03 March 2008

THE RADIATORS FROM SPACE, Dublin, 18.11.2006

Well I got into town at around 6.30pm and as doors didn't open until 7.30pm I thought I'd have a wander. I ended up going to HMV in Grafton St. There I bought a CD Box Set by Billy Bragg and a DVD by a Punk band from the US called Bad Brains - who I think must be the fastest band on the planet. It is a gig recorded at CBGB's on Christmas Eve 1982 (When your beard was red). I had a good look around but there was really nothing else of interest (surprise surprise). When I went to the pay point I mentioned to the assistant serving me that I was going to see the Radiators From Space and she looked at me as if I had two heads. I think store assistants think music starts and ends with either Paul Weller or Nirvana.

After HMV I went on over to Abrakebabra and had a Doner Kebab which was quite pleasant however you wouldn't want to be eating them every day or your colesterol level would soar.
Approaching 7.20pm I started to make my way to Wexford St for the gig. When I arrived nothing was happening so I went next door to Ryan's and had a read of the new issue of Hot Press. I know you aren' t mad about it but now and again it can be quite good.At around 7.50pm I went back to Whelans and after about 15 minutes it opened and we were admitted inside.
I got myself a pint and the bar propped me up.At around 9.00pm after a quite mediocre opening act (a guy playing an acoustic guitar on his lap, which wasn't really that dynamic especially when you are going to see one of Ireland's premier Punk bands).

Finally the Rads arrived on stage and I rushed down the front from the bar area.Phil Chevron started by saying that he had raised the eyebrows of security at the airport when they saw his guitar strings which he said they thought they could be used to garot someone. I really love this band and they played for approximately 1and a half hours. They ran through a slew of songs from they're new album ("Trouble Pilgrim") and they were great. Stand outs : "The Concierge"(with Steve on vocals),"Joe Strummer"(a tribute to the famous Clash man),"Huguenot" (about Phil's Dublin history) and another great song " We are so beautiful"(with Pete on vocals). In my opinion these are really strong songs and it is nice to note that after nearly 30 years on the go these guys keep getting better.

At the end of the gig Phil praised us for being so patient with the new songs but really I was never as unimpatient in my life. But the band didn't forget their older fans and did renditions of :"They're looting in the town", "Sunday World", "Enemies", "Million Dollar Hero", "Johnny Jukebox", "Kitty Rickets"........
All in all an unmissable gig and it was finished with my personal favorite Punk single of all time and Irelands first Punk single (a la The Damned's "New Rose" in the UK):"Television Screen" I, along with the rest of the audience, went mad.

At the end I went up and bought a copy of the new album. Usually with gigs I get very excited before they happen and afterwards I experience an anti-climax but this must be the only gig that I was at were I was more excited afterwards. I left "walking home alone again" but with the RADIATORS FROM SPACE rattling in my ears. Thanks for your e mail the other day. Sorry about the length of the above, it's just my excitement taking over.
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