(excerpts from)
Joe Strummer Tribute Session
Bad Man Wagon
Night & Day 9/3/03
Click on the links for (hopefully) pix of each bands
It's difficult enough to grab the attention of the crowd during the course of a set, but to be able to do it with 1
number? And that has to be a cover of a seminal band such as
the Clash? What can be a daunting prospect that could be, yet
it can also realise a source of creative potential, much like the
one that was about to be unfurled today.
So with daylight still streaming through the windows of that
local sauna known as the Night & Day café, "Slam" and "I Win
I Drive" kick started proceedings with faithful versions of
"Clampdown" and "Clash City Rockers" respectively.
So step forward Sonic Boom Six who were brave enough to
de-construct the original of "Safe European Home" to a bare
shell then cram into it as many different musical styles as
possible. It shouldn't have really worked, but this time it did,
and gloriously at that.
A dressed up Performance followed with an equally eclectic
combination of electronica/ska to dispense "Janie Jones" to a crowd that was now getting the hang of the format,
slaking their thirst on beer, watching the raw energy emanating from the video screen displaying Joe in his element,
that is performing on a stage. Grainy video footage purloined from cameras snuck into venues, relayed images from
Clash & Mascelaros gigs.
The shaking, sweat soaked, out of focus figures wanting to give something back to
their audience evoked misty eyed nostalgia from those present today. Though Joe's
sharp features may have been softened with the passing of time, the quiff was still
there, and just as recognisable were the sweat, energy and enthusiasm with which he
sought to repay those who had turned up to see his band, displaying his clear love of
music, a passion that could not diminish with the passing of time.
Now snapped back to the present, Thee Virus House, bedecked in uniform black,
transformed "This is Radio Clash" into a magnificent slab of dark, intense electro,
overlaid with a monotone delivery that was over far too soon.
Once Darren Snake had entered the building, a blues fuelled, harmonica laden,
rendition of "Rudy Can't Fail" was eventually satifyingly
Ian Britt managed to literally strip "Stay Free" down to a pure, almost acoustic ballad
that was simple in execution, but intense in delivery, so much so that through the day
he had devotees of Jones coming up to congratulate him on his renditon.
Perhaps the most poignant time of the day was when the singer with Sugar Rocket
got up on stage alongside Saucerman for "Magnificent Seven". His band were due to
open the set but due to the death of their guitarist the day before (aged 22)
understandably, they pulled out
Such is the hap hazard, play it by ear, nature of these things that if you decided to nip out, the chances are that you
will miss something e.g. Little Neemo, Lord Mongo El Presidente, Bone Box & Moco, despite the fact that you have
copied the timings from the sound engineer.
The last "proper band" up were a Cressa led "Bad Man
Wagon", and the reggae laden version of "Revolution Rock"
that followed once again filled a beer sodden, bottle strewn,
area that could loosely be termed as a dance floor
So the impromptu finale was an "Everyone-One-On-Stage-Live
Aid-sing along" rendition of "White Riot", forcing relatively
aged limbs to re-kindle the seemingly long forgotten ability to
(mildly) pogo alongside another generation of music lovers
who longingly wished they could have been there, for one
concert, just one, to experience the intensity of it. Bodies
swayed and smiles continued to break out on a wide spread
basis
There were people on the stage, they thought it was all over.
Tonight it may be, but the Clash legacy shall surely remain.