This week has been one of those that never seems to end. Work all day, head to hotel, eat, work all evening… eat, work, sleep in perpetual motion. So when it got to Thursday it really felt like it should be Friday, I was so tired I had to stop the car for fear of falling asleep…
If I’m honest the thought of hauling my arse out again when I got home didn’t fill me with joy, but I’d been looking forward to it for an age… Time was tight, from arriving home to getting to the station (throwing some food down in between) took around 20 minutes. I’m pretty sure I was smelling pretty ripe by this time, wearing the same clothes I’d had in since early doors and having delivered First Aid training all day…
But let me tell you, it was worth it. A friend has being extolling the virtues of Billy Liar for some time now, this was my first experience of the man with the most excellent Clash emblazoned yellow denim jacket. Having been thoroughly enjoying the set, things went supernova as the set reached its climax including a medley with tributes paid to two punk legends, first to the much missed Joe Strummer (whose life will be celebrated next week in Tuts) and then, touching the still raw emotions, to Shane MacGowan. Liar played his new single Hogmanay at breakneck speed to close his set, whetting the appetite for more.
Breakneck speed was order for the day for punk “supergroup” Ultrabomb, featuring The Mahones frontman Finny McConnell, Husker Du bass player Greg Norton and the origin of the bands lightning speed and formidable thunder, drummer Jamie Oliver, no, I know it’s nearly Christmas but not that one… the trio barely stopped for a breathe as they rattled through their full on assault on the eardrums, pausing only to pay another tribute to the late MacGowan, obviously a huge an influence on Finny’s other band. This was Ultrabomb’s first Glasgow gig, let’s hope for many more to come.
I was chatting to a friend at the bar whose pal has seen Bar Stool Preachers 31 times. That’s the sort of band they are, as they indicate themselves, it’s more of a BSP family than band and audience. The majority of the partisan crowd already a part of that family. I was one of the newbies Tom called out from the stage though, it should have been the second time but COViD prevented me from seeing them at Scotland Calling in April. This will certainly be the first of many. Most definitely a party band, that looks like it is culled from members of hard rock bands, The Hives, The Clash & JoBoxers, whike Tom, sounding like Itch from King Blues, delivers the passionate ska punk songs with a punch and with positive messages and hooks that mean it is impossible to stand still. He essentially conducts the audience from stage front, scratching the right itches and pressing the right buttons to get the required reaction, and involving the front rows all the way through the gig.
Three quality bands at the top of their game. Seek out and enjoy.
