The Vapors – Live in the Bungalow Bar, Paisley. 1st July 2018

Paisleys burning…

What a way to round off a smouldering hot weekend.

Another scorcher. The weather? Well yes, it was. The scorcher to which I’m referring though was another all-conquering night of entertainment in Paisley’s famous Bungalow Bar.

The Vapors blazed a trail though their back catalogue with barely a chance to take breath. Granted, with the heat outside and in the venue, there wasn’t much of an opportunity to draw breath. I reckon even without the weather I’d be wiping the sweat from my brow at the end of this blistering gig.

WHT TH FCK S TRSMT?

As half of Glasgow seemed to be heading to enjoy the sunshine on Glasgow Green for Arctic Monkeys only festival appearance this year. We were heading out of town to one of Scotland’s best wee venues. I like the Monkeys, but, I wouldn’t have thanked you for a free ticket to Sheffield’s primates tonight, judging by the content of their latest album. And, being a fair-skinned West of Scotland hayfever suffering ginger bloke, I usually seek out the shade on a sunny day anyway.

The Bandits

The Bungalow was warming up nicely as we entered (understatement). Fe re irst band The Bandits already on-stage and the venue populated by a few buddies. I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw of their set of bluesy 60s infused rock with a nod to Dr Feelgood and the like.

The Split Squad

It was a quick turnaround before it was the turn of main support band. US alt-supergroup The Split Squad. In advance of the gig it had been widely shared that Blondie drummer Clem Burke wouldn’t be in attendance due to commitments with Debbie Harry & Co. Not a problem it would transpire with stand-in drummer Florent Barbier more than ably filling his famous shoes (thanks MIchael). The band took to the stage with minimal fuss and also a minimal number of punters actually stage front on the dancefloor. The usual not-quite-drunk-enough early reticence at gigs was apparent with everyone standing around the periphery.

Not a problem when you have stalwart of the US alternative music scene, The Fleshtone’s Keith Streng around. During the bands opening number, Streng struck rock star poses and performed some high kicks on-stage showing off his silver glitter winkle pickers. Then prowled the dancefloor encouraging the shy gathering to come forward. In fact he spent a fair bit of the bands stage time in amongst the crowd.

Despite some technical issues with his guitar and his mike during the set, the band, being the seasoned professional troopers they are continued without missing a note or batting an eyelid. The make-up of the band reads like a who’s who of US alt/garage/CBGBs rock.  ( bit like former Cramps bassist Fur Dixon’s band WTFukushima! Visiting these shores soon to play Edinburgh’s Opium). With members from the aforementioned Fleshtones (Keith Streng – guitar), The Plimsouls (Eddie Munoz – guitar), The Parallax Project (Michael Giblin – bass/lead vocals) Blondie (Clem Burke – drums – apart from this evening) and the keyboard player (Josh Cantor) from Boston Red Sox stadium. (Not sure why that impressed me so much, but it did. I was waiting for that whole rising tempo baseball stadium organ tune, but it never came…)

Now Hear This!

The band played a raucous set from their album “Now Hear This”, which is now nudging the top of my “must buy this” list. The set included a Small Faces cover “Sorry She’s Mine” but the set highlight for me was the excellent “Feel the Same About You”. I had no idea this band even existed before they were announced as support for this gig. I shall make up for this heinous error.

There was just enough time to (almost) catch the dramatic end to the Croatia v Denmark match on the venue telly. The Vapors taking to the stage just as Croatia scored the final penalty to win the match.
That was the one and only distraction throughout their incendiary set which notched the temperature up several degrees.

Not so Secret Noise

With the 19 track set drawn from songs old and new, A sides and B sides, and knocking at a solid 90 minutes, all the anecdotal feedback I’d seen on social media about the band being on fire was spot on.

From the opening brace of the joyous Secret Noise and poignant Trains all the way through to encore couplet of America and Here Comes the Judge, the band delivered…and then some.

I read recently in Vive Le Rock about how Dave Fenton got the band back together having taken voluntary redundancy from this job as a lawyer giving him the money to pay off mortgages and the like and focus on the band again. Three of the original band are back together, lead guitarist (and now successful TV director) Ed Bazalgette and bassist Steve Smith, with Michael Bowes picking up drum duty.

Fenton was charming and unassuming throughout. While a seemingly mild, quiet spoken individual, he has an understated wit. His power and energy reserved for playing and it comes out in bucketloads during the song delivery and playing.

Watch out Kid Reid

I always enjoy going to see a variety of different styles of music in the gigs I attend. In each of the last couple of years, I have been most impressed with the perfect power pop of Duncan Reid and the Big Heads. Winning by a “Head” in the race to impress me live and have achieving my gig of the year status in the last two years running for whatever that means. With a couple of Scottish dates coming up in November of this year, the gauntlet has been laid down. Just a warning to Mr Reid & Co, you’ve got a lot of living up to do to beat the sheer joy and exuberance of tonight’s gig.

Each of the band individually were on blistering form and together they came together to form a beautiful blend of harmonies and potent playing.

At times I found myself mesmerized by the powerhouse that is Mick Bowes on drums, what with his tremendous tub thumping and stick twirling on tracks like King L and the effervescence that shone from him and his brilliant smile throughout.

This band were one that have been on my “never seen but not sure if I’ll get the opportunity list” so having them re-form and play tonight in this small but perfectly formed venue was a treat to behold New tracks and old sat perfectly together. I need to thank Fenton’s ex employer for this!

This is The Right Stuff

New track The Right Stuff, sandwiched between Daylight Titans from sophomore album Magnets and a fiercely compelling Cold War from their debut “New Clear Days” did exactly what it said in the lyrics, its rock n roll with “a little bit of reggae and a little bit of soul”. Quality song-writing showing that no matter how many years have passed, when you’ve got it, you’ve got it.

The superior punky power pop didn’t ease up as the band ignited the passions further with Wait for the Weekend (oh the irony being a Sunday Night gig!), a bombastic Spring Collection and the classic Jimmie Jones.

Letters to and from Hiro followed before a rapturous reception for their biggest hit and best known song, yes, the one I had to sing to my colleagues on Friday when I told them who I was going to see, the mighty love song that is Turning Japanese, despite what some may say it is about…wankers.

One Hit Wonders?

Don’t ever let anyone ever tell you they are a one song band though, despite how much of a monster tune it may be. The Vapors have a treasure trove of songs with diamond encrusted melodies and discerning adroit lyrics. If you are reading this and you only know Turning Japanese, first and foremost, it’s a great start, but you should by now be suffering from FOMO (for the old ones among you – like me – that is fear of missing out – don’t worry I just found that out recently…). Just go seek out New Clear Days, Magnets or one of their best of compilations. No excuses now. Get Vaporised.

Here is the News…

Fenton’s understated humour was on show when he asked who had seen them supporting The Jam in the Apollo (the second mention of this venue at a gig I was at this weekend) indicating that everyone just sat quietly when they were on. My mate begged to differ!

The band’s first single Prisoners was followed by a rabble-rousing version of the Jam-esque News at Ten. It saw another enthusiastic reception from the assembled hoard before they took their bows and left the stage. Of course that wasn’t enough to satisfy the Paisley crowd and the band returned to play their final two songs for the night. America (which appears on the UK version of New Clear Days but not the American version ironic fact fans) and set closer and live fan favourite the colossal Here Comes the Judge.

Waiting for the Weekend to come

I can’t imagine there was anyone in the Bungalow that didn’t leave without a smile on their face after watching that set. Especially not if you caught a glimpse of Mick. Somehow the thought of Monday morning coming doesn’t feel so bad. Waiting for the (next) weekend to come…