Scotland Calling 2019 – a rambling review (of sorts)

Having been to every Scotland Calling since its inception, tickets were duly purchased 12 months in advance for this year’s event before really looking at who was on the bill. It may sound strange to say but largely, it hasn’t mattered in years gone by. Not to say that it doesn’t matter at all, obviously the bill will switch off and turn on different people accordingly and of course, being a fan of live music, it is always great to see be at a gig. But for me, Scotland Calling has become an annual day out spent with two of my closest pals. We always have a great day out regardless. A few drinks, a proper catch up, something to eat, while taking in some live music along the way.

After purchasing our tickets and reviewing the bill there was originally another band scheduled to play – Heavy Drapes. With Duncan Reid and the Big Heads and Delinquents also on the bill, it was set to be a top day out this year including these newer bands with great live reputations. However, with the tragic events that unfolded last year, that wasn’t to be the case for one of those bands. RIP Garry, you can be sure that several glasses were raised in your honour.  

I hadn’t planned to write anything about this year’s Scotland Calling, after all, as I said it has become more of an annual day out with friends that just so happens to have some bands playing to help us along the way. In the end though, that is exactly why I AM writing about it.

When I reviewed the bill again before we went, I will admit I wasn’t overwhelmed. A couple of bands I was really looking forward to seeing, some that interested me in a “never seen them, I’ll give them as shot” way, a few I knew I would be body-swerving and a number that brought the phrase “them again!” to mind. This isn’t really a review; it is random coming together of some thoughts that includes talking about some bands along the way.

I feel I should start by saying, I don’t “identify” as a punk (identify – that is the current fashionable terminology isn’t it?) so I’m not going to get into the whole “what is punk/what isn’t punk” debate. Does that make me a “plastic”? I don’t know, and frankly, I don’t care. I like what I like, I wear what I like, I listen to what I like. What I do identify as is a music fan who has a wide range of music tastes. Why did I feel I needed to clear that up? I suppose on reflection, its because punk means different things to different people and I’m not here to debate who is right or wrong. Perception is a wonderful thing. Everyone has their own tastes and discernments, life would be really shit if we all liked the same.

If I was putting the bill for a future Scotland Calling, it would look a lot different to what came to pass on Saturday. That doesn’t mean I’m right and this weekend’s bill is wrong though. It just means I have different tastes. There were two things that were slightly turning me off about this year’s event.

1. The line-up
2. The venue

On reflection though, while given my own way, I would still probably change both. I was strangely surprised about how I felt about both points on the day and reflected on post gig.

Let me take the venue first. Up until now Scotland Calling has been in one of my favourite venues of its size in Glasgow, the O2 ABC. Obviously, due to circumstances in the last 12 months, that was no longer an option hence the move to the O2 Academy. A couple of things made this initially disheartening to me. The location – the ABC was surrounded by bars and eateries giving plenty of choice if you wanted to nip out for a drink elsewhere or a bite to eat during bands you were giving a miss. The sound – in the Academy in the past this has been patchy at gigs I’ve attended, depending on where in the venue you stand or just overall generally poor. To be honest, when we were there this weekend, neither was an issue. The sound wasn’t an issue and It isn’t that far to nip into the city centre for a bite to eat. The upstairs bar was also a great place to retire to if you wanted to take a break from the bands and catch up with some friends old and new.

I’d still like the event to evolve and change though. Perhaps in a venue with 2 stages, or across a couple of venues like Stag & Dagger or the Tenement Trail. Allowing more bands to appear and widening the appeal. Having some local (Glasgow and further afield on Scotland has plenty to offer) and/or newer bands on a smaller stage/venue while more established acts play on the bigger stage/venue would be a welcome addition. And as for the established bands – how about some more variety?

That brings me to the line-up, as I mentioned earlier, I was underwhelmed by the line-up in general for two reasons – the same old bands appearing once again, and a lean towards shouty, aggressive UK82 type bands that aren’t my cup of tea.

I’m going to turn each of these concerns into a positive though…

By those same old bands, I mean the likes of the omnipresent Angelic Upstarts and UK Subs who have appeared more often than not.

We had planned a “dinner break” for when Conflict were on (apologies Conflict – just not my thing) having had a quick look at Peter & the Test Tube Babies before deciding to exit stage left (for me the best thing about them was Peter’s Zips t-shirt). We agreed as we left, we had plenty of time to have a wander into the city centre, find something to eat and get back, but if we missed the start of the Subs it would be OK as we’d seen them plenty times before.

However, I’m glad we had a quick dinner and we were back in plenty time so I could eat my words as well as my burrito. UK Subs were on fire. The best I think I’ve ever seen them. They weren’t hanging around and made the most of the time allotted. They rattled through more songs in their 45 minutes than I could ever have hoped for, a set bookended with an incendiary CID and the usual mass sing-along of Warhead.

Angelic Upstarts too, despite seeing them every year, they brought their A game playing a storming set. Scotland Calling now wouldn’t be the same without my mate and I drunkenly shouting, “Did you kill Liddle?” at each other…

Unfortunately, in between these two sets I suffered the Macc Lads. I say suffered. It was more like I cringed my way through the set. They may have been mildly amusing back in the day and as teenagers, people sniggered along. But to see someone of that age sing those songs, I don’t know. I wasn’t offended. Just embarrassed. It was a shame as I largely ignored the quality of the playing listening to the puerile nonsense. Never seen them before – hope never to again.

