Does the world need a 351 page history of Stiff Little Fingers? Well, you're probably asking the wrong person, because I'm quite passionate about the story of Ulster punk and this hefty volume will sit proudly alongside a few other, choice volumes. 'Kicking Up A Racket - The Story Of Stiff Little Fingers' covers the central years, 1977-83. The author, Roland Link, comes from Worcester, and he's risen to the challenge of writing a book that will be read and admired by a modest collection of people. I guess this means that he's done it for love, and indeed the book's contents would bear that out.
Increasingly, any story that involves the Conflict has an eerie quality about it, a period and a mindset that's hopefully evaporating. So too have the early punk landmarks, like The Harp Bar, The Pound, The Trident and Paddy Lamb's. There are moments of proper exhilaration, like the recording of 'Suspect Device' on Downtown Radio's modest 8 track machine, and the challenge of wrapping hundreds of single sleeves by hand. Likewise with the unscripted success of the album 'Inflammable Material', which goes Top 20 and establishes Rough Trade as the definitive indie label.
Some of the local references are rogue. The Maze prison has been relocated to Belfast, the Defects appear in the story about three years too early and the Belfast accent has foxed a few translations. But the minutia is happily received by this reader. There's a pathos in the fact that Jake Burns wore his dad's shoes around the time of 'Suspect Device' because his own pair needed fixing. And there's a classic ingenuity in the story about the first copies of the single being distributed to Scotland in a commandeered bakery van.
A lot of the story concerns the band's perceived lack of cool and the bitter backlash at the time. Belfast is routinely hostile to its success stories (just ask Therapy, Ash and Snow Patrol), but SLF copped it very badly by those who thought that the band and their management were exploiting the local situation. I was one of those begrudgers, but increasingly I listen to those early records and hear a rage and a pain that is beyond contrivance.
I believe there's some kind of a book launch at the John Hewitt in Belfast this Thursday evening. Come on down, shake Roland's hand and buy one of his books.
Brighton is full of rude boys. They are tattoed like merchant seamen and their necks have the girth of large bulls. They look intimidating and if truth be told, they are shockingly flatulent. But tonight thay are in excellent humour because The Specials are back, after almost 30 years away. And yes, myself and the small but vocal Belfast posse are also in noisy accord.
The Specials were always an astounding live act and tonight they live up to the legend. The rhythm team are totally on it, Roddy Radiation is cavorting like a kid with a guitar and even Terry Hall concedes that fun is a possibility. Wisely, they stick mostly to the first album and we feel privileged to be reminded of the multi-racial sweetness that is 'It Doesn't Make It Alright'. They're toned down 'Concrete Jungle' a little, but 'Monkey Man' is still untamed and we shiver at the revived sentiments of 'Ghost Town'.
My pal Markie has inadvertently brought out two right-footed sneakers from similar pairs, and is hobbling with effect. Meantime Davy, our Brighton host, is telling us about a recent hospital visit when a stent was fitted to a needy artery. He was fully conscious at the time, and aware of the background music: Moby and 'Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad'....
Therefore, we enjoy ourselves perfectly. Because as the song tells it; it's later than you think.
Dave Rawlings is a neo-bluegrass practitioner who hangs out with Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes and Gillian Welch. He plays beautifully and writes a decent song, including a Ryan collaboration, To Be Young (Is To Be Sad Is To Be High). Happily, he has stepped out of semi-obscurity to deliver his own album, which includes a version of the aforementioned tune, plus some sweet and evocative extras.
You dont need an introduction to Dame Shirley Bassey, and you may know that producer David Arnold has helped the artiste to complete a record thats arch, emotional and not overly dramatic. Songs have been written by Rufus Wainwright, Neil Tennant, and Richard Hawley, but its the Manic Street Preachers who have presented her with The Girl From Tiger Bay, a soaring sense of place and intensity that fits so well.
BBC Radio Ulster, 92-95 FM
Online: www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster
Mondays, ten midnight
Bjork - Joga (One Little Indian)
Fionn Regan - Protection Racket (Heavenly)
Dame Shirley Bassey - The Girl From Tiger Bay (Geffen)
God Help The Boy Hes A Loving Kind Of Boy (Rough Trade)
Zoot Money - Let The Music Make You Happy (Righteous)
Dave Rawlings - To Be Young (Is To Be Sad Is To Be High) (Acony )
Tom Waits Picture In A Frame (live) (Anti)
Louis Eliot and The Embers - 25th of the 12th (white)
Isaac Hayes - Run Fay Run (Soul Jazz)
The Duke And The King - One More Year (Loose)
Dame Shirley Bassey - After The Rain (Geffen)
Passion Pit Little - Secrets (Sony)
New Order Thieves Like Us (Factory)
Paloma Faith - Do You Want The Truth (Epic)
Dan Arbosise - Another Side Of The Sky (Just)
Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen (acappella) (Sony)
Dave Rawlings - Ruby (Acony)
Ricky Lee Jones - Remember Me (Fantasy)
Thomas Dybtahl - Cecilia (Last Suppa)
Geoff Gatt - Moment (white)
William Fitzsimmons - Good Morning (Naim Edge)
Dan Hicks I Got Mine (Big Beat)
Dave Rawlings - Bells Of Harlem (Acony)
Bob Marley Redempion Song (Island)
James Yuill Lef Handed Girl (Moshi Moshi)
Dame Shirley Bassey The Performance Of My Life (Geffen)
Animal Collective - Brother Sport (Domino)
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~07~RS~)