My Favourite Gig – Derrick Johnston

This is the eleventh in a series all taken from the Fanzine Hope *.2. The fanzine sees a collection of 70 contributors from the punk rock world.  All asked the same question What is Your Favourite Gig.

The zine is €5 including postage to anywhere  It is a benefit for Pikpa Refugee Centre, Lesvos  

 Pay by paypal, here

This week it is Derrick Johnston, head honcho of make that a take records

Leatherface headlining Book Yer Ane Fest V

Dundee in 2011

 

To answer a question about a favourite gig is pretty difficult; do I pick one that I’ve attended, one that I’ve played or one that we’ve put on?

 

There are loads that spring to mind; seeing At The Drive In back in 2000, Beastie Boys at T In The Park ’98, Against Me in King Tuts years ago, so many shows jump out at me; Kula Shaker at The Caird Hall in Dundee was my first “big” show way back in 1997 and I remember that I lost a shoe trying to crowd surf. That was when I figured out that hardcore and indie rock crowds didn’t necessarily mix!

Of equal importance was the gig at the now non-existent Westport Bar in Dundee on my 16th birthday when my band (Humus Kife) played with Mercury Tilt Switch, Tenesee Kait and Agent Orange (now Kaddish). That show was seminal and of great importance to me.

I’ve played some incredible shows with my various bands across the years too; from playing with some of my favourites (Off With Their Heads, The Flatliners, RVIVR; a sold out show in Edinburgh that was Uniforms’ first ever gig) to playing our first ever show in America at Pre-Fest 10 in Gainesville, Florida.

 

However, I think the greatest set I’ve ever seen with my own eyes was watching the mighty Leatherface headlining Book Yer Ane Fest V at Kage Nightclub, Dundee in 2011. I will never forget the feeling of being absolutely exhausted after playing earlier that day and running the show, which was our first three-day BYAF. I had lost my phone the previous evening and was running around demented all day. I was so nervous when Leatherface arrived as they’ve long been one of my favourite bands and to see them up “on stage” in our club at a sold-out festival was a surreal experience. We’re usually razor-sharp when it comes to timekeeping but nobody gave a shit that Leatherface were running over their set time. I mean, come on, would you go and tell Frankie Stubbs that time was up?

 

I’ll never forget that night. I believe pride can be a dangerous emotion but there are few times when I’ve felt more proud of being involved in punk rock than standing at the back watching a few hundred punks lose their minds while Leatherface blasted out classic after classic. A truly humbling and educational experience for which I shall be eternally grateful.

 

Hope Show 113 – the lowdown

Hope Show 113
1. Pup – reservoir
2. Pup – Dark Days
3. Down By Law – rebel Conformist
4. Bangers – The Pits
5. Maxwells Dead – Home
6. Black Flag – TV Party
7. L.O.T.I.O.N. – Computers Don’t Have a Heartbat
8. Apes Brigade – The Interrogation of the Good
9. Protomartyr – Dope Cloud
10. Sleater Kinney – Bury Our Friends
11. Martha – Chekhovs Hangnail
12. Bedford Falls – Anodyne
13. The Great St Louis – Mooresy
14. No Monster Club – Late Bloomers
15. Kevin Seconds – Only Drug
16. KatJon Band – Machine Gun and the Ugly Doll
17. Flies on you – Action Stations

I’m loving the new Pup album out now on Side One Dummy. Two stand out songs in particular Dark Days and REsevoir – had to play them both.

Down By Law are old faves of mine. I lost a bit of interest when singer Dave Smalley started propgating American Republican politics, they released an album last year ad are touring Europe towards the Summer

Bangers are a punk rock band from Cornwall

Maxwells Dead are on the wonderful Make That a take records singing about the punk scene in the UK. They feel part of the punk rock community that I too feel happy to be part of. They are my neighbours that I’ve yet to meet

Wanted to take a turn and move things heavy for a few songs, in case you think I was mellowing out so I reach for the trusty Black Flag. US Hardcore at its hardest.

