Few people can be described as true legends on the music scene but John Otway is one of them. For over fifty years Otway has completely ignored the opinions of many and continued doing exactly what he pleases cloaked in an unshakeable self belief in what he does. Tonight he’s playing support to the mighty Undertones which, in many ways, is a shame as it means we get just a mere 40 minutes with him. Any John Otway gig is a real experience. Thankfully tonight there are a few hardcore Otway fans scattered amongst the crowd so everyone can at least get a feel of what a full on Otway gig is like. Full of self-deprecating humour he introduces his opening number telling us how it was his first (of only two) big hit before launching into Really Free, possibly the only original Otway number many here will recognise. His facial expressions say it all. This is a man who simply loves what he does. Promoting himself as ‘Rocks Greatest Failure’ resulting in almost cult status. He follows ‘Really Free’ with it’s B-side “Another hit, it sold just as many as the A-side”. Hammering his guitar ‘Beware Of The Flowers (‘Cause I’m Sure They’re Going To Get You, Yeh’) really is a full on punk rock classic. Complete with double guitar Otway’s version of ‘Blockbuster’ becomes an audience participation epic. “Does anyone know the way?” sings Otway to be greeted with a full on “There’s got to be a way” from his fans. You can’t help but smile and laugh along with this performer. And that’s what he is – this isn’t some cheap cabaret, comedy act. This is someone who has mastered his art and knows how to grab his audience. With some glee he plays his other hit, helped into the 2002 charts by a fan campaign, ‘Bunsen Burner’ is glorious with it’s homage to all things chemistry and love and it’s singalong “Burn baby burn” chorus. ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ brings more audience participation that would give Rocky Horror a run for it’s money and by it’s end John Otway has many, many more fans than he had an hour ago. Fantastic song writing, quick, witty humour, someone who can take the piss out of himself as well as others. For fifty years John Otway has done his own thing. Let’s hope there’s plenty more to come.
Derry’s finest never disappoint and tonight is no exception. It really doesn’t matter how many times you see The Undertones every gig they play is a masterclass of perfect pop-punk, of tales of teenage angst, of love, heartache and yes, just a bit of nostalgia as we’re taken back to our own youthful days. It’s 45 years since the release of their second album ‘Hypnotised’ and tonight it’s being celebrated in (almost) all it’s glory. Opening with ‘Hard Luck’ the crowd are with the band from those opening drum beats. Undertones fans don’t turn up to shows to just hear the hits and every song is greeted with singing, dancing and full on appreciation. ‘More Songs About Chocolate And Girls’, the non-stop power pop of ‘There Goes Norman’, and ‘Whizz Kids’, the noisy chant of “H,Y,P I’m hypnotised”. All are received as if they were huge hits. Of course ‘My Perfect Cousin’ was. Everyone knows it’s words, the singing and dancing stretching to the very back of Boiler Shop.
Played almost in order and with just ‘Under The Boardwalk’ and ‘What’s With Terry’ being missed out we’re reminded just how good ‘Hypnotised’ is as an album. Packed with sharp guitar riffs, jump around manic beats and lyrics that are the textbook to most teenage (and some older) lives. All shoehorned into perfect sub-three minute gems.
Album finished you wonder how much energy the band has left. Paul McLoone has lept around the stage non stop, high kicks, big smiles, the brilliant interlinking guitar work from brothers Damien and John O’Neil together with the drum and bass rhythms courtesy of Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley. This is rapid fire, high energy punk rock n roll and The Undertones are no longer spring chickens. But they’re not even half way there and what follows is a glorious run through of those Undertones tracks everyone loves from across their career. And it’s non-stop. ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘Male Model’, the slower, balledesque ‘Love Parade’. ‘Thrill Me’ from 2003’s Get What You Need fits seemlessly into that unmistakable early Undertones sound. Of course the timeless ‘Teenage Kicks’ is huge, but in their own way so are ‘I Know A Girl’, ‘Listening In’ and personal favourite, main set closer ‘Get Over You’. The Undertones have packed twenty five songs into an hour that has flown by. If they’d finished at this point I doubt there’d have been a single disappointed person but they don’t. Returning for a five song encore that sees them tear through ‘Here Comes The Summer’, ‘Jump Boys’, Girls Don’t Like It’, ‘Emergency Cases’ before finally finishing with ‘You Got My Number’.
Thirty timeless songs. A band who just don’t stop, a band who you can see get as much out of being on stage as those watching them from the floor. Thirty songs that are as relevant to life nowadays as they’ve ever been. Long live The Undertones.
Words/photos: steve white
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