Another epic night thanks to Shrunken Head Promotions in the company of Thrown Away, Three n Eights, Numbskulls and the mindblowing Klingonz, along with a cast of hundreds!
A Shrunken Heads night guarantees several occurrences… a great mix of musical genres; punk to rockabilly, ska to psychobilly and a melting pot of ages and styles, all coming together in a pit instigated by the usual suspects, alongside a huge grin on everyone’s face and a feeling of being part of something bigger, and this occasion was certainly no exception.
Thrown Away kicked things off with their rollicking in yer face punk tunes, unfortunately work and life got in the way and I only caught their last two songs but there was plenty there to tempt me back for more. It’s great to see young bands like this and Corrupt Intentions picking up the baton and carrying the flame. As my gig buddy pointed out, we’ve had many conversations about Scotland Calling in years gone by, and how it needs a revamp and an injection of a second stage and/or the addition of young home grown talent.
Returning to the scene of their crowd-slaying Leopard Print Hearts album launch gig, with the feel good sensation from that night still lingering, Three n Eights brought the party as they always do, opening their set with the title track of the album and following that up with their usual mix of classic covers. Cue songs from the likes of Johnny Cash and Rancid and their own exuberant songs from their ode to bourbon and rum, Jack and Jerry through the wonderful Happy for a While to the frantic pace of penultimate song Last Train Home. There was time though for one last anthem which brought the whole place together in unison, chanting the refrain “cause we find ourselves in the same old mess, singing’ drunken lullabies” from their triple-vocal assault on the Flogging Molly classic. Special shout out to Phyl, the trombone thug, one of the reasons Three n Eights have such a unique sound, as she was on fire on the sliding brass monster.
Next up from the North East, it was the turn of Aberdeen’s legendary Numbskulls to build on the party atmosphere radiating throughout the venue, a task they took on with ease. The trio played a breakneck set as if their lives depended on it, with a particular nod to Dave Skull plucking and slapping like a madman on his stand up bass, an instrument that will always be one of my favourites. You can’t really fail to win over an audience with a relatable tune, so playing songs like their anthem to the most evil of Scottish beasties, Midgees is a sure fire winner, and of course their pièce de résistance was their set closer in the shape of their eponymous “theme tune” which went down a storm throughout the venue, the bands name chanted back at them with a fervent vim and vigour.
By the time it was the turn of Klingonz to entertain, the gathered throng was suitably warmed up, or should I say well lubricated. When you add to that a thirty odd year wait for them to return to the city, you had the trappings for a riotous conclusion to the night. This was not a night for anyone suffering from coulrophobia or tatouazophobia with more greasepaint and skin-ink on display than I think I’ve ever seen. The party occasion vibe ratcheted up several notches when Shakes appeared with a huge bagful of balloon cutlasses to hand out, cue much waving and battering… If the audience were up for a party, the band were on a mission to please via their frenzied rampage. The Irish psychobilly’s were clearly having a ball, and happy to be there to help celebrate two of the Shrunken Heads crew’s birthdays inviting Dougie and Coco onto the stage. Of course it took a lot to persuade Coco with her being such a shy and retiring type… This was the the first of her two onstage appearances during the bands set, a rowdy affair packed with boisterous performances from the band and roisterous screeching from Titch that surely rendered him hoarse by the end of the evening. Audience singalongs to the likes of their rambunctious cover of Too Drunk to Fuck and the carnivalesque Oomoa Loompa raised the madness factor, with the carnival theme emphasised by the impressive sword and flame swallowing by a leopard print leotard bedecked Shakes adding to the theatre of the occasion. Like all good things, this rampaging furore had to come to an end unfortunately, but not before one last anthem, and what a way to finish with an exemplary take on the classic Rockabilly Rebel – Jockabilly Rebel – which had the crowd enraptured.
It looked like the party might continue well into the wee small hours, and I’m sure (I know) there would have been some sore heads the next day, but once again, Shrunken Heads have pulled off an impressive coup. On that final note, I haven’t seen any fliers recently…Dougie? Coco?