Simon meets me at Stratford and train to Gospel Oak. He cycles off to meet Jules who's late due to Northern Line problems whilst I walk to Tufnell Park reminiscing about illicit old squeezes and pool pubs. The three of us eat gorgeous Turkish salads halloumi and aubergine and then more reminiscing for me as we climb the chairs to the Dome above the Boston Arms. Ah, late 80s early 90s many a night spent on the dance floor grooving to indie dance cross over music. Blissed out and rocking. Anyways the place is a lot smaller than I remember. A lot! And empty. And the few people who are there are our age. Weird as I was convinced that we would be younger than most peoples Dads. We've missed the first band but on come four piece FILTHY BOY who are four fairly clean cut looking but certainly boys. First song seems to be about pleading a girl to put on her jimmie jammies in a strange childish sing song but with a dirty undertone. It's the start of a great set of bass slapping throaty voiced sliding guitarred sleaze similar to Mink DeVille with a modern rockier twist. And twist us they did. Very enjoyable great stories for lyrics and a great taster for what's to come.
The stage fills with dodgy dry ice more like smoke in a very 80s style and through the smog I can almost hear the Charlatans on the juke box but not really as the DJ is playing a very competent set of old style rock n roll and soul. By this time the place is packed. Oddist audience I've seen. Lots of middle aged singles plus couples and groups and then lots of under age kiddies. Probably top heavy on the elderly. There was a gaggle of photographers right down the front for Filthy Boy and I suspect it was a photo club on an outing. They are nudged aside by the kids and at last the main act take the stage...
I won't spend too long analysing the PALMA VIOLETS as much has been written about them and a lot more will be this year no doubt. My reviews are usually lazily comparative to the bands I've loved in the past but for me the Palmas are a natural progression of rock n roll. Maybe that's why the DJ warmed us up with raw and very early R&R tracks. So yeah they are a bit Libertines like in their attitude and the two front men and great lyrics and connection with their audience. And the posing. Which reminds me of the Clash - in fact they're what the Clash would've become if they'd gone down the punks not dead route rather than down all the avenues that they did. Raw R&R base with hard thrash finish. Well, maybe not thrash as you know it but hard edged indie thrash. I loved it and so did the punters. Mosh pit was non stop and whilst hardly as violent as an Exploited or GBH mosh kept the kids happy. Lots of stage diving and crowd surfing actively encouraged by the band and getting the bouncers very agitated at one time having a real face in face argument with the bands manager or roadie. One young lady got on the shoulders of her mate and with top off and hair barely covering her breasts pleased the band and the crowd like a modern day rocking Lady Godiva. The encore encouraged a mass stage invasion which seemed a little annoying and reminded me of Ramsay's view of the band (posing Docherty Barratt wannabes) but then I thought of myself probably on the same stage 20 years ago (probably with Ramsay at one point) and gave the kids the benefit of the doubt. The band then pleaded to have the stage to themselves for a last number before exiting with lots of smiles and a Thank You Boston. And a stage dive for good luck. Great gig and can't wait to see them again in February at the NME awards tour in Brixton and not the Windmill which the band hilariously joked. And I couldn't resist the retrospective comparison could I. Simon cycles back and beats Jules (timewise not physically) who tubes with me as someone refuses to get off the terminated Kennington train and we end up waiting for ages.
A couple of my phone pics but for some professional ones taken by the huddle of photo club folk see here:
Professional shots including Godiva and Filthy Boy
Getty Images - still waiting for them to contact me...
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| Filthy Boy the grunge sleaze merchants |
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| Not a professional photo - but atmospheric |
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| Hands in the air 90s style on the insistence of the Palmas |
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