Weekend Offenders – a weekend of punk’n debauchery

My creaking bones and tired feet are just recovering from my old folks weekend out (no offence meant to anyone else on the wrong side of 50).

Talking of offence, the weekend offending started on Friday might with a gathering of the usual suspects in the intimate surroundings of McChuills on High Street, for what seemed like the first time in forever.

This is Scotland Calling …

On the bill, two of Scotlands finest exponents of harmonious first wave of punk rock sound, The Zips and Reaction. This was one of several gigs around Glasgow on the eve of Scotland Calling and Record Store Day, triggering conversations around the reasons why bands such as these two are constantly overlooked for the annual punk festival in Glasgow, an ideal opportunity to showcase the best in Scottish punk.

The usual suspects included the Dublin contingent who had travelled over a day early for the Saturday, taking advantage of a free gig to whet their appetites. It was great to see and hear an exuberant crowd in the venue, anticipating a great night of cracking music and considered songs and lyrics.

The Zips

You’re guaranteed a great set when The Zips play, such is the quality of their back catalogue and Jonzip’s skill for writing a thought provoking lyric. And we were not disappointed. Opening with Hear Hear and playing a set including songs like Thin Blue Line and Stop the War, as Jon mentioned during the set, unfortunately in today’s climate, songs like these are more relevant than ever.

Its not just about great lyric writing with The Zips. Just because you write about meaty subjects, it doesn’t mean they can’t be addictive singalong anthems. The inclusion of songs like 19 Forevva and Don’t Hey Pushed Around guaranteeing a fervent and enthusiastic reaction.

Reaction

And so to Reaction. The crowd were by now suitably lubricated, myself included, ensuring their set opener, and a personal favourite, Saints of Tamla Hill, a song about gangs in Airdrie with it’s driving rhythm and lyrics full of threat “we kick to kill kill kill”, induced a suitably psychotic reaction. A theme that continued throughout their set with the front couple of rows jostling as they danced and pogoed, entirely not acting their age, and in contributing in full voice. Cue the start of my aching bones.

In amongst firm favourites such as Illuminate (showing their Dinosaur Jr side…) and if I’m not wrong a wee mention from Big Carson, the high octane Faster, Johnny Weissmuller Blues, Hey Patty Hearst and of course, Weekend Offender. they slipped in a few brand new songs from their upcoming new album, whetting the appetite nicely.

Interesting side note: cover art for the new Reaction album is by the massively talented Stephen Scott, who also provided the artwork for The Zips, Huh? album.

Never a band to stand still or be confined by how some would define punk, Reaction like to push the boundaries, adding brass on the likes of Welcome to Rust Town, which was played sans trumpet tonight, however, there was the also the welcome addition of banjo player during their breathless set.

What a brilliant start to a weekend of music, I’d almost forgotten how much I’d enjoyed, and missed, a good Zips/Reaction gig. Not just for the music, but the whole atmosphere and camaraderie.

Scotland Calling 2022

On Saturday, 2020’s Scotland Calling finally happened – in 2022 – and I still managed to be late, missing the first few bands.

I mentioned this was a weekend for the old folks, but I was pleased to see a healthy number of youngsters in…. jeez, seeing as I sound like an old moany bugger, I may as well get my moans out of the way first…

First up, I hate the venue, yeah I know it wasn’t through choice that it moved, but the ABC was a far superior option. Not just for the actual gig space, but for the options for food/pubs when you needed a break from bands. The Academy has nothing to offer around it.

I’m sure someone told me the venue had upgraded its sound systems recently, having been notorious for poor sound. That may have been the case, but for many of the sets on the day, the sound was muddy and vocals low in the mix.

The line-up… of course there were several changes, after all it was two years after it should have been played and yes, there were some bands I was really looking forward to, Steve Ignorant playing the songs of Crass and The Rezillos and Skids always play a great show.

I fully expect from my next comments to receive messages in defence from fans of the bands but, hey, everyone has different tastes. For me though, this year was a bit “shouty punk” heavy for the first part of the day. Cue another discussion about the bill and why so many great bands are constantly overlooked. Another old bloke comment…for some of the bands they could have been playing the same song over and over. I don’t believe it!!! And maybe, the promoters could look outside the box a wee bit. some younger bands on the bill? Or is that too much change for the longer in tooth to handle?

Even Dirt Box Disco, who are just a fun band playing fun songs (and for the record, I enjoyed their set) but for me, they lost something about their personality when Weeb left. And as for ANWL, I best keep my opinions to myself as I seemed to be in a minority on the day. Those who like them will say what they do is totally tongue in cheek and it is all ironic. I must be missing something…it could have been worse I suppose, The Exploited could have been on (cue more angry punks …)

Talking of missing something, there was a giant sized Mensi shaped hole in the bill this year. i know I’m about to contradict myself moaning about the same old bands playing all the time, but Angelic Upstarts were always a highlight for me. it felt like something was missing. Not just me and my mate shouting “Who Killed Liddle?”. RIP Mensi – one of the good guys.

Uncle Charlie and his band of merry UK Subs did what they do so well, and rightly for an event like this, kept the crowd pleasers for the end of their set – Warhead, Stranglehold and CID all invoking mass chant a longs.

One of the bands I’d been really looking forward to were slightly disappointing on the day. The Rezillos started strong with the classic Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight and after a few songs it appeared they were going to be one of the bands of the day. However, they seemed to lose a bit of momentum mid set and even a strong finish couldn’t make up for an ultimately disappointing set.

The three highlights for me were Cockney Rejects, Skids and The Steve Ignorant Band.

Cockney Rejects

Despite them never being one of my favourite bands and only owning one of their albums, any time I’ve seen Cockney Rejects they never fail to impress. partly due to Jeff Geggus endless passion and energy, if i even had half that energy I’d be happy, partly due to Mickey Geggus suoerb playing, and partly due to their terrace anthems. There will be a huge number if people disappointed in the announcement from Jeff that the band will stop touring from 2023.

Skids

Skids did exactly what is required at an event like this, they played all the hits interspersed with a couple of well selected covers firstly from the Pistols and finishing with a great version of Complete Control. As usual, Jobson was in top form with both between song banter and his dad dancing.

Weekend Offending

By the time the Skids played, the weekend offending was off the scale. Surprisingly, having started drinking early afternoon I was pretty lucid, but witnessed several candidates for complete memory loss, not just age related, of most of the event. I just had problems with my auld feet which were louping from standing all day, probably not helped by still breaking in a pair of pointed leather leopard print creepers. Having stood next to a set of stairs for most of the day, i couldn’t make up my mind if the number of age related issues getting up and down the stairs was larger or smaller than the drink related ones…

Steve Ignorant Band

My highlight of the day came earlier on in the evening with The Steve Ignorant Band. What can I say about their set? it was utterly engaging from the off. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the stage for the entirety of the set and my old limbs even managed to dance along throughout. Steve was at his intense best, while the three young guys he has surrounded himself with as a band were solid and tight as fuck. Special mention has to go to the phenomenally powerful vocals from the supremely talented Carol Hodge who treated the classic Crass songs with utter respect, adding an element of theatre to the performances. An utterly captivating set that completely made my day.

My weekend of punk’n debauchery ended on Sunday with the rock n roll event if taking a trampoline to the local tip and cutting the grass. my aching limbs arguing against it.

Punk may not be dead, but I’m sure there will be many old punks who will be feeling fragile today…