 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| EX PRODUCERS Duke of York, Belfast Saturday 18th December 2004 Christmas is a time of year when you reminisce about the good and bad times from years gone by, and strange and surprising things do happen. Well this years festive award goes to the Ex Producers who played their first gig together in over twenty years tonight, and they were very good! Now I have a close connection with this band. Apart from being friends with the lads, I was also a member for a short time. When we formed our own punk band back in 1978 called the Producers. We were five mates with no real musical experience to speak of, just a load of enthusiasm and some cheap guitars trying to play punk covers badly. But making a glorious racket! This line up eventually evolved into a more musically astute and better known trio called the Ex Producers. Who in their time had bit of TV, radio and press, as well as playing gigs with the cream of the local bands like Rudi / Starjets and Stage B amongst others. They even appeared on the bill of the Belfast punk festival in 1980 that included the Saints. I remember I hadn't heard the Exps songs for donkeys, and I was given a Cdr with four of the old demos on it. After listening to it I remember thinking to myself that because I went to the gigs all the time and hung out with the band, I never realised how good some of the songs were. So when I met up with John Cullen (drums / vocals) a year ago at the Spit book launch. He told me that the band were thinking of reforming. I was happy to hear that another band from the vaults of 70's N.I. punk was giving it another go. I put a word in for them months ago with Youngsy (ex-Rudi / $hame Academy / Sabrejets guitarist) to think about them as a support for future $A gigs. As well as giving the reformation a nod in a few recent bits I've written that have appeared in print and on the web. So when the news of this warm up show for the big one with $A at the Empire next Thurs 23rd Dec broke, I emailed John about sticking me and Facer on the guestlist for tonight's gig, which he did (thanks). We made our way to the Duke which is in a lane that connects to Hill St, which is where the Harp bar (the sacred home of Belfast punk) once stood. So after making a pilgrimage to the actual spot where it was or at least I think it was, and kissing the holy footpath, we made our way in to the gig. I never been in the Duke before and it's tiny! The Exps gear filled the shoebox stage. There was plenty of old punk faces in attendance to give the boys a bit of encouragement, which was a good sign. At the moment the band are only together for two gigs, and tonight is the first. John and TC (guitar / vocals) were bricking it with nerves understandably. Dee Moore (bass) couldn't make it as his wife has just had a baby (congrats) so two members of John's other band Glamslam were drafted in. The Ex P's took to the tiny stage cramped together with virtually no room to move, and to their credit got straight down to business with 'Loyalty' sounding really good, considering the Glamslam guys only had a few days to learn a set of songs they had never heard before. And TC hadn't lifted his guitar in years!!! The extra guitar player gave the Exp's a really big sound and allowed TC freedom to concentrate on his vocals, which became more aggressive as his confidence grew. They have some really great songs in the set 'P Check' in particular is a classic. It was brilliant hearing that after all these years, and the cover of the Clash's 'Complete control' had the place in a mass singalongapunk. They finished with their anthem 'Newer Wave 79' which you may remember seeing live on the BBC TV "Something else" youth programme from the Harp, back in 79. I really enjoyed this gig it was great to see the band come back in style. One small thing lads, drop the Cure's - 'A forest' cover. I know it used to be a fixture in the set, but it's not needed and drags the set down now. Bring back 'Hole In The Head' or 'Please Explain'. The look of relief on the bands faces after the gig said it all. Now they can enjoy the $hame Academy Christmas bash on the 23.12.04 knowing they can still cut it and have nothing to fear. Merry Christmas and a Punky new year to everyone. Joe Donnelly Belfast 19/12/04. |
 |
 |
 |