Airdrie – So Much to Answer For…
I didn’t think I would see myself focussing so much of my leisure time on the outputs of the Lanarkshire town of Airdrie.
Airdrie. A town I don’t know much about, apart from it being home to a few friends, the Diamonds (Airdrieonians FC) and that one of its famous landmarks is something I remember hearing about on the radio and TV from my youth, the Blackhill transmitter.
Interesting fact fans. Airdrieonians FC are the first football team in the World to have a fans group as the main sponsor of their kit. Life-long Airdrie fan Mark Allison’s image appeared on the shirts having tragically died from pancreatic cancer aged only 49. After his diagnosis, Mark went on to raise over £80000 for cancer charities before his death. The shirt sponsorship was a fitting tribute from this relatively small club and its dedicated group of fans. Kudos to everyone involved (and for getting a pair of trainers named after him too).
So why my apparent sudden fascination with Airdrie?
This is Memorial Device
First up, my recent train journeys to and from work have been accompanied by the tales of imaginary Airdrie band, Memorial Device. The novel, This is Memorial Device by David Keenan, came highly recommended and I am pleased to say the enthusiastic recommendations have lived up to their hype. The book views the band from the perspective of several different characters and is often hilarious, often shocking but always engrossing.
The book held my imagination and had me wondering who the characters were based on. I’m sure over the years I’ve met people that sound exactly like some of those in the book. I’ve never been in a band myself, and you certainly don’t need to have been to enjoy this triumphant novel, but I can imagine those who have been in bands will have some wry chuckles as they read the book recognising situations that mirror their own experiences. Bizarre as some of them may be.
So, what music to listen to to accompany this phenomenal read? I can’t think of anyone better than Airdrie’s finest export – the mighty Reaction. A quick search on google suggests other famed Airdrieonians are actress and (not) Gregory’s Girl Dee Hepburn (a close second export to Reaction having been in one of my favourite films – though I preferred Gregory’s actual Girl, Clare Grogan), actor Ian Bannen, Ross Davidson (actor), countless footballers including Sandy Clark. Oh, and Jim Traynor. No comment.
Reaction
Back to Reaction. A band formed back in the heady days of punk, but still going today after splitting and reforming many years later to produce some fine music. Having originally formed in the punk days, their new album is a triumph of punk roots layered with…well, layered with a bit of everything. And a mighty fine mix it is too.
Despite having formed aeons ago, their debut album, Accelerator was released by the tremendous Tarbeach Records (if you’ve read my blog before, you’ll be aware of my love for this American based label with its roots very much in Airdrie) in 2016. And what a debut it was, not a duff track in sight. If you’ve seen the band live, you’ll know the energy that radiates from the band when they perform. And just watch the audience “reaction” to live favourites like the stonking I Wanna Be Your Dee Dee Ramone, Fubar and Hey Patty Hearst to name but a few. Quite an album to have to follow.
Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired
Have they managed it with Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired? I’d say so. And the rest.
The album is distinctively Reaction. You can’t mistake big Carson’s instantly recognisable timbre, Joe Whyte’s accomplished guitar style and the strong and stable (pardon the over-used term) rhythm section of John Bryson on drums and Scot Van Den Akker on bass. Take the original Reaction sound, add some layers and influences to bolster and change up a few gears and you have the sound of Reaction 2018.
When I first started my blog and getting back into going to gigs, OK, so I never really stopped going to gigs, but it was always to see bigger/more established acts. Maybe a better way to put it is when I started getting back into going to smaller club sized gigs, Reaction were one of a number of Scottish based bands, along with the likes of Heavy Drapes, The Zips, Red Eyes, Southern Approach (and several more – you know who you are) that really re-ignited my passion and made me want to write about the music I love regardless of style or genre.
Welcome to Rust Town
Welcome to Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired, and Welcome to Rust Town. What a powerful album opener. A great lyric, tremendous tune and with added trumpet (Kiki Chaos & Ali Hendry) and a sublime additional vocal from the glorious Monica Queen, I defy anyone not to have this song running through their head for days after listening to it. Welcome to Rust Town, Welcome to Hell? From the opening song on this album, I’d say, welcome to Heaven (if such a place actually existed). Give me more. Great storytelling from Carson, with his vocal seemingly charting the progress of a town’s fall from grace. I also detect more than a hint of suspicion regarding the current incumbent in the White House with the line “In God we no longer trust now” rephrasing the U S of A’s motto. Great.
Monica Queen is an inspired choice as foil to Carson’s vocal, congratulations to whoever made that decision. As a result, I have dug out all my old Thrum CDs and memories of seeing Moni & Thrum live. One of my favourite Thrum gigs was at Yoker Ferry in 19whenever, when they played with the magnificent Martin Stephenson. A great night where I also bought a Thrum t-shirt I loved and have since lost. It was bright green, Thrum make you come it said. Maybe I wore it out. Anyway. I should perhaps also point out that Queen’s bandmate (Monica that is, not Freddie’s lot… Oh never mind) Johnny Smillie also plays on the album adding his own commensurate guitar playing and piano to the mix.
A Glorious mix
I said give me more and the album does just that as you move through the beautiful Stars So Far and the magnificent Valerie Solanos and Me. Remember that I said the band formed way back in 1978, before splitting and reforming? Don’t assume then that all you’ll get is first wave punk copyists. Obviously, they have their roots grounded in punk, but not limited by it as some bands become.
