ATV, Billy Childish and other old punk musings

[malumbu]

Imagine my embarrassment when I wrongly guessed a track was ATV (Alternative Television - SE London's best) but found out it was Billy Childish. On the plus side I found out that ATV has reformed and both they and Childish are bands that I have never seen but still want to.

Which got me thinking about the pros and cons of seeing reformed bands (and those who never split).

So a good experience of the Ruts DC, Buzzcocks are still kicking out good music, Penetration have about 55 mins of music, Mekons/Jon Langford is entertainingly dour. I made friends with the Cravats as I have one degree of separation but I can't be bothered to go to these punk weekenders as I am sure they would be tedious. The Damnned are as good or bad as ever but I have seen them this decade so will wait for their 50th anniversary. I think about some others - 999, Chelsea, the Lurkers and stuff but not sure I'd enjoy them. Tom Robinson is entertaining, it is a bit of a sing along, but his voice is going. I wont do the Stranglers and Hugh Cornwall always seems a little sad. TV Smith is great as he is doing his own singer songwriter stuff now. Magazine were perfect but boring as opposed to when I first saw them when they were rough but very exciting. Sorry Howard and Dave.

I find 80s stuff more disappointing as it has generally not aged well. I am talking about the indie and some of the electronic stuff rather that the 80s pop star circuit/circus. No one can hate Kids in America, Heaven 17, The Human League or the Look of Love

[miga]

Good thread. I loved Magazine when I saw them at their first reunion show in London - but I'm too young to have seen them in their prime. I had been listening to those songs since I was a teenager. You're right, they were perfect.

I used to see Childish on the reg at the Boston Arms, Dirty Water Club (we lived up that way). His outfit at the time, the Buff Medways, really cooked.

Radio Birdman were great all the many times I saw them past their peak. The Saints (Chris Bailey and whoever) a bit sad. Ed Kuepper carries himself very well, I think it helps he's a musician.

The Business were... well, plodding but fun. Cockney Rejects were exactly as you'd expect.

Wire were still fantastic a decade ago, though I've seen them blow a couple of times since. Gang of Four were great, but I'm not sure what the point is any more.

The Fall are hilarious and great.

But what an age we live in. Bands I'd listen to as a teenager on some CDR or tape because the record had never been repressed or whatever, have all reformed. This goes especially for American punk/hardcore bands. This is both terrible (endless regurgitation, retromania etc.) and great (getting to see bands I'd never have seen otherwise)

[malumbu]

I couldn't quite get my head around Wire, and trying to get into GoF retrospectively was unrewarding.

So many times I'd seen the Buff Medways advertised but for some reason never managed to get thyself over to N London.

I saw the Fall so many times and then got pissed off with them. But I will return. First time I was so drunk (Glasgow) I slept through most of it. Talking of drinking the one great drunk gig I did in the (late) 80s was Fatima Mansions at the Grand

Trouble is now I want bands on my doorstep.

Let's see what others have to report

[Seabag]

I shagged lots to GoF and the Mekons, and the Specals and The Stranglers

Does that count, I listened/shagged to them endlessly

I think The Arctic Monkeys did too (in retrospect)

This is turning into 'Psued's corner' no?

And Blondie with a girl who was really blonde and Elvis Costello was great to get sweaty to

[malumbu]

Hmmm

Not quite what I was expecting. Arabian Nights by Siouxie.

[Seabag]

malumbu Wrote:

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> Hmmm

> Not quite what I was expecting. Arabian Nights by

> Siouxie.

Come on, shagging to punk was 'living the dream'

Or were/are you a dodger ?

[maxxi]

Subway Sect are touring a few dates this year - they were great live - would go and see them again even at the risk of massive disappointment.

[Seabag]

My son went to prep school with the guy from the Ruts daughter

How punk is that

Give him his due tho, he smelt of booze and looked worst for wear most days, much why we orientated toward each other

[????]

To me punk was very much in the moment so I'm not sure about seeing them all 40 years on doing stuff from then. I have seen the Rejects relatively recently but that was West Ham thing :). Whatever happened to Johnny moped?

[miga]

Seabag Wrote:

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> I shagged lots to GoF and the Mekons, and the

> Specals and The Stranglers

Shagging to GoF....sounds challenging, what with the lyrics revolving around alienation, consumerism and emptiness of romance, the sudden tempo changes and bursts of white noise. Still, at least a lot f the numbers have brevity on their side. Whatever floats your boat :-)

[miga]

???? Wrote:

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> To me punk was very much in the moment so I'm not

> sure about seeing them all 40 years on doing stuff

> from then. I have seen the Rejects relatively

> recently but that was West Ham thing :). Whatever

> happened to Johnny moped?

He's been doing some shows and there was a decent docco recently. There's a guy I wouldn't go to see now, though.

On the other hand "Incendiary Device" is such a corker song....

[red devil]

I'm with Seabag, if you haven't had a bit of rumpy pumpy whilst listening to Crass' ''Shaved women, collaborators...'', you simply haven't lived...

[miga]

Now there's a band whose logo's graced more jackets, t shirts and backpacks than record players.

[rodneybewes]

Billy Childish is playing at Stewart Lee's ATP in April. It's a cracking line up: http://www.atpfestival.com/events/atp042016/view/eventinfo.

[mancity68]

Excellent line up indeed. EDF road trip?

[rodneybewes]

Got my ticket for this and the Drive Like Jehu one the week after :rock:

[Seabag]

Old punks and the likes of BC (saw him sometime ago) look like old velvet club chairs feel, OK from a distance but up close all musty and a pain in the arse

And go to a punk gig now and watch the bemused 'young punks' looking around with a 'is this what it was all about' face on

No, nostalgia gigs are often slightly tragic, much like school reunions

I'd much rather remember Debbie Maddox and Punk from afar, (circa 77-80)

[KidKruger]

Will be at ATP so will check this Billy bloke

[katanita]

Museum of London is after your old punk stuff... https://www.facebook.com/events/1555744398072724/