Rebellion 2008, Day 4, or I’d better get a move on or it will be Rebellion 2009 before I get this written

My memory is a little patchy now because it is now some 2 weeks since Rebellion finished and I haven’t got round to writing this yet. Fortunately, being reasonably organised when it comes to writing blogs, I’ve made some notes.

So, back to Rebellion 2008, Day 4, or Sunday as it is usually known. Darcy and I made a point of getting into Blackpool early so I could see the band I frequently refer to as my little friends. This is not a reference to their stature but their youth. They’re the same age as my older daughter and I feel an almost maternal pride when they play. So, my little friends, or, as they’re more commonly known, Middle Finger Salute. I know they sang Wannabe, famous for being one of the most irritating songs I’ve ever heard, and they sang it so much better than the Spice Girls did. They sang plenty of songs off various CDs, with guest appearances by Outl4w and The Exposed. My memory is sketchy but I know they did sing Because You’re Young with two members of Cock Sparrer.

Middle Finger Salute without Cock Sparrer

After that, we had dinner and then saw a little bit of The King Blues. Moving swiftly on, we moved swiftly on to the Arena and there caught Danger’s Close, which was much more our Cup of Tea. As we walked into the Arena I thought “I know this song!” and then realised it was a fast version of Punk/Oi! Legend, Lionel Ritchie’s blood curdling song “Hello”.

We saw a bit of The Restarts’ set and then went off to have some tea. After that, we went up to the Bizarre Bazaar to see Neck’s acoustic set. They didn’t show up so Frank Sidebottom filled in, to a rapturous reception. His version of Anarchy in the UK was surreal and hilarious. I was suitably impressed. After Frank was Ed Tudorpole or, as I used to know him, Tenpole Tudor. We watched his sound check and then buggered off to wander round the stalls.

Now for an admission it pains me to have to make. After being so impressed last year with their set, I managed to miss East End Badoes. This is dreadful and I will be paying the price for my omission for the rest of the year and well into 2009. Very remiss of me indeed and I can only apologise.

We wandered in to see The Sweet and caught the second half of their set. I really loved this band when I was a little junior school girl and it was a good nostalgia trip to see them play live. I should, at this point, commend the organisers of Rebellion for including bands like The Sweet, Slade (last year) and Chas and Dave in the line up. I don’t think there are many punks and skinheads out there who will only listen to punk, Oi! and Ska and there are going to be plenty who remember Glam Rock with affection. There was a sizeable crowd in there when The Sweet (minus the now defunct Brian Connolly and other original members) launched into “Love is like Oxygen”. This included a reasonable sized chunk of Fanfare for the Common Man (as performed by Emerson, Lake and Palmer) and I loved it. They followed with Blockbuster (I got rather excited at that point because I LOVED the song when I was a kid) and Ballroom Blitz.

Sweet back in the heady days of the 1970s

I was almost delirious as I left when they had finished but not quite as delirious as I was when we returned about 15 minutes later for The UK Subs.

This was the original line-up including Paul Slack, who signed my jeans – see Tight Jeans, Romance and Sid Vicious for the full story. Sorry about getting your name wrong, by the way, Paul but I was believing something I read on the Internet and not trusting my memory. Well, they played loads of 2-3 minute masterpieces (The UK Subs have NOT forgotten their roots), including Lady Esquire (which used to be a personal statement for me in my wild youth), TV Blues, Tomorrow’s Girl, CID and finishing off with two songs I love: Warhead (I sang along enthusiastically whilst punching the air) and Stranglehold, which reduced me to a frenzy of bouncing up and down, singing along at the top of my voice and pointing, well, pointedly, at the stage. This is a band I absolutely love, I’ve never seen them play badly and they never disappoint.

