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MUSIC IN MANCHESTER
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The Parkinsons
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Hop & Grape, 2/10/02
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First on @ 8pm with a crowd that is only just beginning to trundle in. Well
it's only to be expected when the Parkinson's aren't on till 9.30, but it's
difficult to work out who is the main act tonight, especially 
when they
all know each other so well. And if London
thinks it has the copyright on all things
nu-punk, well they are merely catching up
with things that have been happening *Oop
`North"for the last couple of years.
A no frills intro from Jackie O, preferring to let their
blues tingled, surf style amalgam of sound, to build
gradually, increasing momentum until the crowd
have reverentially stopped drinking during the
songs, at first unsure of what to make of this
distinctive style. Do they like it? It's not easy to
categorise, to make lazy comparisons or to
categorise, but by the time that "Che" has segued
seamlessly into "Consuella's Ass" squalling guitar,
sweaty bodies et all, they want more
With the Strap On's beer is not merely consumed, but thrown, spat
& swum in. Pretty much a regular gig there then. With a swagger
and arrogance fueled by Carling & vodka, Ed Strap On leads this
merry bunch reprobates through a high energy good old fashioned
thrash. Incoherent vocals - Ed could have been reciting nursery
rhymes for all we know - but the pace was unrelenting as befits a
band heavily influenced by the Ramones
You've heard the hype & know all about the Parkinson's taking to
the stage half -sometimes fully- naked. Well they're wrong. They
spend all the time in amongst the audience, half naked of course.
Don't come to a Parkies gig unless you know the lyrics to one of
their songs. It doesn't matter which one, as they tend to be
interchangeable except for a distinctive chorus that each song hangs upon, but you stand a good chance of having a
mic shoved under your nose whilst one or more of said group goes for a quick climb amongst the speaker stack
"Bad Girls" & "Streets of London" are fine examples of their interpretation of the punk scene; an intensity running 
alongside the machine gun dispensed chords. After having to put on this type of show
since they first started. 
One could forgive them if they appeared tired by repetition,
but to their credit they don't. They genuinely want to
put on a performance that you will talk about
Just remember to bring your waterproofs
Manchester
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