'Solidarity with Sammy'
The Defects
Aggressors BC
Black Box, Belfast
5th February 2010
There was a very sad reason for this gig to happen. 87 year old Mr Samuel
Haveron was assaulted and had his home ransacked by a group of masked
men/scum who then robbed the elderly man of all his savings. His two sons
'Wee Sam' and 'Chuck' were both part of the Belfast punk scene. So it was
only right at this time of great distress for their family, that their punky pals
should band together to show our support and try to raise as much money
as possible for this worthy cause.
It was an early start and Spikey Steve and me arrived late. Runnin Riot guitarist
Marty's other band Aggressors BC were already well into their set of politically
aware uptempo rocksteady ska tunes. I'd never seen them live before they've only
been around less than a year, but they sounded great! Their fans were already
well boozed up and skanking. Very impressive band, I will definitely check them
out sometime in the very near future.
The Defects are back once again, well 'Buck' and 'Kinky' anyway. This time they're
joined on guitar by 'Roy McAllister' an ex member of Rabies/Western Justice and
on bass an ex member of NASA Assassins whose name I didn't catch? Sorry!
Allegedly original guitarist 'Dukie' doesn't play these days unless he's being paid!
The band are already booked for Rebellion 2010 and from the off it was easy to
see they were really up for this new line ups debut gig here tonight, in front of a
home crowd full of expectation. The Defects were fantastic, you know the tunes so
I'll not bother picking out any highlights, as they were all highlights. There was even time
for a cover of the Clash's 'Janie Jones' and a bit of showbiz theatrics when Buck
donned an old decommisioned RUC tunic and hat for the "SSRUC" chant during
'Brutality'. It went down a storm! Spikey Steve had never seen them live before and was
blown away, his heavily distorted rendition of 'Dance Until You Drop' was heard the next
day all over our house and probably the neighbours, as he blasted it out on his guitar.
In mine and many others opinion the Defects stole the show!
The place was boiling hot and we had to go outside to get a breath of fresh air and have
a chat with all the other oap's in the street during the interval. Back inside last but by no
means least Shame Academy are on stage. Again theres no need for me to start cherry
picking out individual tunes as you know them all off by heart and just how good this
band are. It's hard to believe Shame Academy have been together for almost seven
years and are now playing gigs in the UK, Eire, Spain and Italy with no doubt more
exotic locations to come? Well its about time these guys got a few free holidays out of
this punk rock lark. They've put more than enough time and energy into it. As always SA
gave it 100% even with Youngsy's technical problems and believe me following up
the Defects was never going to be an easy task. I would have liked SA to change the
set around and add a few more covers or tunes from their combined extensive back
catalogues like they used to do to freshen up and re-energise their live show.
Regardless they are still a premier league top quality punk rock band and
as always went down well with their hometown crowd. By the end Greg
was looking a bit peaky, dunno if he was feeling ill or not?
Tonights gig was a big success for the organisers, bands, fans but more
importanly for the Haveron family as there was a full house of young and
old familiar faces, hopefully all the money stolen was replaced and is now
back were it belongs.
This sunday 7.2.10 its up to the QFT for a short promo presentation of
the currently in production 'Terri Hooley / Good Vibrations' bio / movie
pilot. I have a vested interest in this, as apart from being a fan and
participant in this particular punk scene at the time 'Spikey Steve' is one
of the extra's. On the horizon next Saturday night 14.2.10 its back to the
Black Box for a 'Cramps' tribute night featuring the Sabrejets and the
Defects. Can't wait this is gonna be another cracker.
Joe Donnelly (Belfast) 6/2/10
The Good Vibrations Movie Pilot
QFT Belfast
7th February 2010
Didn't even know about this presentation until Saturday afternoon and it took a number
of emails from me via Facebook via Youngsy and then to the film-makers (who are very
nice people) to actually secure my seat. Which was finally sorted last minute style on
Sunday lunchtime. On Saturday afternoon we recieved a spooky automated telephone
message on our home phone telling 'Spikey Steve' that the promo screening was ON
for crew and extra's only. This sparked all my internet activity as up to this point I
thought I was getting in without a problem.
