 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
| Giveamanakick
Spring and Airbrake, Belfast, NI Sunday 3rd December 2006 There’s been storms here all day, its been dark since yesterday. If I hadn’t already paid £16.50 for a ticket to see the Undertones in a venue I hate I would have stayed home and watched ITV4's punk night featuring the newish 'Story Of Punk' doc plus the shitty ‘Sid And Nancy’ and ‘Jubilee’ movies. By the way reality TV mini pops punk imp "Lil Chris", who according to local press is a ‘tones fan and warbles like Fergal played a teenies show earlier this afternoon in the Limelight club next door. Don't know or give a toss how it went? Just thought I'd mention it. I'm here yet again to see one of the better pop/punk bands from NI punks golden age. And there goes Damian and John O'Neill through the crowd to the dressing room. No sneaking in the back door for these boys. But first I had to endure tonight’s support band/duo Giveamanakick. Coming on like a bad low budget mixture of the White Stripes and Slipknot complete with the theatrical masks. They were noisy, tuneless and awful! I can't put a title to any of their songs as they couldn’t be arsed to announce them from the stage? And what was the ear wiggling all about??? The Undertones strolled onstage with no fuss or fanfare and went straight into ‘Jimmy Jimmy’. It was business as usual from there on with a very long too much music for your money set of 28 songs. Believe me there was times during the show when it felt like it was going round in circles. Good to see Mickey Bradley who seems to be back to normal after his recent bout of illness. The show ebbed and flowed throughout. There was highlights and there was dips due to the amount of newer material and album tracks etc featured. Some of it was very good ‘Precious Little Wonder’, ‘Girls Don't Like It’, ‘There Goes Norman’ to name just three. And ‘Easy Way Out‘ which was dedicated to ex Rudi front man Brian Young was ok. The others sounded like the Tones going through the motions. Needless to say the Undertones have way more than a few hits and feel good favourites in the catalogue to turn around any so so performance. Lacklustre versions of ‘Teenage Kicks’ dedicated to pillar of the community (their words) Terri Hooley received the biggest cheer of the evening. And a slower than usual ‘My Perfect Cousin’ disappointed. But ’Male Model‘, ‘Get Over You’ and the ultimate Christmas song (their words again) ‘Here Comes The Summer‘ were great! I've seen them play better shows in the past, but its impossible not to like them because they are so down to earth and into what they’re doing. They go the extra mile to please their fans, but they need to downsize the set its too long at present. In the end the Undertones made sure everyone went home happy with a great four song encore of ‘You Got My Number‘, ‘Billy's 3rd’, ‘True Confessions’ and ‘Mars Bars’. Regardless of the ups and downs of the extensive set they still delivered the goods in the end and you can't ask for more than that. As I was leaving the venue and getting into my car I was propositioned by an out of town hooker, tempting as it was I had to decline her offer. (only coz you was skint I bet -PDC). Joe Donnelly Belfast 5/12/06. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|