The Chicago pop-punk kings are finally back in town!
Did I ever mention that I’ll forever be annoyed with my parents for having me too late for me to be old enough to see the Ramones? Oh well, I just have to content myself with bands that channel the sound and spirit of Joey and his brothers. Screeching Weasel are a case in point; the band themselves proudly declare: “Saw the Ramones. Started a band. Pissed a lot of people off.” Clearly they made plenty more people happy, because tonight, the Electric Ballroom is respectably full for the band’s first London date in a decade.
We’re always happy to see The Speedways, and even more so when they’re armed with (a) a new guitarist, Dan, who fits in beautifully, and (b) new songs that Elvis Costello would surely kick himself for not having written, back in his ‘This Year’s Model’ heyday. Taking inspiration from the trials and tribulations of love, they’ve channelled their heartache and frustration into gloriously addictive tunes, and a late set brace of Kirsty MacColl’s ‘They Don’t Know’ and their own ‘Seen Better Days’ is a smart move indeed.
The Ballroom is only about a third full by this point, but they’ve clearly got the early birds onside, and by the time they close with ‘In A World WIthout Love, It’s Hard To Stay Young’, it’s clear that they can chalk tonight up as a victory.
4ft Fingers have come to conquer, and a furious ‘Burn The Bridges’ proves perhaps a bit too furious, as singer/guitarist Rob breaks a string mid-song. He cops some pretty merciless teasing from his bandmates, poor bloke, but all is soon resolved, and they crack on in typically loud and fast style.
It’s been 25 years since they released their debut album, ‘At Your Convenience’; a feast of very British skate-punk in a genre then dominated by Americans, and it’s heartening that new single ‘Better Days’ (ooh, those harmonies!) could have slotted neatly into that record whilst simultaneously sounding fresh and invigorating. Playing with the confidence of a band who know they’re among friends, the closing ‘Last Man Standing’ ignites chaos in the pit, and leaves us pumped up and ready for the headliners.
Cynics might say that the Screeching Weasel of today are really The Ben Weasel Band, following the departure of then sole remaining co-founder John Jughead, but it’s safe to say that, as they rip into opener ‘I’m Gonna Strangle You’, everyone present is just thrilled to have them back. Tonight, they blast through nearly 30 songs and barely pause for breath in between, to the glee of a crowd who clearly knows all the words and goes utterly nuts throughout. Drawing plenty from their classic ‘Boogadaboogadaboogada!’ and ‘My Brain Hurts’ albums, they really can’t fail tonight, and if you close your eyes, you’d swear it was a bunch of young folks up there, such is the intensity and energy on display.
He may have a controversial reputation, but this evening, Mr Weasel comes across as enthusiastic and humble, taking the time to thank us for showing up and regaling us with the odd tale from back in the day. Special shout out, too, to lead guitarist Ginger Panero, who attacks his instrument in frenzied, hair-swishing style, and just adds to the sense of gleeful abandon that pemeates this evening.
Great stuff all round, but the encore really pushes things up a notch, with a closing trio of ‘I Wanna Be A Homosexual’ (complete with heart-warming family tale and huge sing-along), ‘My Right’ and ‘Cool Kids’ the perfect way to both sign off and to bring the house down. Screeching Weasel may be increasingly long in the tooth, but with performances like these, we’ll be hoping for their swift return. Please don’t make us wait another decade, guys!
All Photos: ALEX GOOSE
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I spend my days teaching English to foreign students, and my evenings attending as many gigs as possible. Raised mainly on a diet of 90s third-wave punk, my tastes have grown to include just about anything from trad ska to thrash metal. The Ramones are my musical gods.
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