bass and attempting to continue his backing vocals with a mouthfull of tasty confectionery.
'The Undertones' gave it their all here tonight , and to quote an overused crappy cliche "they gave it 110%" . Unbelievably tight superior pop punk, they absolutely worked their balls off until the 23.00 pm curfew. And after all that they still had time to offer their Derry bound fans a lift home on their bus. Top band , top night, enuff said.
30 song Setlist.
(but not necessarily played in this order)
Jimmy Jimmy / Jump Boys / Here comes the summer / Girls that don't talk / Thrill Me / Tearproof / Gotta Getta / Enough / Love Parade / Billy's 3rd / You got my number / Family Entertainment / My Perfect cousin / Wrong way / Hypnotised / Listening In / When saturday comes / Teenage Kicks / Need your love / Wednesday Week / She's a runaround / I know a girl / Get over you / Male Model / Girls don't like / There goes Norman / Top 20 / True Confessions / Instant Karma / Mars Bars.
Joe Donnelly Belfast. 13.5.12.
I was actually looking forward to this gig as its been a few years since my last live encounter with the band, plus Steven had never seen them onstage and this evening was his chance to continue his musical education and see yet another legendary Irish punk band doing their thing in the flesh instead of watching retro video clips.
Another blast from the past 'The Monochrome Set' who back in the glory days actually played the local punk mecca the 'Harp Bar' were also in town tonight playing in the 'Dockers club'' as part of the Cathedral Arts festival. Punky / New Wavers were spoilt for choice this year as John Cale & Hazel O'Connor were also part of the programme.
For those of you like me who have never been inside the 'CQAF marquee', it is a very spacious , calming & impressive venue with a luverly twinkling faux night sky fairylight display ceiling. By the time we arrived the marquee was rapidly filling up, there was already a band I'd never heard off called ' Wonder Villains' onstage and apparently we'd missed a previously unannounced combo called 'Soak' . So no report or pics to pass on regarding them as I know or have nothing to present .
As for 'Wonder Villains' , their incredibly sickly sweet and featherweight indie was definitely not for me, but they had some hometown travelling support with them .so they must be doing something right, but sadly what it is I don't know!
Future matinee idol 'Mr Hooley' was doing his dj set before, after and between the bands, spinning classic garage / punk vinyl from the likes of 'The Ramones, The Kingsmen, The Ruts, Buzzcocks etc etc. He was also brought onstage to say a few words and to introduce 'The Undertones'. 'Mickey Bradley' later in the gig would dedicate a tune to Terri and give his longawaited bio pic a heads up , I heard some idiot (who wasn't a young kid) standing behind me ask his girlfriend "Who is Terri Hooley" and her reply was " he own's a record shop or something". Phillistines .
Suddenly there seemed to be a lot of Derry punters here tonight , no doubt some of them were down for their home teams 'Setanta Cup final' defeat earlier in the day by Belfast club 'Crusaders' (NI Punk site boss GT is a fan). They gave the Undertones a heroes welcome as they took to the stage, 'Jimmy Jimmy' the opener was the first of so many crowd pleasing tunes played during a blistering '30' song setlist ,yes! you read it correctly, a '30' song set.
There wasn't to many familiar local punky faces to be seen, and wouldn't it be silly to think that this was because the Undertones have some ancient history with the older Belfast punks . The set progressed at speed and we laughed as a 40 /50 something guy who had been building up a head of steam dancing on the spot wanted to go and join all the other embarrassing oldies tempting fate in the middle of the dancefloor , but was then told in no uncertain terms by his wife to stay where he was . And what is this new trend with women bringing two pairs of shoes to a gig, changing into flats to dance and walking round with their high heels in their hands allnight!.For all you fashionista's out there I've been reliably informed that this is quite common these days, but I'd never seen it before tonight.
Throughout the gig 'Mickey Bradley' who likes a laugh and is a bit of a cheeky chappy had been sharing his witty rapartee with the audience , one highlight was when he thanked the CQAF organisers for putting the band on with the 'Wonder Villians' & 'Soak' as it could easily have been 'The Outcasts' or some band like that lol.
And as if the 'Tones' hadn't already gone well beyond the call of duty by playing a 25 song set , after a very short break they came back on and played a cracking five song encore which included a first time stab at John Lennon's 'Instant Karma'. It sounded fantastic, the band members glam rock / TRex influenes were all over it .
22.58 pm and it was time for 'Mars Bars' which was definitely going to be the last tune of a great night , some wag had obviously came prepared and started throwing the self same chocolate bars onto the stage . The surprise in-bound missiles flying towards their heads had a couple of the band members ducking down, but once 'Micky Bradley' worked out it was only a bit of craic with no malice intended and what it actually was coming his way, he quickly lifted one and started eating it while still playing his bass and attempting to continue his backing vocals with a mouthfull of tasty confectionery.
'The Undertones' gave it their all here tonight , and to quote an overused crappy cliche "they gave it 110%" . Unbelievably tight superior pop punk, they absolutely worked their balls off until the 23.00 pm curfew. And after all that they still had time to offer their Derry bound fans a lift home on their bus. Top band , top night, enuff said.
30 song Setlist.
(but not necessarily played in this order)
Jimmy Jimmy / Jump Boys / Here comes the summer / Girls that don't talk / Thrill Me / Tearproof / Gotta Getta / Enough / Love Parade / Billy's 3rd / You got my number / Family Entertainment / My Perfect cousin / Wrong way / Hypnotised / Listening In / When saturday comes / Teenage Kicks / Need your love / Wednesday Week / She's a runaround / I know a girl / Get over you / Male Model / Girls don't like / There goes Norman / Top 20 / True Confessions / Instant Karma / Mars Bars.
Joe Donnelly Belfast. 13.5.12.