This album has influences flying around throughout. US indie/Americana along the lines of Replacements, Husker Du/Sugar, R.E.M., Buffalo Tom makes is apparent and Sonic Youth would kill for the intro to Saints of Tamla Hill. I detect a bit of nod garage fuzz and the glory of Poison Ivy and The Cramps in Won’t Go Back to Jail. And of course, US punk, and in particular the guitar genius of Johnny Thunder, both in the playing and a couple of lyrical nods.
Little Treats
Morrissey once sang about little things making big differences. There are loads of little treats throughout this album that will make some people in the know smile. Several nods to “local” heroes in the lyrics to Valerie Solanos and Me – the legend Danny Mac appearing alongside Jack Kerouac and Zips frontman Jonzip McNeil alongside Kim and Kelley Deal in lyrics that also namecheck the aforementioned Johnny T, Muhammed Ali and another Airdrie legend, “Little Julie Hamill, reading me her novel”. A wee mention too for the band that showed several punk bands how it should be done, Hanoi Rocks, reminds me that I’m seeing frontman Michael Monroe very soon. Happy days. Oh, and there is Joe Whyte thinking about his stomach at the end of Killing Time (“Please tell me no-one fucked up there, cos I am starving”).
Girl Power
Valerie Solanos and Me is a stand-out speeding romp of a track. The song influenced by feminist and writer of the SCUM Manifesto. Solanos preceded the #MeToo movement by over 50 years in writing about how men have ruined the world. And a small matter of attempting to murder Andy Warhol in 1968. The track opens with a quote from her “Why should we care that there is no younger generation to succeed us?” (part of a quote where she goes on to state that social evolution would eventually lead to female control of the world – there’s girl power for you right there Spice Girls). It is not the first time she has influenced music – Big in Japan – Society for Cutting Up Men, the band S.C.U.M. Manic Street Preachers also quoted her in the Generation Terrorists sleeve notes to name a few.
Killing Time has a lush guitar break while, with its frantic harmonica opening, courtesy of Andy Smith from Used Blues, Been There, Done That goes on to evoke REM guitar vibes. On Gravity, Carson’s intonation in the chorus of “I’m always thinking of you, gravity’s’ a drag” and throughout serves to create an air of despondency, like he really is being dragged down. I can picture him now, standing there in Central Station.
Kick to kill kill kill
In another album highlight, Airdrie gangs are the theme of Saints of Tamla Hill. The song has an underlying air of threat and menace throughout, but with a soaring uplifting chorus, despite the line being “Tamla Hill Hill Hill, Kick to kill kill kill”. Second chorus in and the listener is treated to a sublime bass, drum and guitar break. As mentioned earlier Sonic Youth would have killed for the intro to this song.
There is not one tune or song on this album that is forgettable. No tracks make you think “I’ll skip this one”.
The treats continue with You Love the High Life, serving up yet another tasty guitar break and at just over a minute and a half, Dumb Dumb Dumb clocks in as one of the albums shorter tracks but it packs plenty into its 1 minute 40 seconds with staccato guitar and, well I don’t know the technical term for it but the squeaks as Joe’s finger slide along the strings add an extra texture to the sound.
Born to Lose, Free to Choose
Defiance and living your life on your own terms is a theme in Dreams are Free referencing Johnny Thunder again – “Born to Lose, free to choose”. And once again another track punches me in the gut, Won’t Go Back to Jail with its fuzz garage guitar/Crampsy feel is yet another highlight. Ain’t no place for a pretty face. Indeed. Triumphant.
The album ends as gloriously as it began with the magnificence of (previously reviewed) single Days of El Dorado a paean to times past and memories of days (and nights) gone by with friends of old. (You can still get this on coloured vinyl split single with Desperate Measures). Now I have several tunes and lyrical couplets competing for my headspace. I’ll take any of them.
Get the CD/Download now from Tarbeach. The album will be released on Vinyl shortly.
Gigs
Well, after such a treat of an album, it would be rude not to go and see them play these songs live. Sure enough there are plenty of opportunities to do so in the coming weeks.
16th November – Glasgow – Duncan Reid and the Big Heads/Reaction/Powderkeg
17th November – Edinburgh – Duncan Reid and the Big Heads/Reaction/Powderkeg
8th December – Edinburgh – The Godfathers/Reaction/members of Heavy Drapes
9th December – Glasgow – The Godfathers/Reaction/members of Heavy Drapes
These are gigs not to be missed, not only do you get Reaction but in November you also have the mighty Powderkeg (more of them in a future post – I promise) and headlining, one of the top live bands on the scene. Unrivalled in the last two consecutive years I’ve seen them. Can they make it a hat-trick? Miss it – miss out.
Tinge of emotion
Despite my anticipation, all these gigs will be emotional affairs. The last couple of times I’ve seen Duncan Reid and the Big Heads they have been supported by Heavy Drapes. While it will obviously be a phenomenal gig, with Reaction being the natural band to take their place having played together several times and been personal friends, I imagine Garry’s tragic and untimely death will still be fresh in everyone’s mind.
Even more so in December when Reaction team up with The mighty Godfathers, specifically to play a tribute to Garry with a special set of Heavy Drapes tunes with Peter Coyne playing with the other members of Heavy Drapes. Forget big stadium gigs – stick yer Spice Girls reunion where the sun don’t shine and Kiss can Kiss off.
Be there at these gigs. Support Garry’s family, support the bands and support great live music and those who put their heart and soul into putting these gigs on.
Quality mate.. As per 👌