Mixed Feelings
This gig was the culmination of a rollercoaster weekend in terms of music related matters.
Garry
The weekend started on a low with a celebration of the life of Garry from Heavy Drapes at West Lothian Crematorium. Although it was a low, it was heartening to see the number of people who turned up for his send off. And there were many more watching across the UK.
The eulogy was uplifting and while it was a sad and solemn occasion, there were opportunities to smile as we remembered Garry. It was also the only time I’ve ever heard a spontaneous round of applause at a funeral when the guy leading the ceremony finished by paraphrasing one of Garry’s onstage comments – Garry Alexander Borland, he was a fucking punk rock singer.
Fire….again
On Saturday I woke to the news that, only four years after it had happened previously, The Glasgow School of Art had burnt down in a fire. This time it is much worse than before. Every part of it has been destroyed. A massive part of Glasgow History gone. I think questions have to be asked…
The fire also affected other buildings in the vicinity and on a music related note, the O2 ABC has also been gutted by the fire. While not having the same historic significance as the Art School, it is still a significant loss to the Glasgow music scene, being arguably one of the best small/medium sized venue.
Belly, who were supposed to play the venue on Saturday night managed to secure The Garage as an alternative. Their quickly amended online poster was a nice touch.
Big Country
So to Sunday night, and I must admit to feelings of trepidation about the gig. This was mainly due to my not having seen Big Country since Stuart Adamson died. I was not sure at all about seeing them play with only Bruce and Mark remaining from the original line-up. I’ve had this conversation with various people over the years. I see plenty of bands live that don’t have all the original members in the line-up and enjoy them, however, I had different feelings towards Big Country.
They were one of the first bands I fixated over when I was 13. They were my gateway band for other music leading me to The Skids. Which in turn led me to other classic punk bands and so on. I saw them countless times over my teenage years. The band were probably my favourite for a number of years before I became obsessed by The Smiths. I was gutted when Adamson died. When the band continued, I never went to see them as I always had this over-riding thought that it would destroy all the memories I had of seeing Big Country.
I’ll carry you home…
So on a dreich Glasgow summer night, we took our place in the bandstand and waited for Big Country to appear. The band came on and launched into Harvest Home. My first thought? I don’t hate this. Then – actually this is quite good. While definitely not Adamson, Simon Hough is a decent vocalist. I couldn’t say that if I closed my eyes it would sound like Big Country of old, it wouldn’t. Having said that Hough had some inflections in his vocals that he has picked up from listening to Stuart, while still having his own voice/tone.
As the set progressed I felt more at ease and enjoyed what they did. It was great to hear the song I loved live again. I realised how much I’d missed the passion and energy in songs like Chance, Just a Shadow and of course the signature sounds of In a Big Country and Fields of Fire. I’m still not entirely sure if I’d go and see them again, but was glad I’d seen them.
From the Jam
I suppose I had a similar feeling about From the Jam. I had never witnessed The Jam live, and had been disappointed in Weller when I’d seen him live. A bit too self-indulgent for me when I saw him, 8 – 10 minute epics with loads of wanky guitar solos, gone the 3 minute blasts of energy I liked about The Jam.
The “tribute” act trepidation I felt about Big Country was similar here. This time only Foxton from the original Jam line up, but The Jam hadn’t meant as much to me growing up as Big Country so seemed less of a concern.
Much like the Big Country set, I really enjoyed this one. There was a large contingent that had obviously come specifically for this band and so they got a fantastic reception. The singer was making a concerted effort to be Weller, while Foxton was Foxton and treated the gathered crowd to the well-kent throbbing classic Jam basslines.
No time wasted here, the band flew through a set of genuine classics kicking off with That’s Entertainment and finishing with Town Called Malice, taking us through their impressive back catalogue on the way – Smithers-Jones, Start, Down in the Tube Station, Eton Rifles, Going Underground. I could go on, all the Jam classics.
The Skids
When I looked at my watch after From the Jam I was slightly concerned. I was sure it was a 10.30 curfew and this was quickly coming round.
The Skids took to the stage shortly after 9.30pm launching into This is Our World from the latest album Burning Cities. Jobson had a lot to say between songs tonight. I actually wish he’d kept his trap shut and played the songs.
He was obviously proud of the new album as he regaled us of the tale of the album getting to Number 2 in the charts. Only being held off number one by… Leo Sayer.
The set leant heavily on the back catalogue featuring only one other Burning Cities track, Kings of the New World Order. Adamson got a few mentions, and cheers from the partisan crowd, throughout the set including during the intro to Of One Skin. Some of the biggest reactions came from the audience for The Saints Are Coming and Masquerade (Jobson’s favourite Skids track) and final track Into the Valley.
I mentioned Jobson having a lot to say. During some of his stories I wondered if there are too many times you can see a band. This was the third time I’d seen them in the last 12 months, and as we were treated to a tale of Jobson wandering around and being accosted by someone in the beer tent asking if he was “that wanker Jobson” and was he going to do any of that dancing. I realised he’d told the same story when I’d seen them last time just changed the location …
Who do we want…?
I did enjoy the set though. Other tracks played included some of my favourites Charade, Circus Games, Woman in Winter. The ubiquitous TV Stars with some names changed to include Boris Johnston, Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom. But no Charles or Animation. The set felt too short.
After the gig, I saw a heavily redacted planned set list. If Jobson had kept his gob shut, we might have managed another song or two. As it was it was a very subdued ending. Into the Valley kind of fizzled out and that was that. He tried to get the crowd to continue singing Into the Valley without the band but it fell flat. Many of the assembled throng seemed to be unaware of the lyrics.
I’m not sure if they’d hit the curfew and had the plug pulled, but it wasn’t perhaps the triumphant ending it could or should have been.
Next Up…
In a busy few days for gigs, its Hollywood Vampires and The Damned next up on Tuesday. (Along with “comedy” rock band The Darkness)