Following Pascal Briggs was Hanover Saints from Sacramento. Although their bio has them as a four-piece there were only three performing this show. They packed an impressive punch for a trio with their hard driving full steam ahead fast playing, but there wasn’t much to their music that made them stand out from any other punk band. They were very tight and put on a forceful performance, but lacked the zest that I’ve seen in other bands.
My Life In Black and White hit the stage next. I had never heard of this band and knew nothing about them, but I was blown away. This five-piece from Portland, OR churned out high-powered chords, leaped and darted all over the stage and worked the expanding audience into a frenzy. Vocalist Dylan Summers plays an electric/acoustic guitar, has his head practically shaved and sports various tattoos up his arms. He is an amazing performer who never stops moving. The audience went wild and the slamming began with a vengeance.
Drummer Cody Landauer reminded me of a caveman with his beard and the crudely drawn tattoos on his torso. He was amazing while he beat the skins as if the entire kit would rise up and attack if he stopped. But that’s exactly what My Life In Black and White’s music does — it rises up and attacks.
Their very provocative lyrics covered social topics, many of which were vehemently anti war. This band is one to watch out for. They put on a powerful performance, have intelligent lyrics and they know how to rock. Highly recommended.
The artist that followed was another folky singer with an acoustic/electric and I had doubts that anyone could hold up after My Life In Black and White. I was profoundly mistaken. Tim Barry, a troubadour from Richmond, VA is a rare gem. Not only did he perform the first part of his show on the dance floor surrounded by the audience, he had this audience of punk rockers in the palm of his hand. His songs were part Johnny Cash and part Woody Guthrie with profound lyrics covering subjects about slavery, the human cost of war, and even relationships.
With many of his songs, he told a story about what inspired them, almost apologizing for writing a relationship song, but justifying it by saying that everyone can relate to the subject. When he introduced a song he wrote about his love of riding freight trains, he added that he hoped everyone felt fulfilled by doing something illegal from time to time. This brought a laugh from the audience. He talked about how a graveyard where free blacks and black slaves were buried had been paved over for a parking lot by Richmond University’. There was such a protest over this action, that the parking lot was subsequently torn up and is once again a sacred burial site. His moral was, no matter how small you think your voice is, don’t be afraid of a little civil disobedience, because you can bring about change. Tim Barry finished his set back amongst the audience again and thanked them for being so respectful, adding that a guy with a guitar singing kum bah ya to a bunch of punk rockers might not always go over well. But this audience, including myself, were very moved by his performance. I would see him again in a heartbeat.
Another wild punk band, The Swinging Utters hit the stage right after Tim Barry. Even these angry punks mentioned Barry’s performance. Vocalist Johnny Peebucks mentioned how awestruck he was by Barry’s performance, stating, and I quote, “Man, that guy was righteous.”
The Swinging Utters came on stage kicking and screaming. Johnny Peebucks is mad as hell and wants everyone to know it. He thrashed about the stage, throwing down mic stands and on two occasions bashed his forehead into the microphone, leaving two bloody spots. He staggered about at breakneck speed, all the time, belting out songs that were fast and hard and very well executed.
Johnny Peebucks is a very animated, very dynamic performer and the band knows how to play punk music. Their songs stood out and even though the show largely belonged to singer Johnny, all members were fascinating. They provided Johnny the opportunity to throw a wild temper tantrum and it was a blast watching him throw the tantrum. Swinging Utters go on my highly recommended list.
You got to pass the bowl and make the food go round
Cos that’s the only way to trample crime to the ground
Equal rights and justice for one and all
Cos only through liberty freedom shall form
Don’t fight against no colour class nor creed
For on discrimination does violence breed
We are all in a one and one in all
So throw away the guns and the war’s all gone
Throw away the hunger and the war’s all gone
Throw away the fighting and the war’s all gone
Throw away the guns and the war’s all gone
Throw away the hunger and the war’s all gone
Throw away the fighting and the war’s all gone
are still timely thirty years later. It amazes and saddens me to see how little progress we’ve made since the days when Reagan and Thatcher ruled supreme. Stiff Little Fingers played their most famous songs including the sappy Barbed Wire Love, which they “dirtied” up so it wasn’t nearly as sappy live.
This is not an active band on stage. That is, they don’t move around the stage much, but their lack of movement is made up for in the music. They played with the same unrelenting, savage power as any of the newer punk bands and the message is the same. A recurring theme amongst most bands at this festival was anti war and quell the oppressors (the basic punk rock ethos), whomever the oppressors may be at the time.
Jake Burns, along with bassist Ali McMordie are the only original members left, but the entire band exhibited a camaraderie and joy of playing together, that it seemed like they’d all been playing together for thirty years.
Burns sang the praises of the Clash, particularly Clash singer Joe Strummer, whom he claimed was his most influential idol, before lighting into their song “Strummerville.”
For an encore, the band played “I Fought the Law,” which Burns admitted was a song that was murdered by just about every band on the planet. Their version was every bit as good as The Clash’s version and much meatier than the original by The Bobby Fuller Four in 1966. “I Fought the Law” was followed by probably SLF’s most recognized song, “Alternative Ulster.”
I’m sorry I’ve had to wait so long to see Stiff Little Fingers. If and when they come back to Seattle, I will be first in line to buy tickets.
I have had the most memorable experience seeing bands I’ve enjoyed before, bands I was familiar with, but had never seen, and bands I was unfamiliar with, but am now a big fan. This was an amazing festival and I hope there will be more like it in the future.