Warhead. I had this single - marvellous

After that, it was back to the Pavilion for the last time to watch Neck. This time, they made an appearance, although it was rather fashionably late. Darcy had introduced me to Neck (not literally, just the songs) and I was looking forward to seeing them play live. The lead singer reminded me of a teddy boy I used to know in my mispent youth. The banjo player looked just like a West Ham supporting skinhead, the fiddle player looked like a mad hippie, the bass player looked a bit emo and I couldn’t see the drummer. I just knew we were going to get along. There was some heckling from some unfriendly skinheads for a while but then they found something better to do (presumably go and watch the 4 Skins). There was also a couple of skinheads dancing like loons near the front. It’s a good way to dance to Neck as I discovered when they played Everyday’s St Patrick’s Day and I was unable to contain myself any longer. Before that, they played The Fields of Athenry – a marvellous anthem about the transportation of a man for stealing corn to feed his starving family during the famine. When they finished after a decent length set, it was disappointing to have to set off back home but I was completely drained of energy and I don’t think I could have lasted much longer.

Neck, shortly before I collapsed from sheer exhaustion

All in all, it was a good weekend, nay, a brilliant weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. What made it even better was having Darcy with me. Music is an enjoyable solitary pastime but it’s so much better having somebody to share it with. I’m now looking forward to Rebellion 2009. Bring it on!

Rebellion 2008, Day 3

We had a late start on the Saturday beause it was pissing down. We felt we had two options: wear a raincoat or get wet. We were truly on the horns of a dilemma. Then Darcy came up with a third option. It was a bit expensive but we went for it because we wouldn’t have to wear a raincoat, which really wasn’t an option for either of us, or get soaked. We got a taxi to the bus stop.

That meant we missed Urban Scum, a Clockwork/Oi! band that I was interested in. When we got to the Winter Gardens, a little bit wet, I might add, we went straight to the Backstage Bistro for some dinner. In the queue behind us was Phil from the Duel and a friend of his called Sian (I have just amazed myself with my ability to recall names). We chatted for a while and I gave him an honest account of their set from the previous day. Not that I slagged them off, I didn’t; I like the Duel.

After that, we went and caught part of Los Fastidios’ set. I saw Los Fastidios at Wasted 2006 and I was undecided about them at the time so I wanted to see them again. They did not disappoint. To be honest, they were far, far better than I had remembered them. I would class them as Oi! Enrico is a good singer and they are all good musicians, which, to a classically trained punk like me (I’ve got Grade 8 piano, you know) is important. They finished with Angelic Upstarts’ “Last Night Another Soldier” (click here for the lyrics), a song that spoke to the hearts of everybody there. They are brilliant.

Los Fastidios, not my picture, I hasten to add

Goldblade were on next. I will probably have to restrain myself here because I could (and probably will eventually) devote a whole blog to this band. Darcy, a former rockabilly, classes them as psychobilly. I class them as effing brilliant. I have mentioned before that I am convinced that John Robb’s sweat has magical properties. I wasn’t close enough to the stage this time to get showered with it but never mind. They were, as always, absolutely brilliant from the first song, “Fighting in the Dancehall, Fucking in the Street” right through to the end. I spent the first three songs muttering “When are you going to take your shirt off?”. When it came off, I had to use all my willpower not to get to the front of the crowd by any means possible (how useful a jet pack would be in such situations). Let’s get back to the songs. Well, they included Jukebox Generation, My Name is Psycho, Do you believe in the Power of Rock & Roll (“I believe, Brother John!”), All we need is Rebel Songs, ACDC and many others that I’ve forgotten now. Needless to say, they were great but I think I’ve said that already.

Goldblade in April 2007 - I took this one

We left Goldblade, me starry eyed and breathless and Darcy his usual cool self and went off to the Bizarre Bazaar and caught the end of Nick Cash’s acoustic set. I sang along to Emergency and Homicide with gusto, which is good because that’s what he wanted the audience to do. After him was a comedian, Ted Chippington. I saw him support Goldblade once and thought he was great. This time, the mic was playing up, the backing tape was too loud and nobody could hear him. He was going down like a lead balloon when we left, which was a real shame because he had had a rapturous reception the last time I’d seen him.

We went back down to the Empress Ballroom and saw 999’s set, including for the second time that day, Homicide and Emergency and Nasty Nasty. Great songs. We stayed in the Ballroom and moved up to the front for Anti Nowhere League. They started with “So What”. I love that song. I mean it’s damn good musically (my friend DB, who is certainly not a punk or skinhead or particularly into this type of music, once saw them with me and was particularly impressed with the virtuosity of Jez) and it speaks to the rebel in me. I’ve been to Hastings, Brighton and Eastbourne too but I can categorically state that I done none of the other things in the song. Good thing too, probably. After a few songs, it was too rough at the front – I was never really up to rowdy moshpits but I can always use my age as an excuse nowadays – so Darcy and I retired to a calmer area and watched the rest of the set from there. I managed to get a few photos while I was at the front but to be brutally honest, they were crap.