L.O.T.I.O.N are industrial punk from New York City, pretty interesting group of people

Apes Brigade are an intersting group from Marseille who sing in English

Goober Patrol brought out a great split with 7 Day Conspiracy last year with their ‘tribute’ to their party holding government right now – Tory. Wonder what we will be singing about in Ireland after our general election next week?

Hardly Art has some interesting bands including Protomartyr from Detroit, the more I listen to them the more I like them. They are playing Dublin at the end of March

I missed Sleater Kinney when they played Vicar Street in Dublin last year, I wanted to go but it wasn’t to be, like a lot of things the real world takes priority. Martha are flying a flag that Sleater Kinney were involved in raising. DIY rock inspired by strong independent women, showing that you don’t have to be a woman with a gimmick to be in a band. Martha from newcastle are strong exponents of diy lo-fi intelligent indie pop rock punk.

The Great St Louis and Bedford Falls go hand in hand and when stories get written abut influential tuneful UK didy bands these two will be up there and with Leatherface be seen as great great bands. Funny how they can slip through cracks. Thankfuly we still have Bear Trade and Stay Clean Jolene to keep us excited about it.

No Monster Club from Dublin have a new album on the way, this isn’t on it but I havent got my hands on the record yet, I will and I will play it. I love their swagger.

Kevin Seconds was and still is the voice behind positive US hardcore band 7 seconds. There’s an introspective mood to tongihts show so I’m going with a solo song from the great man.

I saw the KatJon Band play one of their few gigs in Amsterdam a few years ago. Kat, from the ex, joined john langford from the mekons + three johns on stage and played as a two piece. Love this record

It’s been a fairly mellow show tonight with some good tunes being the basis for it. For me it’s the calm before the storm as I get ready to head out on another protest march on the streets of Dublin. We, as a nation, will get a chance to voice our collecitve opinion on the poilitics of austerity and (in)equality and the show tonight reflects a sombre mood. It’s a case of what might be or could have been. but let Flies on You finish us off tonight while we sing along to their anthemic chorus
“Please bring down the forks and spoons,
Please bring down the plates and bowls
Please bring down the dirty clothes
And pleeeeease…… bring down the government”

Enjoy

niallhope

Hope Show 109 – the lowdown

Hope Show 109 – the lowdown

Playlist
1. Youth Of Today – No More
2. Quicksand – Delusional
3. Custody – Stitches are all we have
4. The No Marks – Coming Around
5. World Be Free – Breakout or Busted
6. Allo’ Darlin’ – Silver Dollars
7. June Brides – Every Conversation
8. June Brides – A January Moon
9. No Ditching- If you hate cats you die
10. Vanilla Pod – Restore Factory Settings
11. Freebase – P.N.D.
12. Sacrilege – Star Wars
13. Fit Of Anger – The Oppressed
14. Down To Nothing – Life On The James
15. The Walking Targets- Here’s to the thoughts we hold
16. Maxwells dead – Would you go out with me
17. Down and Out’s – Iron
18. All – Until I say so

Tonight’s show feature People from record labels who have contributed to the latest Hope fanzine. The same question was asked of over 70 contributors, “What was your favorite gig?” and answers were as wide, varied and mixed up as you’d expect. It was all done in good spirits as the zine is a benefit for pikpa lesvos refugee centre. You can buy the fanzine here

We start off tonight’s show with some US Hardcore music from Youth Of Today, just wanted to make sure you were awake. Youth of Today were on Revelation Records who were leading the way in the 90’s pushing the New York Hardcore scene. Some of the bands members have been in many other bands including Quicksand.

Custody brought out a 7″ on Brassneck Records last year. Brassneck is based in Cardiff and have been releasing records since 2010. The latest release is a split between No Marks and the Spoilers and is out in a week or so.

World Be Free are on Revelation Records, and are pretty much a super group of the new york hardcore scene from the early 90’s

I saw Allo’ Darlin in London a few years ago and was numb with shivers rushing through my body when they played this song. So much of the positive things about being in a band came through that night and the music is just pur pop majestic. Out on slumberland records.