So, what of those shouty aggressive UK82 bands? An acquired taste which to be honest I haven’t ever really acquired. I saw the end of Conflict and despite the reception they got, they just didn’t do it for me. I liked a few of the early singles from The Exploited, but last time they played Scotland Calling, they completely turned me off. As is the norm, we were staying around for the after show so decided to give them a bash again. We only lasted a few bars and the initial vocals from Wattie (to me they sound like he is vomiting down the mic) before we retired to the upstairs bar.

So, what is the positive from that? Throughout the day, we left those who were in the know in terms of those bands and spent our time in the upstairs bar. That gave us loads of time to reacquaint ourselves with old friends who we haven’t seen for an age, to get to know new friends, to put faces to people we’ve only spoken to on social media and to forge and build friendships. If all the bands on the bill were ones I’d wanted to see, I would have missed those opportunities.

From a personal perspective, musically, my highlights for the day were the first two bands that took to the stage, both could be described I suppose as towards the power poppier end of punk. I’m OK with that description and I’m sure they are too. And I’m totally down with the fact that there were probably people that feel the same way about them as I feel about the bands mentioned above. That is the benefit of festivals like this, there is something for everyone. Maybe there could be more of this though…just saying.

Dundee three-piece DELINQUENTS opened the day with their fiery brand of power-punk rock. This show was the culmination of a weeks gigging since launching their new EP Sober on Sunday in Dundee last Friday before heading all the way down to Bristol stopping off for various gigs along the way before returning to open Scotland Calling. Those that were there early enough were treated to a supercharged set pulled from the eminently listenable debut album About Last Night from 2017 and their newly released EP.

This was the first time I’ve managed to catch the band play live and I was pleased to hear the songs are even better in the live arena than they are recorded.  It was nice to hear a tribute paid to Garry Borland early in the day while songs like Never Gonna Fit In and Control, Alt, Defeat from About Last Night went down a storm. David teased with “this is a slow song” before launching into the sub 60 second blast of Not Your Problem, Drinking songs like Three Sheets to the Wind and the lead track from EP Sober on Sunday probably summed up how a lot of the assembled throngs’ weekends would go. Delinquents are on the ascendancy, watch out for them in the future.

Follow that…and Duncan Reid and the Big Heads did just that. I appreciate that a large percentage of today’s crowd probably weren’t there to see them and indeed may not even have arrived in time to catch them, but in my own bubble, this band are hard to beat. My headliners all day long. Consummate musicians, a tight unit who not only are masters at creating hook laden melodies but they have FUN on stage. They are enjoying every minute of what they do and it comes across in their performance. The only thing missing was the double decker guitarists with Sophie playing atop Nick’s shoulders. Not to worry though, they recreated the move in the upstairs bar after. The songs and vocal harmonies are sublime – Bombs Away, Kelly’s Gone Insane, Thinking. Classics one and all.

I’d like to think the band gained some new fans today from those curious enough to check them out. Of course, though, the band catered for the crowd playing three of “Kid” Reid’s first band The Boys songs. Nick taking lead vocals on for Brickfield Nights, followed by my personal Boys favourite Terminal Love. The band finished the set with the duo of the Reid’s award winning (look it up) track Montevideo and The Boys classic First Time. My only disappointment? Too early and too short!

Another surprise highlight for me was Slaughter & the Dogs. A band that have always passed me by over the years despite the tenuous Morrissey connection with me being a huge Smiths fan as well. Where Have all the Boot Boys gone having been my only previous experience of the band, I left their set with a resolution to rectify that after seeing the shift they put in on Saturday night. Wayne Barrett resplendent in black kilt and electric blue hair having the crowd eat out of the palm of his hand while Mick Rossi’s playing whetted my appetite for the Walter Lure gig in Glasgow later in the year. The band were simply magnificent. Ticked all the right boxes for me.

Amongst the other hardy souls, we took our place in the upstairs bar, mainly avoiding the horrendous racket downstairs, but awaiting the after-show performances. Kid Klumsy frontman Weab had arrived early in the day and spent his time chatting with folks in the upstairs bar. Despite having seen Dirt Box Disco on several occasions, this was my first time seeing Weab out of character as himself. It was late, I was tired and could probably have gone home before this, but I was glad I stayed as I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Weab’s instantly recognisable voice sitting atop a harder-edged sound than his previous band.

It was down to Fire Exit to close proceedings. Their line up fairly settled these days with Heavy Drapes Richie on guitar, Esperanza’s Jess on bass and Arab on drums. Led by the inimitable Gerry, the band rattled through their party punk songs giving those drunk tired souls who had lasted the pace a second wind and a new lease of life.

Another great day out, spent with illustrious companions, meeting old friends and so many fantastic people I’d only really communicated on-line with before. That is why days like this matter. My initial misgivings about the line-up and venue were mostly a moot point.  It doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see some changes but I know I’ll be there again next year, if just for the craic and friendship.