Shady, my least crap picture but still very crap

We had something to eat after that. In the queue was another Straps fan (sometimes we seem like a rare breed) who thought he knew me but wasn’t sure (sorry, mate, I didn’t get your name). I explained our common ground and we commiserated with each other for a minute or two on the Straps’ demise.

After that we went to The Olympia to see the Rezillos. I loved the Rezillos and then the Revillos first time round. I remember putting Top of the Pops on the jukebox in the Mocha Cafe in Saffron Walden when I was 15 or 16 and loving it. I had Motorbike Beat (by the Revillos, I think) but it got warped when I left it in sunlight – stupid! I think they started with Flying Saucer Attack, although my memory could be playing tricks with me. They played plenty of other stuff, including (My Baby does) Good Sculptures, 2000AD and Top of the Pops. We left after Top of the Pops (but not before I bought a Rezillos t-shirt) to go and see the Notsensibles.

I only ever knew “I’m in love with Margaret Thatcher” and the other songs on the single, “Concerto No 2”, “Little Boxes” and “Garry Bushell’s Band of the Week” and I’d forgotten two of them anyway. Darcy and I both had chronic back ache now so we sat down and leant against the wall. I sang along to “Little Boxes” when they played it and, as they neared the end of their set, I got up to take a couple of photos. It was at this point when they decided to launch into “I’m in love with Margaret Thatcher”. I took one photo, put my camera away and went mad, right in front of the stage. God, I love that song.

Notsensibles singing I'm in love with Margaret Thatcher

Then we went back to The Olympia to see Stiff Little Fingers. I was tired, my back and feet hurt and I really wasn’t up to it anymore. I just wanted to sit down. I can’t name any of the songs they played apart from Johnny Was and Suspect Device, my favourite SLF song, and it took them a bloody age to get to it too. I wanted to stay until they played Alternative Ulster but the first song they played in the encore was self-indulgently long and I was far too irritated to stay. We buggered off before they finished it. As far as I am concerned, punk songs should be no more than 3 minutes long. Get back to your roots, Jake!

Other things I remember from Saturday? The Winter Gardens ran out of draught lager and cider. I don’t drink the bitter in there – I’m a cask ale girl, myself – and I was reduced to buying bottled beer at a stupid price. The other thing was Darcy talking to a chap at the bar who had a tattoo on his head. Darcy was interested to know if it had hurt. The chap assured him he has tattoos in more painful places. Good man!

Rebellion 2008, Day 2. Back to my normal style

I woke up at 6.49am precisely on Friday. Very early indeed considering I had consumed a fair amount of alcohol the day before. I left Darcy sleeping the sleep of the just and after taking an Ibuprofen and making a cup of coffee, I sat in front of my trusty computer and wrote up the first day. I got Darcy up at about 9.30am and we very slowly got ready to go out.

Outside the Winter Gardens just before seeing The Duel

We made it into Blackpool in time for the Duel. I really like the Duel. I have their CD “Let’s Finish What We Started” and I can assure you, it’s good stuff. Unfortunately, the sound was poorly mixed: the bass and backing vocals were too loud. This spoilt it a little for me but I still enjoyed it a great deal. Tara, as always, looked great. One thing, though, why does Andy Thierum never face the front of the stage? Any explanations will be welcome.

We went up to the Bizarre Bazaar next and caught the last ten minutes or so of a comedian, Chris Brooker. My hearing was still a bit shot at so I didn’t catch much of what he said. However, he was followed by another, Ben Schofield, who was good and I could hear him. He did good observational comedy but I’m not going to quote any – it always loses something in the translation and I never remember things properly, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that he was funny.

After that, we went for a wander and Danny from Middle Finger Salute said “Hello” to me. I like these lads a great deal. They’re much the same age as my older daughter and have amazing energy. They always say hello when they see me too, which is very polite of them and makes me feel like punk royalty. He told me that they had played the night before at short notice. I was heart-broken. I hate to miss a chance to see them. Still, I knew they were playing on Sunday, so it wasn’t as if I wouldn’t see them at all.

