LIVE

Rip It Up, Issue 58, 1 May 1982, Page 20

LIVE

The Troggs Mainstreet, April 28. Well, it seems I'm in a minority, I loved the Troggs, even with the light metal guitar solos and nonexistent bass. These four old sods with sagging skin and awful taste in stage clothes, lumber onstage and crank out the same set they do every night, ancient songs they've done a million times, everyone a cliche, everyone a gem (well, almost). And except for the new bass player (he's only clocked up 13 years) they all enjoy themselves and put venom into what they're doing and don't hesitate to giggle at themselves. Didn’t Reg Costello (oops!) sweat a lot? It’s a real problem. Nice to see a real human on stage. Stacks of Brut roll-on after the gig (I went backstage as a cub reporter for Rip It Up) and disgusting scants. You don’t want to know all that. So, they played most of their hits and other people's including 'Peggy Sue' that made Toy Love sound like the Knobz, and a 'Satisfaction' that made the Stones sound pretty .good. 'Love is All Around' was absurdly good. The first version of 'Wild Thing' was all you could expect and for a 16 year old song, played every gig for as long as some of you have been alive, absolutely remarkable. Elvis (oops!) even played the ocarina break tflutey sound) dead right. Apparently the onstage monitor sound was awful to the point of anger and frustration and certainly the out front sound was abysmal, the stage was oppressively hot,

snares and. strings • broke, and stupid, fuckin' skinheads insisted on beating each other up and showering Presley (right!) with the first gob he'd ever encountered. He didn't mind the beer though. Next time, they'll bring their own soundman, 1 hope. Next time, they'll play , Anyway .That You Want Me' and 'Our Love Will Still be There’ I insisted. They're really nice guys. Tony Murray (bass) used to be in Plastic Penny ('Everything I Am' and an awful version of 'Strawberry Fields Forever') and played on Elton John's first album. Chris Britton (guitar) left the band, in 1972, opened a nightclub in Portugal, got bored, and joined again in 1980, "cos it's exciting Ronnie Bond (drums) still knows the words to songs they haven't played at all since 1966, and Reg Presley is exactly like you'd expect him to be. The Blue Flames fulfilled their function as support without offending anybody, but, - somebody, do something about the colourless, inadequate,' ineptly controlled sound system at Mainstreet. It's killed far too many bands and maimed everyone who's played there. Chris Knox Swingers Danse Macabre, Gurlz Mainstreet, April 25. The Gurlz had a bad start soundwise, with that song about a certain someone, but picked up on the Blondiesque 'Living By the Hour'. Kim's a lady with a voice and a stage presence. Kim and Shelley (keyboards, vocals) present some beautiful harmonies particularly with 'Sad Song'. Drummer Carol does vocals on

Shark', while Greg provides a taut guitar. Songs are natty and humorous. It's not often you walk away remembering tunes these days. Danse Macabre moved into a truly danceable set with a very cool, casual Nigel walking among the people cabaret style. These boys are creating some superb rhythmic music, which Nigel occasionally stands back and observes, when he's not on synthesiser or singing. Fronting Swingers dressed in a serge coat, Andrew Snoid talked his way into 'Don't Ever Let Go'. A sparse and dramatic start. His stage movements are economic, he adds keyboards and percussion. Phil Judd appears more comfortable on stage having been released from the pressure of fronting, he can now concentrate on his guitar. Bones is not having to cover for Judd in the front line and lan Gilroy still plugs away conscientiously. The material is all new this time, except for 'Counting The Beat', and the closer 'Cocktails'. Songs such as 'Demon Man', 'Forbidden Places' and the excellent Magic Hour' are more like Swingers of old neat, with pointed lyrics. But they're almost buried in a fullon, monotonous barage. After 'Only Human' Andrew spoke a terse goodnight. They returned for 'Punch and Judy' and finally 'Cocktails' with Judd drumming, Bones on guitar, Snoid on bass and lan as front man bewildering everybody. Ann Louise Martin