Anyway all was well in the end. SS and me headed down to the QFT and took our
place amongst the BBC staff, arty types, old punks, teenage actors, extra's and kids.
After a brief natter with Youngsy and Liz in the foyer we all headed to our seats for
what was only to be a five minute trailer designed to raise finance and thank everyone
involved in the filming up to this point. As expected Terri Hooley himself made
a short very witty speech followed by the producer 'Lisa Barros D'Sa' and
director 'Glenn Leyburn' who explained the thinking behind the project and its
current situation. Then it was curtain open, lights out, run the film.
The promo began with a montage of various troubles images etc from Belfast
circa 1978 then quickly into a scene were Terri played by Richard Dormer is
asking his bank manager for a large loan with very little collateral to open a
shop in 'bomb alley'. This was a very funny scene and had everyone
chuckling, then it was into the stuff I wanted to see....'the punk era'.
The recreation of the Pound/Harp bar was much better on the big screen
than I expected it to be. There was a few massive close ups of 'Spikey Steve'
looking cool, all spikey hair and studded leather jumping around to local indie
faves Cashier No 9 who were portraying Rudi (like father, like son) which had
him grinning like a chesire cat in his seat beside me. His mate Chris the
skinhead who was in the seat next to us also got a fair bit of screen time, so #
both of them were well chuffed, Hollywood (County Down) beckons lol.
The pilot ends with Terri's observation of that fateful night long long ago
which again is another very funny moment and then that was that, the credits
started rolling.
Everyone in the place was clapping enthusiastically, the trailer was very
good and bodes well for the actual cinema release when its eventually
completed. I cant wait to see the finished article.
As we left the QFT Terri was outside on the steps having a quick smoke, we all talked for a moment about the pilot, the previous Fridays SWS gig and the upcoming
Cramps tribute gig on Saturday coming. I said to him "this punk thing is never going to end is it?" To which he replied and I quote "not while I'm alive."
I think thats the perfect way to end this review.
Joe Donnelly Belfast 7/2/10
The Defects
Aggressors BC
Black Box, Belfast
5th February 2010
There was a very sad reason for this gig to happen. 87 year old Mr Samuel
Haveron was assaulted and had his home ransacked by a group of masked
men/scum who then robbed the elderly man of all his savings. His two sons
'Wee Sam' and 'Chuck' were both part of the Belfast punk scene. So it was
only right at this time of great distress for their family, that their punky pals
should band together to show our support and try to raise as much money
as possible for this worthy cause.
It was an early start and Spikey Steve and me arrived late. Runnin Riot guitarist
Marty's other band Aggressors BC were already well into their set of politically
aware uptempo rocksteady ska tunes. I'd never seen them live before they've only
been around less than a year, but they sounded great! Their fans were already
well boozed up and skanking. Very impressive band, I will definitely check them
out sometime in the very near future.
The Defects are back once again, well 'Buck' and 'Kinky' anyway. This time they're
joined on guitar by 'Roy McAllister' an ex member of Rabies/Western Justice and
on bass an ex member of NASA Assassins whose name I didn't catch? Sorry!
Allegedly original guitarist 'Dukie' doesn't play these days unless he's being paid!
The band are already booked for Rebellion 2010 and from the off it was easy to
see they were really up for this new line ups debut gig here tonight, in front of a
home crowd full of expectation. The Defects were fantastic, you know the tunes so
I'll not bother picking out any highlights, as they were all highlights. There was even time
for a cover of the Clash's 'Janie Jones' and a bit of showbiz theatrics when Buck
donned an old decommisioned RUC tunic and hat for the "SSRUC" chant during
'Brutality'. It went down a storm! Spikey Steve had never seen them live before and was
blown away, his heavily distorted rendition of 'Dance Until You Drop' was heard the next
day all over our house and probably the neighbours, as he blasted it out on his guitar.
In mine and many others opinion the Defects stole the show!
