WAS IT WORTH IT?

X-RAY SPEX (right) "we're gunna be exploited by somebody, la-la-la laa!"

HOW MUCH?

Was it worth it? one of our super duper readers writes in to ask of my attendance at the X-RAY SPEX wrinkle fest last Saturday at the ROUNDHOUSE.

Well yes, a bit, and definitely no. The band (X-RAY SPEX) played a set that had the potential to be good and the band were trying but was fucked up by a prick of a sound man.

SHORTARSE

Being less than lanky i was limited in my standing space and so found myself standing by the sound booth where i had a good view, as i stood watching i noticed that the guitar and saxophone seemed to be getting louder then quieter, i looked over at the sound man and he seemed to be on a mission to push and turn every switch, nob and dial on the mixing desk like there was no tomorrow, and as the band faded in and out of hearing range, the sound man fiddled along happy in his own little world oblivious to the aural destruction he was reaping upon the paying audience.

SOUNDS LIKE AN IDIOT

While i stared at the sound man wondering what the fuck he was doing i saw one bloke come up and shout at him in an angry manner, then another came up jabbing his finger and shouting at the person with the sound man about the sound. A short time later while standing at the bar i could clearly hear the vocals just fade out then back while POLY STYRENE was singing, and all around for much of the evening you could hear people were grumbling about the shit sound.

Apart from the sound, the band made mistakes on a few songs, but i like that.

D.I.S.C.O
The other big minus was the support, the opening time was an early 7pm, and as support we had POLY STYRENE'S daughter's band (yet another thing that seemed to be there just to remind everyone how old they are), they were called DEBUTANTE DISCO, i don't know what they were like because i was late so i cant comment on them but, but i was in time to see GOLDBLADE. Now....... i know that this band are popular(ish) and far be it from me to offend, but i think they were tripe. They even had a really awful song that was very similar to JOAN JETT'S 'i love rock'n'roll' with its very own terrible 'rock'n'roll for ever' type sing a long chorus, and talking punk head JOHN ROBB was playing with the band on guitar (if that means anything), for the ticket price many were expecting 'well known' (older?) support bands as had been the case at previous X-RAY SPEX gigs.

AND ANOTHER THING

The venue's toilets were totally incapable of handling the volume of people and the queues were miles long, the venues only plus were the large hand poured spirits the bar sold.

I AM A CLICHE

As for the audience, the amount of 'old punks' who looked like they were old people dressed up as punkers (what do you mean 'they were'?) was quite amusing in a saddo cringe way, but some of those there really do need to be told that they are not slim 20 year old young punks anymore, the plum types who were trying hard to appear 'punky' was embarrassing and the jackets covered in band patches were funny, it reminded me of school boy headbangers when they used to cover denim jackets in 'SAXON', 'SCORPIANS' and 'JUDAS PRIEST' etc, patches

YAWN

So, in summing up i would have to say no, i didn't think 'it was worth it', if the band had been playing in a different venue it might of been good but there were just too many problems, shame because it could of been very different.

Another thing, i have said it many times and will probably say it again very soon but that was the last 'old band' Reunion gig i will be going to, for many reasons, not least being the way 'punters' (for want of a better word) are expected to just pay loads for a gig where they will be treated as nothing more than consumers by a venue which has no idea about how to approach putting on a punk band, and of bands that just reform to pay bills and who don't bother about what the gig experience will be like for those attending, this X-RAY SPEX gig being a good example.

But, the t-shirts they had on sale were good designs.