Have you been to Whitby in North Yorkshire? You really must. It’s probably the most picturesque seaside town in Britain. Fish and chip shops, marauding gothic teenagers and the spectre of Bram Stokers ‘Dracula’ envelope the town to give you the feeling that you have a day ticket for Brigadoon. It’s a special place.
I was there to see my Jacqui’s band ‘The Sex Patels’ play the world famous ‘Musicport ‘ festival. They stormed it, and took all the plaudits for the weekend. I was proud of her.
The Sex Patels perform classic punk songs in a folksy, Asian infused, laid back style. They breathe meaning into songs that frankly you could not hear first time around. This is because the guitar amps were always turned up to eleven and everyone was drunk on cheap lager. They are not a tribute or novelty band. They transform what was already there into something almost beautifully epic. They are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
What does not matter is the sad joke of The Sex Pistols and the Jam reforming, (minus Paul Weller, who I imagine is furious), for the sake of filthy lucre. Punk was never meant to be like this. Beer bellied old geezers singing songs to Guardian readers who pretend to have seen them in 1976. It makes me seethe and is a travesty. Don’t go!!
Comments
Dendrite | October 28, 2007 - 18:40
Bizzare... How can you even have the Jam without Paul Weller? I thought the Jam WAS Paul Weller (?)
I'd love to hear "Belsen Was a Gas" done in a folksy, Asian infused, laid back style.
I disagree about these reformed bands. saw the Pistols on the first Filthy Lucre tour (1997?) Buzzcocks about 3 years ago, Dead Boys 2 years ago. all these bands were fully in in the tradition, very much the real deal and well worth the time and money. I recommend run, don't walk, to see any original era pre-1980 punk band.
Dendrite | October 30, 2007 - 01:09
Just listened to all the mod cons and decided I'd pay to see only the Jam rhythm section.