Danny 2 days later on stage

The next band we saw was Outl4w. I first saw these boy wonders in 2006 and boy! was I impressed! They’re two years older now (obviously) and the music has quite a thrash feel to it. The ah-factor has lessened as they have grown older, although it hasn’t disappeared fully yet. There is a massive amount of respect for them amongst grizzled old punks and skins. They have a very mature sound for such young lads.

Then we went to see London. They are not a band I’ve heard before but they came highly recommended so we decided to give them a try. Definitely worth it, although they had a couple of hiccups at the start of the set. It was all sorted out eventually and they played good noisy punk. I can’t find anything about them online so if anybody knows if they have a myspace, let me know. I want to find out more.

After that another wander and then we went to see Argy Bargy. It is absolutely scandalous that I have never got round to buying any CDs by them. I think they’re brilliant and their set was the highlight for me on Friday. I can’t name any songs, although they were familiar, so I’m really showing my ignorance here. I will have to make sure I rectify this disgraceful state of affairs before much longer. Next year, I promise I’ll be able to give a decent account of their set.

We saw Blood or Whiskey after tea. Darcy assures me they don’t always play as fast but, to be honest, they can play as fast as they like. I did feel my age (I’m 45, you know) during their set because I was on the edge of the moshpit and got moshed into rather more frequently than I like. We moved further back after a few songs, where the view was not so good but at least I wasn’t being bumped into quite so much and I could hear them just as well. I like Blood or Whiskey. They manage to mix Irish and punk music so it’s exactly to my taste.

Blood or Whiskey, note banjo player in the background.

After they finished, we rushed next door to catch the end of Deadline’s set. This was one of a few nasty clashes where we had to choose between bands. Darcy had never seen Deadline before and I think he was impressed. So much so that he’s put my Deadline CD on his I-Pod now and will soon be listening to them on a regular basis on the bus home from work.

GLC, unfortunately, I couldn't find a picture of the Final Vinyl EP

We had a break for alcohol after Deadline and then went off to watch Bad Manners for a while. It was only a while because I wanted to see Menace. Menace is one of those bands I’ve liked for many, many years. I had three singles by them back in the day: GLC, The Young Ones and my long time favourite, Last Year’s Youth. Those singles were taken to the council tip by my ex-husband sometime in 2007, along with all his old vinyl too (just so you don’t think he’s an utter bastard). Last Christmas, my excellent son bought me a Menace compilation CD. I played it on my way home from work a couple of days later and I still remember where I was when “Last Year’s Youth” came on. I was driving down St Anne’s Road East and I started crying. Sorry, I’m a softie, I know, but that song means so much to me.

Well, when we went in to watch Menace, I had back ache, so we sat down leaning against the wall to give ourselves some relief (Darcy had the same problem). They played some stuff I didn’t recognise, some stuff I did but couldn’t put a name to and then “GLC”. I sang along with gusto. Then more songs and then “Last Year’s Youth”. Somehow the back ache went and the years fell away. I was 17 again and I leapt to my feet, rushed to the front and spent the rest of the time bouncing around like a lunatic, pointing at the stage and singing along at the top of my voice. So much so that the skinhead in front turned round to look at the old pretender behind him, who thought she was more “last year’s youth” than him. I think he conceded the point. I am 45, you know.

We finished the evening by going to see the Cockney Rejects. Well, I say see, but we actually didn’t see a great deal of them, although we did hear them. The back ache had returned with a vengeance and my feet hurt like hell, so we found an empty bit of wall and sat down against it. The sound was quite poor where we were (although I now know that if we’d braved the front of the crowd, it would have been much better). However, it was heartening to hear Stinky Turner singing about Flares and Slippers. It makes me realise I’m not the only old one there.

After that, we made a dash for the taxi and went home. Oh, one last thing, my radar was working brilliantly all day. I managed to spot John Robb,  Charlie Harper and Animal during our peregrinations and turned round during Deadline’s set and found myself facing Stuart Pearce. I even held the door for him when we were all leaving after they had finished. Not bad for somebody who usually can’t see beyond the end of her nose.