The
first gig of the year – nay, of the decade – was a bit of a late call… I’d been
on to Marr’s Bar to see if I could get Logan into this rare “full band” outing
from Nick Parker, one of his favourite folk/ punk/ pop travelling troubadours
(particularly so, given that this gig was due to be recorded for a future
“live” album), but the 14+ only stipulation was sadly immovable. Thereafter I’d
just let it slip my mind, intending to take my little man to the pics instead
to see “1917”, only to find on the day that this was a 15 certificate! D’oh!
However, Facebook came to my rescue, as comments from both my friend Rich and
his mate Terry confirmed their attendance, so I got a late ticket and invite
from the boys to tag along!
An early pick-up for a late departure at 7.30 saw us hammer up the M5, double-quick time, and park up in a muddy car park just around the corner from the venue, after a couple of laps around the town centre. My first time at this one – indeed, my first ever gig in Worcester! – and this small, scuzzy venue was already well-attended by the Parker faithful. Nick was at the merch stand, gleefully shaking hands with all and sundry, announcing, “this is great – I know pretty much everyone here!” Indeed, it seemed as though the whole Parker massive had come out of hibernation for this one, as I ran into both fellow Swindonians Grant and his wife Lisa, and also Claire, who I’d ran into whilst chatting to Nick at Wickham Festival!
Anyway,
first on were Abdoujaparov. My previous exposure to former Jamie Wednesday
guitarist and Carter USM wingman Les “Fruitbat” Carter’s current musical
project, at Shiiine On 2018 (gig 1,112), was less than impressive, so hopes
weren’t high as a jovial Fruitbat led his charges through some early doors old
school punk rock with unsurprising Carter USM-esque song structures and
flippant, punnish wordplay. Indeed, an early number recalled “Heads Down No
Nonsense Mindless Boogie” by obscure 70’s comedy punkers Alberto Y Los Trios
Paranoias, and another had a “Dark Entries”-esque thrashy descending riff! I
actually warmed to this set as Fruitbat seemed to be throwing the kitchen sink
at it – a Ukranian-style jig-fest here, a Coral-esque sea shanty there, and a
flippant but fun terrace chant about umbrellas being my set favourite. It felt
a little overlong, but infinitely better than that Shiiine On debacle, a point
I also made to Les himself at the end of the gig, also recalling those Jamie
Wednesday days!
I
took a wander down the front as Nick and The False Alarms – all 7 of them! –
squeezed onto the cramped and busy stage, before kicking off a little early at
10 to 10 with the rousing Irish jig of “Never Been To Dublin” Straightaway this
engendered a mass singalong from the Parker devotees, a state of affairs which
pretty much continued all night, the gig feeling similar in atmosphere and
general bonhomie to Gaz Brookfield’s “AGM of lovely people,” last time out.
Nick himself sported a cheesy grin throughout, often remarking, “this is fun!
Can we do this again next year?”, and threw himself into the performance, often
laudably red-faced and sweating buckets for the cause, and looking after his
congregation too, inquiring, “this is all good-natured, right?” every time an
often violent mosh broke out.
“Make
Yourself At Home” was a soaring, roof-raising early delight, “Down With The
Yoof” a joyous ragged reel with some exemplary fiddle from the ubiquitous Ben
Wain, and “Could We At Least Try” saw Nick and multi-instrumentalist Tom split
the audience to fill out the harmony parts of song characters “Larissa” and
“Sebastian”. However an amazing cover of Sugar’s classic popcore number “If I
Can’t Change Your Mind” was a startling mid-set highlight, seeing me rock out
like those 90’s Lev’s days to this irresistibly catchy number, which Nick and
the boys did full justice to. Nick’s daughter Flo then joined him onstage to
duet on a stark “Guess I’ll Never Know”, delivering a beautiful world-weary
vocal well beyond her years. A couple of real contrasting numbers, but both
stunning.
A
couple of moshs broke out to later numbers, as I ran into a hairy specimen in
the mosh wearing the same “B-Sydes” t-shirt as me (right down to the same
purple colour!), grabbing ahold of him and shouting, “fuck me, it’s like
looking in a mirror!” Les Carter then joined the False Alarms onstage (making
that stage even more cramped!) for a run through of Carter USM’s “Only Living
Boy In New Cross”, splendidly authentic right down to the pulsing beat and
gabbling denouement. “Song For Suzy” finally rounded off a splendidly
ragged-arsed, frantic yet totally fun singalong set, a damn fine way to kick
off gigging year 2020!
After
the aforementioned chat with Les and a quick word with a sweaty and elated Nick
about Sugar, I located the boys and we headed off for an equally breakneck
journey home. Shame Logan couldn’t join us for that, but actually that mosh
might’ve been a bit much for him. So, glad I went – this may have been a late
call, but t’was a great call!
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