Meet in the Old Red Lion at Angel which I used to frequent when first in London readying ourselves for a visit to the Pied Bull which is now a Halifax. Now, back in the 80s when Bruce Olly and I hit the town after a bottle of Strongbow cider on the tube... sorry, got caught in yet more nostalgia. As I was saying; meet Simon Pete and Jules in the pub and after a quick pint and seeing Wilshire's injury (6 bloody weeks he's out - for an effing friendly) we part from Jules and mosey on down to the venue Electrowerkz which is classic dark industrial clubland. Simon's cycling and must be the first punk to bring a wicker cycling basket into a punk gig. The bouncer thinks he's trying to sell roses but it's only laden with his helmet. We've missed Autobahn which is a shame as promisingly industrial name and the other support are great so assume they would be too. After failing to find the lower bar which I'm sure was here last time I get drinks (£9.50 for 3 cans of decent lager - Leeds prices courtesy of Eagulls?) and hit the dark room.
Primitive Parts are a 3 piece of 2 guitars and drums. No bass but they must've been hitting the fat strings cos it sounded pretty bassy. The PPs (as opposed the that seminal Brum punk band the PPs and the Pungent Smells, you don't wanna know what the PP is for) anyway the PPs are a bouncy guitary type of band that reminded me of a punk rock Talking Heads which I know is odd cos they were punk rock but you know what I mean - harder and rockier than the Heads. Great tunes and musicians and they get the crowed going with even a couple of folk looking like they were nearly dancing. Praise indeed for a support band in London. Simon considered Bauhaus and Pete Garbage which got us trying to remember the Garbage lead singer. The consensus was that they are pretty damn good to be placed alongside those three and the rest of the crowd liked them too. Once they're off to rapturous applause we head to the cheap bar and after a wazz (one shared unisex sit down and two at the urinal - with cheap beer too, how do they cope) we're back into the main room and squeeze towards the front (it's very long and thin) for the main event.
Eagulls hit the stage running. Musically not physically as most of the five present a languid attitude reminiscent of Richard Hell's boredom and don't look like they would be bothered to run for the bus. The music however is very energetic and upbeat and gets the crowd going from the start. They remind me of The Others who I loved with their understated vocals massively high tempo music and blisteringly poignant lyrics. Eagulls are great. So great that the dancing down the front gets pretty energetic and as is the case either draws you in or repels you away. Simon can't resist and when I look round from the band I can see his shaved head bouncing around near the stage being pushed this way and that. Back in the day it was called dancing down the front but I think the term now is in the mosh pit. As I've a bulky geezer placed in front of me and I've no room to dance and I'm a bit concerned about my wicker basket carrying friend (OK, he didn't take it down front but the thought of him moshing about carrying a basket tickles me) I tell Pete I'm going in and jump into the breach to rescue mate Simmo. After being buffeted around on the waves of punk rockness I reach Simon and we dance like old times Killing Joke style tils we're rudely shoved in different directions. The band are right on the button and once I've started I just can't stop. The bassist looks bored throughout but after a bit of a solo or as near as we're gonna get the moshers stop to cheer him and he can't resist breaking out into a grin for a few seconds. It's all very good natured in that if you go down under you get pulled back up. The band end and despite the pleas we have no encore and soon we're all deposited outside with Simon cycling off and Pete and me tubing south on the Northern Line. Next day Simon texts saying he's bruised and I laugh and only realise I am too once showering at work. Ouch. But it was definitely worth it. Go catch them!
Photos. Slightly better than Big Ups in that I have one of the support but every time tried to take one of Eagulls my phone was in danger of being whacked into the air so didn't actually get one of the band rather than the ceiling. As compensation you're in for a treat - one of the fozzy bloke in Kings Heath (I've lost the one with the old bloke who will definitely not be on this earth still so probably better to not let you snigger at the departed) plus a lovely one of Olly and Beeswax. And cos it wasn't easy to do selfies with a 1980s Russian single lens reflex and so I haven't any of me here's one of me Rams Olly at a party when 18. Christ we were good looking if I say so myself. Ha!
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| Primitive Parts primeval beats |
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| What on earth are you two doing? |
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| Chalk and Bees |
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| Ripping it up house party style |
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