It all started out with Good Clean Fun in March, I got an email asking if I could sort out a gig in a week as they had a spare date and Glasgow had fallen through as Blink 182 were playing there on the same night. No problem I wanted to see them anyway so I sorted a venue and a PA and counted the days. Found out a couple of days before the gig that at least 50 folk from Dundee were off to Blink which alarmed me somewhat as I didn’t even realise there were 50 punks in Dundee and was pretty sure there’d be nobody left for GCF. Johnny and Kerry sold their Blink tickets to come to GCF instead so at least there’d be two people there.
Come the night of the gig the band still hadn’t arrived once the gig was meant to start and there was still no audience. Finally GCF arrived and set up and still no one had turned up, shit. Took them up the house for food and returned to the venue fearing the worst but walked in to a pretty packed venue which was such a relief. Engage played first with yet another line up change from last time, they were excellent as usual and you should all have a copy of their single by now, yes? GCF then totally blew us away, a more energetic band I have never seen and Phyte has nearly mastered the power of flight.
There was even an eighty year old guy down the front for some action on the vocals! Had to find alternate sleeping arrangements for Issa and two of the girls as they were allergic to cats and we’ve got four. The rest of us went back to the house for more food and to watch Footloose which got voted on over Repo Man. It was kind of weird having a house full of straight edgers as normally when we have bands staying we drink, smoke and talk crap into the small hours so basically we just skimped on the drinking and smoking, probably did us good. Took the next day off work anyway.
Couple of weeks later was Diesel Boy, One Car Pile Up, Dudload and Skintwire. Got a call from Dave OCP at about lunch time saying "Are we playing in Dundee tonight?"
Um, yes, please leave now.
They made good time and arrived before DB so they came to the house and got fed some chilli and chatted about Wes’ trip round America with Consumed. Oh guess what, Wes is allergic to cats.
DB still hadn’t arrived and I had to go get the PA so I left OCP with Jacque and set off. Arrived at the Waterfront to set the PA up and could hardly get in the door it was that packed and it was still about two hours before it was meant to start! That time came and went before Deisel Boy turned up, I then had to drive all over Dundee to get some amps for the supports and after that one of them wouldn’t work so Skintwire ended up going on at 10.15pm minus one guitarist. At this point the place was even more packed and folk couldn’t even get in the door. It was quite warm too. Anyhoo, Skintwire were pretty cool poppy punk that got a few folk dancing which I thought was quite unlike Dundee. One real short set was quickly followed by another by the punky and skanky Dudload and yes they’re still dancing down the front. Another quick change and OCP were ready to go, a quite superb set and even more energetic bouncing from the kids. Diesel Boy hit the stage, well floor really, after 11.30pm and rocked us through until 12.30am when they had to stop before the police took any action. The kids danced and everyone sweated. Then it was back to the house to feed DB and do the drink, smoke, talk, crap thing. OCP stayed and chatted until mid afternoon and said "Student" a lot. DB set off in the morning to do some sight seeing in Edinburgh.
It was then a long month until Torino 74 and Dugong paid us a visit and Bovine made their first trip through from Falkirk. The mob from Yorkshire went straight to the venue (if you discount the short detour over the Tay bridge and back that is!) and we met them there along with Bovine and of course meeting so many new people at once I immediately forgot everyone’s names except the ex Chopper’s who I’d met many times before.
Everything got set up pretty quick and the only problem was that there was no clutch for the high hat so gaffa tape was employed. Then it was back to the house for grub, pasta and hot tomato sauce which gave Sam Dugong a hard time even though Jacque hadn’t made it very hot, he was lucky I hadn’t made it I can tell you. Sam was also tonight’s resident cat allergist but cuddled Bailey all night anyway because she’s way cute.
Turn out wise it was the usual Dundee standard of about twenty or thirty and I basically new everyone by name apart from a couple of folk.
Bovine were up first and were really good, read the demo review and get in touch with them.