A band that finished their illustrous career on slumberland is the June Brides, I had to play two songs panning that career. My introduction was Every Conversation from the NME c86 era, and they continued with style right throughout.

No Ditching are part of an expanding Durham, Newcastle, scene of diy pop. They have an ep available from Drunken Sailor now

Dry heave records is an interesting label. Set up to remind people of great music from times gone by when thrasher magazine was read by many in the punkk scene with check shirts and baseball caps. Vanilla Pod are a bit of a surprise for the label as their songs, whilst still retaining the speed, are more tuneful. Freebase get ready to thrash out, for sure. This is from their 4 way split

Freddy Alva has a very interesting story. Read the previous link to find out. His Wardance label captured some great new york bands, much like Revelation. Sacrilege are one of these, Fit of anger are on his New Breed Tape Compilation.

Down to nothing ahve that classic Revelation sound

I’ve mentioned make that a take records many times on this show and keep playing the Scotish label bands. I love the title Here’s to the thoughts we hold from the walking targets and how true that is.

Years ago there was a pop punk band, crocodile god, on Skimmer Records. their music lives on for many and there’s a tribute compilation to them. Down and Outs are a punk band from Liverpool and their take of Iron is on this.

Finally All were listed as the favourite gig for Scott from Brassneck Records and I love tenuous links and a reason to play All.

niallhope

Label of the week – Make That a take

The tale of Make that a take records is very interesting. If they want to see a band play, they put on their own gigs, if they want a film about it they make their own film. If they want a festival with many of their favourite bands they make their own fest and finally if they want to see a record from these bands they make their own records. Completely DIY and fully deserving of our support

If you havent’t heard anything from the likes of Kaddish, Stonethrower, Billy Liar or Maxwell’s Dead then use the opportunity over the next few days to download them for free and think about contributing to this great label.

http://makethatatakerecords.com/releases/all-2015-releases-freepay-what-you-want-download/

 

This weeks news – August 17

Round Up – August 17

The post Rebellion blues really kick in I reflect on last weekends festival and get saving for 2016.

The Temples festival intial line up for 2016 has been revealed.
FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE 2ND-5TH, INCLUDING ALL PIGS MUST DIE, BONGRIPPER, DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT, GROUNDHOGS AND WEEKEND NACHOS. It has that novel feel in that location hasn’t been announced yet more news here

Dischord Records has always been a label close to my heart. I dj’d a couple of weeks ago at the post Salad Days screening in Dublin’s IFI but the label is continuing to go from strength to strength. Lungfis, Jawbox and Bikini Kill records have all be remastered for release and the Zomes album (featuring Asa from Lungfish) has just been released. More news here

A couple of fanzines made it to me this week. Blackpool Rox II *10 – Blackpool Rox Towers, c/o 16 Windmill Close, Blackpool, FY3 OEB, UK ; andy@jsntgm.com and Suspect Device *56 http://www.suspectdevice.co.uk suspectdevicehq@gmail.com
Both are great reads and a give a strong background to the current diy punk scene.

Damaged Goods are as active as ever. Cyanide Pills and Johnny Moped played rebellion last week. Johnny Moped are back with their first 7″ since 1978! It’s a double A-side of ‘Ain’t No Rock N Roll Rookie’ and ‘Super Woofa’, it will be followed by their new album sometime in late 2015 or early 2016.
The label is home to Wild Billy Childish whose CMTF Die interstoisser Traverse Ltd was originally available on a limited double 10” courtesy of Squoodge Records of Germany, these songs were released to mark Billy’s exhibition “Darkness was here yesterday” at the Carl Freedman Gallery in London back in 2013. They released a hand-stamped mail-order only CD version at the time but now have some lovely 12″ vinyl LP copies. On a choice of colours – green, clear or orange. Each is limited to 180 copies

Holly Golightly will have a new single and album out towards the end of this month (August)

Make That A Take Records is a prolific underground label based in Sctoland, organisers of book yer ane fest and write yer ane zine these are the true epitomoy of do it yourself. The latest relase is a compilation benefit for cancer awareness “Songs For Mum” and has songs by Bear Trade, The CutUps, LaChance and the Murderburgers amongst others

