Rebellion 2013 – day 3
The day started with Goldblade acoustic. This was a rebellious affair in hmv as the brothers spread their gospel to the assembled believers gathered in the record store. An entertaining and uplifting performance. We all believe in the power of rock and roll and now know we are in it together.
I took a break to catch my other fave culture, football in the guise of Blackpool v Barnsley. A surprising number of rebellion wristbands were in the crowd and saw such drama at bloomfield road. Both teams look like they are players short of taking the championship by storm but Blackpool waited til the 93rd minute before having their first attempt on target. The fact that it was a knock on by a Barnsley player from a pool throw in hardly seemed to matter. 1-0 Blackpool, top of the league 🙂
Anarcho night in rebellion then on the stage with Jaegermeister backdrops. Lost cherrees are a strange bunch. I’m not sure what to make of it all. I have all their records which are urging equality for all and respect for animals but when they are onstage they may as well be singing about Blackpool result. Actually maybe not as that would require feeling. There is no connection or attempt to connect with the audience. We are certainly not in it together or so it seems when lost cherrees are on stage. Which is a real shame as they have some great songs
Hagar the womb are a band I well remember. Their funnerry in a nunnery 12′ was on high rotation for a while in Donnycarney. The female vocalists still shine through, although it is kind of funny watching them read the lyrics on stage
Steve ignorant will forever be associated with anger. No escaping it, he was the lead singer of crass. The ultimate in anger and channelling it positively. His new venture is him with a keyboard and guitarist and stories in between It is great to see Steve evolving. Paranoid visions have have assisted in that process but to see him here with a his own songs and singing like he means it is empowering. “Scream, I’m alive, I’m alive”
Charlie harper is most definitely still alive and singing with the uk subs. They are a keen annual favourite at rebellion and won’t disappoint the thousands of people watching them tonight. Other perennial players, paranoid visions are on at the same time. this effects their crowd but not their performance. Deko, ever the showman, is at home on stage here. Still doesn’t care
Funny that the 3 regular bands are all clashing, citizen fish were nearly over but I caught a couple of their ska fuelled tracks and the crowd were happily singing along “let’s get angry, lets get mad”
Zounds were on next. 3 piece with songs as fresh as when they were released in the 80s and just as relevant now.
Hard skin are the ultimate anti fascist band. If you know them you will know the irony and hopefully you get it. If you buy into them it’s great, the best oi band in the world!
The mob were the best band for me at last years festival. They are close contenders again. The surprise of last years excellence wasnt there but they didn’t disappoint one bit. It’s that haunting sound which takes you in.
Out of a sense of loyalty I chose the outcasts above cockney rejects. I know their guitarist quite well (he wasnt an original member) and so I wanted to see petesy in action. I was too young when the outcasts were leaving a trail of destruction (or more to the point punks who went to see them in the magnet) at their gigs in Dublin in 1980 but have listened to them plenty. Always better live than on record the songs are strong and still have it, great reaction for them here tonight.
To me the rezillos were fortunate in their timing. They had snappy so gs and a good image with Faye on vocals. I love that first album. I’m not sure of their relevance within punk, I’ve never heard em say anything of substance. Is that harsh? Maybe but compared to the Ruts who were on next?
Ruts DC know adversity. Malcolm Owen the singer for the ruts died of a heroin overdose in tragic circumstances. The band continued as ruts Dc for a while but fizzled our as the pain of their lead singers demise was too much. They got back together when another member, Paul Fox contracted cancer and there was a benefit for foxy. He lost that battle so the band got together in memory of their departed ones. Their dub inspired punk will always live on. Again a highlight for me. It was over 12 hours since gold blade kicked off proceedings but I was still bopping along to Babylons burning and staring at the rude boys. Remarkable band
Niallhope