Dugong were well on but still played a blinder with Matt throwing himself into weird shapes all over the place and even ended up falling on his arse at one point much to the others amusement and his own obvious discomfort.Torino sounded so much more powerful live than on vinyl but suffered several technical problems and finally called it quits when the aforementioned gaffa taped hi hat gave up the ghost. The gig had to finish by 11.30pm anyway seeing as there had been complaints about the sound levels at the previous outings. Left the gear in the Waterfront and we all piled into the minibus and back to the house for drinking, smoking and coherent and reasoned discussion billed as an interview elsewhere (ahem).
I came down in the morning to find Sam asleep under a tea towel with his feet in a plastic bag apparently because he’d forgot a sleeping bag which was quite amusing as there were a couple sitting in the spare room if anyone had needed them. We spent the morning in the garden as it was lovely and sunny and had photos taken of Bailey the parrot cat running up me and sitting on my shoulder then went and picked up the gear and said goodbyes and had more photos taken. In May we were meant to be hosting Ohno Express’ final gig but Chris came down with tonsillitis and they had to pull out. I couldn’t find a replacement at such short notice so just the support bands played. Again there was no clutch for the hi hat and again gaffa tape was utilised. Then the PA wasn’t working and no-one could figure out why so I ended up driving across town to find the guy that owned it and it turns out I hadn’t switched it on. I’m not completely stupid though as it looks like it is switched on even when it’s not OK. Bovine were through for a return show and were great yet again. Then it was Sidca from Aberdeen who blew our eardrums with some sonic terrorism and drunken instrument abuse and it was mighty fine. At one point the singer unplugged his guitar and plugged his effects pedal into itself and sprawled on the floor making weird noises with it, truly genius. After that a drunken Bovine were forced back on for another jaunt through their set with crazy go go dancers from Sidca and a couple of locals. A great night and basically everyone missed it, your loss losers. Three gigs were lined up for June and first off was the Destructos and Pellet which got a slightly better turnout than the last gig. A local band didn’t turn up and so obviously didn’t play. Pellet went on first and were cool melodic punkage with kind of shouted vocals. Some fine comedy dancing was provided by some local couple doing the twist or something. The recorded stuff I’ve heard by the Destructos has been poppy Weaselcore but live they were more all out punk. The night ended with an impromptu punk karaoke version of a boyzone song with Pellet’s guitarist on drums and Sean from the pub and our very own Johnny Kirkland on vocals. Oi Oi Ooooiiiiii!
A week later and Link 80, The Parasites, Capdown and Gauge were providing the tunes. Tonight was the final gig at the Waterfront as it had lost it’s live entertainment licence due to the noise levels. It was also the first gig where you had to pay to get in and the turnout was abysmal only 40 people. Anyway, Gauge are from Arbroath and play melodic hardcore Fat style. Capdown are amazing skacore, they’re from the UK and there really should be no excuse not to check them out as they’re constantly on tour. The Parasites gave us some great tunes and jumped about and couldn’t hear themselves sing. It was after 11pm now and of course the curfew still had to be met so Link 80 only had 15 minutes but they put everything into it and totally rocked out for about 25 mins and were by far the loudest band to play there. It was then back to the house for food and drink etc. Took the next day off work and chatted with everyone and while they were loading their stuff in the van Link 80 witnessed an assault where some kid got his nose broken and collapsed. The bassist and guitarist ran all over Charleston after the guy who had stolen the kid’s bike, for the best part of half an hour but never caught him. They all got their names and that taken down as witnesses by the police although once the guy cottoned on that they were all from the U.S. he gave up and asked if anyone lived in the area. Yeah, I do, but I didn’t see a thing. Link 80 did offer to come over if needed as long as the cops paid the airfare but I can’t see it happening. The Parasites then headed for Leven and Link 80 for Glasgow and I was left with two bin liners of rubbish, a blood soaked MU330 T-shirt and 7 gigs to find new homes for.
Graham ENZK
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