The place was boiling hot and we had to go outside to get a breath of fresh air and have
a chat with all the other oap's in the street during the interval. Back inside last but by no
means least Shame Academy are on stage. Again theres no need for me to start cherry
picking out individual tunes as you know them all off by heart and just how good this
band are. It's hard to believe Shame Academy have been together for almost seven
years and are now playing gigs in the UK, Eire, Spain and Italy with no doubt more
exotic locations to come? Well its about time these guys got a few free holidays out of
this punk rock lark. They've put more than enough time and energy into it. As always SA
gave it 100% even with Youngsy's technical problems and believe me following up
the Defects was never going to be an easy task. I would have liked SA to change the
set around and add a few more covers or tunes from their combined extensive back
catalogues like they used to do to freshen up and re-energise their live show.
Regardless they are still a premier league top quality punk rock band and
as always went down well with their hometown crowd. By the end Greg
was looking a bit peaky, dunno if he was feeling ill or not?
Tonights gig was a big success for the organisers, bands, fans but more
importanly for the Haveron family as there was a full house of young and
old familiar faces, hopefully all the money stolen was replaced and is now
back were it belongs.
This sunday 7.2.10 its up to the QFT for a short promo presentation of
the currently in production 'Terri Hooley / Good Vibrations' bio / movie
pilot. I have a vested interest in this, as apart from being a fan and
participant in this particular punk scene at the time 'Spikey Steve' is one
of the extra's. On the horizon next Saturday night 14.2.10 its back to the
Black Box for a 'Cramps' tribute night featuring the Sabrejets and the
Defects. Can't wait this is gonna be another cracker.
Joe Donnelly (Belfast) 6/2/10
The Good Vibrations Movie Pilot
QFT Belfast
7th February 2010
Didn't even know about this presentation until Saturday afternoon and it took a number
of emails from me via Facebook via Youngsy and then to the film-makers (who are very
nice people) to actually secure my seat. Which was finally sorted last minute style on
Sunday lunchtime. On Saturday afternoon we recieved a spooky automated telephone
message on our home phone telling 'Spikey Steve' that the promo screening was ON
for crew and extra's only. This sparked all my internet activity as up to this point I
thought I was getting in without a problem.
Anyway all was well in the end. SS and me headed down to the QFT and took our
place amongst the BBC staff, arty types, old punks, teenage actors, extra's and kids.
After a brief natter with Youngsy and Liz in the foyer we all headed to our seats for
what was only to be a five minute trailer designed to raise finance and thank everyone
involved in the filming up to this point. As expected Terri Hooley himself made
a short very witty speech followed by the producer 'Lisa Barros D'Sa' and
director 'Glenn Leyburn' who explained the thinking behind the project and its
current situation. Then it was curtain open, lights out, run the film.
The promo began with a montage of various troubles images etc from Belfast
circa 1978 then quickly into a scene were Terri played by Richard Dormer is
asking his bank manager for a large loan with very little collateral to open a
shop in 'bomb alley'. This was a very funny scene and had everyone
chuckling, then it was into the stuff I wanted to see....'the punk era'.
The recreation of the Pound/Harp bar was much better on the big screen
than I expected it to be. There was a few massive close ups of 'Spikey Steve'
looking cool, all spikey hair and studded leather jumping around to local indie
faves Cashier No 9 who were portraying Rudi (like father, like son) which had
him grinning like a chesire cat in his seat beside me. His mate Chris the
skinhead who was in the seat next to us also got a fair bit of screen time, so #
both of them were well chuffed, Hollywood (County Down) beckons lol.
The pilot ends with Terri's observation of that fateful night long long ago
which again is another very funny moment and then that was that, the credits
started rolling.
Everyone in the place was clapping enthusiastically, the trailer was very
good and bodes well for the actual cinema release when its eventually
completed. I cant wait to see the finished article.
As we left the QFT Terri was outside on the steps having a quick smoke, we all talked for a moment about the pilot, the previous Fridays SWS gig and the upcoming
Cramps tribute gig on Saturday coming. I said to him "this punk thing is never going to end is it?" To which he replied and I quote "not while I'm alive."
I think thats the perfect way to end this review.
Joe Donnelly Belfast 7/2/10