The kickstarter campain for Dunstan Bruce, from Chumbawamba’s I Get Knocked Down movie is now complete. Dunstan has raised the €40,000 required. Now the real work starts

This weeks Pledge of the week is for the Membranes . The band have just released their first album in over 20 years and are planning to release a remix album. The whole of the acclaimed Dark Matter/Dark Energy album is being remixed by the likes of Einsturzende Neubauten, Bad Seeds, The Pop Group , Therapy , Youth from Killing Joke and many
others. To release it they have set up a pledge with some unique things on it…you can either remix a track, get the membranes to play a gig in your house or get a guided tour of your town or just pre order the album – or many other things

Gig News

Deerhoff are “Highly revered indie rockers from San Francisco who play fractured, whimsical noise pop with an avant-garde edge.” or so Skinny WOlves so who are putting on their gig in Whelans on the 19th August Also playing on the night are So Cow

Feature Gig

In November 2005, Limerick, Ireland, duo giveamanakick unleashed We Are The Way Forward. It was their second album. It came out on CD. It was not available on iTunes. Spotify did not exist. The album received a fair share of acclaim at the time for its swashbuckling assault on the senses (in a good way). Rock critics fawned over it, saying stuff like:
“We Are The Way Forward combines the ugliness of brute force with the beauty of invention…A classic” 9/10 – Hot Press

“We Are the Way Forward will surprise you with its knockabout skills, unlikely hooks and wild sense of abandon… A ton of fun”, 4/5. – The Irish Times

“A big two fingers up to the world… without a doubt the best band in Ireland right now. There really is no competition. We Are The Way Forward is just that.” – Limerick Leader

Because it sounds good to say so, and because it’s kind of true, the album garnered cult status in the years that followed, and became a firm fan favourite. giveamanakeith and steveamanakick travelled up and down the country, played with a host of musical luminaries (there were loads, can’t remember ’em all), and toured across Europe, Canada, and USA.

gamak sadly called it a day in 2009, playing a one-off show in 2013 to mark their former label Out On A Limb Records’ tenth birthday party.
This is all useful information because to mark the tenth anniversary of We Are The Way Forward, giveamanakick are getting back together to perform the album in its entirety this autumn. Four gigs will happen. No more, no less.
Go see them at Roisin Dubh, Galway (September 24th), Dolans, Limerick (September 26th), Whelans,

Dublin (October 10th) and De Barras, Clonakilty (October 23rd). Special guests for all these shows is turntablist/production hero of the west, Naive Ted.

To celebrate this news, Out On A Limb Records will be releasing We Are The Way Forward for the first time ever on a very Limited Edition 180grm Heavyweight Vinyl LP, which can now be pre-ordered A
href=”http://outonalimbrecords.bigcartel.com/product/giveamanakick-we-are-the-way-forward-lp”> here
If for some bizarre reason you have never actually heard the album, take some vegan ice cream out of the freezer, sit back and listen to it here

THOSE DATES AGAIN:

Roisin Dubh, Galway (September 24th)

Dolans, Limerick (September 26th)

Whelans, Dublin (October 10th)

De Barras, Clonakilty (October 23rd)

niallhope

Play Of The Day – Billy Liar

Folk punk played with abandon Scotlands Billy Liar is a regular at the book yer ane fest.

Here is one of his earlier releases

niallhope

Play of the Day – Get It Together

Coming out this week in celebration of Book Yer Ane Fest

niallhope

Play of The Day – Broken Stories

As mentioned yesterday – book yer ane fest is on this week have a look at what it’s all about here.

Broken Stories is one of many cool Dundee punk bands doing the rounds

niallhope

Play of the Day – Kimberley Steaks

Kimberley Steaks – To Live and Die in West Scotland.

I reviewed this a while back but in case you didn’t check them out at the time here’s the album, West Scots influenced by San Fran punks

niallhope

Play Of The Day – Make That a Take Compilation

This week is dedicated to Make That a take Records. IN honour of their book yer ane fest this weekend.

Dundee punk label in true diy spirit

niallhope