Monk time? Well that kicked off about 11pm last Thursday. The Dome above the DWC was reverberating as the great and the good paid homage to something they thought they'd never see.
PJ's persistence paid off and three of the original 5 were bringing down the musical equivalent of what Buckfast will do to you in musical terms. I have to state here that I was in the minority at this particular sermon. While all and sundry were having their minds blown to lesser or greater degree, I was thinking "wait a minute" the sound in this place is pish. Or at best soup. And not one of those nice broths either.
How To Do was as close as it got to the realisation of the BMT experience for me. For some reason, I wasn't included in the party everybody else was having. Mr Duff told me they were vicious when he saw them but I have to say that the teeth they presumably had in during that service must have been in a big glass at the side of the stage. Maybe it sounded OK from where they were too?
Maybe I just expected too much. I had no problem with the ticket price like some. It may be considered hefty but not for something as perceivably special as this turned out not to be. Like I said, I was very much in the minority. That is my dime in life. They didn’t do that one
"Nice legs, shame about the boat race" either. Oh yeah, that was another Monks. As is Tony Shaloub, singular. Openers were
Blacktime (no Monk) who were OK in that primal lo-fi Cramplike arc. A concise short set.
Dirthole are an ensemble piece who Mr Cruickshank reckons sound like dual dimensional versions of The Fall each playing a different set at the same time. Believe me that concept is much better in theory than it is in hard racket. They have fun though and I'll be damned if that ain't the main thing.
Friday was Fleshtone time and I really wish that these guys could command the attendances they deserve because they were literally smoking in comparison to anything from that previous night. I hadn't seen them for more than 10 years. Since they opened for The Cramps in Amsterdam and the Nomads played upstairs afterwards. There are so many copy bands out there that have taken the routines and some of the sound but they can't, not one of them, ape the finite superrock ingredient. Like whatever makes Coca into Cola or Irn into Bru. Hadn't seen them perform material from the last few albums either so it was all good. Got more exercise during this hour or so than I have in recent living memory. They got a decent crowd but there should a been a line around the block, locked out. Such is the power that they wield. Yes I'm biased but ask anybody who was there. Hardly anybody even comes close.
Not ever. 30 years and counting. Never less than supreme, the never lost that american beat because they fucking ARE it! Cool supporting roles from
The Grease Monkeys and
The Dexateens made this the preferable of the two DWC anniversary nights that your old codger here attended.
Now to the e-mail backlog, if this steam modem has enough puff.
As we were unable to get to London in time for the Monks and Black Time I can only vouch for Lindsay's take on the 2nd night and as par usual he's pretty much on the ball. Tho' mention has got to be made of the soundguy who figured that the Fleshtones are best appreciated at distorto level and Alfonso from the Parkinsons who wrecked Zaremba's organ early in the set...
The third night was a hoot as well mainly c/o the Priscillas, an all girl 4 piece who's Ramones/Runaways hybrid is as predictable as it is contagious. All dolled up and with choreographed stage-moves, they delivered a great set of uber-catchy tunes.
Proof positive that there is a God came when the Parkinsons hit the stage and the P.A . and lighting-rig gave up the ghost halfway their first song. Mucho fuss was made of audience members throwing beer, but it was obvious that the band was soley responsible. Hey, that's what you get for messin' with Z-man's keyboard!
Anyways, the Parkinsons sweaty/shirts-off/male bonding take on R&R complete with terracechant-style choruses is hardly my cup o' tea. Tho' most of the crowd seemed to think otherwise... Opening act Thee Exciters were fun for a while, but really should take note of Black Time's dictum of only playing short sets and crampin' all your good points in that brief timespace...
A short note on the fact that London might not be that big a city as is often believed: The girl who was selling tickets at the DWC on Friday, looked very much like the one who sold me some records at Sounds That Swing on Saturday afternoon and the one playing rockabilly 45s at the Elephants Head on Saturday night...
Congratulations to P.J. and here's hopin' for at least one more decade. A tip of the hat goes out to Steve, Lindsay, Matthew, Jos and Coen.
Pictures c/o Jos De Groot
Update: Some Youtube links:
Monks,
Parkinsons.
All I’m gonna say at this point is that if you missed the recent HS shows, and you lived in the immediate radius of any of them then you blew it. Everybody who made the Admiral Bar scene last night knows what I’m talking about. These are Stacey’s photos and you can see more here.
Maia Kirasawa did a great set to a respectable relative silence. There were almost none of these nitwits that jaw through a person’s set disturbing the peace and tranquillity that this girl is packing.
The Hello Saferide combo came on, did their stuff and didn’t play anywhere near long enough but that was OK. That brass section (from Autisterna - Thanks Martina) is like an Action Combo for the 21st Century. Made me think about my old pal Gordon Spaeth. The people from Sounds Of Sweden and Dolly Mixture deserve massive props for organising the show. It’s a great spot and these people are music fans. This is what shows should be like, untainted by corporate bullshit. It may be a tad off the radar but there are supposed “real” promoters that couldn’t attract a crowd like this. That fucking wish they had this kind of cred. You can't "buy" this kind of reaction, it only evolves through trust.
Yaka Yaka
