Tuesday 28th October 2014 - LEAMINGTON SPA Assembly

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Tuesday 28th October 2014 - LEAMINGTON SPA Assembly

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Anyone go?

suss · In the Long Grass

I went. Same set, incl Howard Hughes.

Heard venue was 1100 capacity and very close to sold out, with only Ticketmaster not reporting "sold out" on the day. As ever, crowd became increasingly responsive as set progressed...largely due to the Geldof factor. Also a very lively bunch near the front....including punks.

Darren managed to split his trousers, and it must have been hot up there as the snakeskin jacket was discarded about 2 songs in. Speech revised accordingly..."And I...am wearing....half a FO pretend snakeskin suit".

Good gig again. Overheard numerous comments about how brilliant and unbelievable it was as crowd filtered out. Gratified smile

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
a very lively bunch near the front....including punks.

Young punks or old punks?

It's kinda interesting that the Rats have some "punk" credentials these days top billing with The Damned at Rebellion 2015 http://www.rebellionfestivals.com/line-up and The Great British Alternative Music Festival.

Shame there isn't a Rebellion South (no way am I going that far north!) as The Rats, The Damned and The Sweet on the same bill sounds pretty good to me, even if The Sweet aren't exactly "punk".

suss · In the Long Grass

Vintage punks (only a couple mind you) but interestingly the younger element in crowd did gravitate to them when the jumping etc started. All in good humour though, and limited to one area (ie. they didn't elbow their way into those around them).

My impression from Skeggy and to a lesser extent last night is that whereas punks would have poured scorn on Rats 35 years ago and not be seen dead at a gig, any music of the time is now well received, as evidenced by reactions to From The Jam, Bad Manners and Blockheads.

The acts are taken at face value, for being bloody good with strong sets, rather than for the fashion group they fell into at the time.

Bodes well for Rebellion, provided you don't mind a bit of jostling in return.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
...any music of the time is now well received, as evidenced by reactions to From The Jam, Bad Manners and Blockheads.
The acts are taken at face value, for being bloody good with strong sets, rather than for the fashion group they fell into at the time.

Must admit Bad Manners were never of any interest to me. And doubt they would be these days. There aren't many acts of that era that I would avoid. The only others that come to mind are Toyah and Generation X. I just wish they'd have one of these punk/new wave/alternative festivals dahn sahf. The other acts at Chilfest, Guilfest and Rewind weren't up to much, From The Jam excepted.

I reckon that with crème de la crème of the era (Elvis Costello, Blondie, Stranglers, Damned, Adam Ant, Rats, Squeeze, From The Jam, Blockheads, Buzz****s, Sham 69, PiL etc.) they could stage an really incredible festival. I might even head outside the M25 for it

suss · In the Long Grass

See what you mean about Bad Manners but daresay you and most of us are familiar with a good half dozen or more tracks, with key point that even if not a fan at the time we'd give them time of day now and probably enjoy more than endure in a festival setting. Doubt I'd go to a standalone gig personally, but these festivals seem to attract a crowd willing to embrace all, and it felt at Leamington like locals carried that spirit into giving the Rats benefit of doubt.

Another band well worth seeing and adding to your creme de al creme festival is Ruts DC - highly recommend.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Another band well worth seeing and adding to your creme de al creme festival is Ruts DC - highly recommend.

There are probably another dozen or so acts I could stick on the list like Julian Cope and Chrissie Hynde who I am planning to see in the not too distant future. Pretty much all the major acts from the 1976-1980 era bar The Clash and The Ramones are out there in one form or another. They should do it before it's too late...