The Primitives @ the 100 Club – September 2013
Last night saw Indie darlings ‘The Primitives’ celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their acclaimed debut album ‘Lovely’ at the 100 Club. Cherry Red Records have added this Indie pop gem to their mightily impressive back catalogue, and the newly expanded reissue of ‘Lovely’ comes as a 2-CD set, which features the original album and a bonus disc that brings together most of the bands B sides and other rare tracks from that 2 year period. ‘The Primitives’ went from being an Indie guitar band that was loosely tied to the C86 scene to chart superstars thanks to the success of the hit single ‘Crash’, and the subsequent album ‘Lovely’, which debuted at number 6 and stayed in the charts for 10 weeks in the summer of 1988.
It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the release of this enduringly popular album, and just one listen to this record will surely have even those with out any sense of melody at least wriggling their toes to such songs as ‘Spacehead’ ‘Thru The Flowers’ ‘Stop Killing Me’ and ‘Dreamwalk Baby’. This album fizzes from start to finish with shimmering jangly guitars, Tracey Tracey’s sweet vocals, and a really catchy guitar sound that makes this listener think of an electric saw melodically cutting through a sheet of hardboard.
‘The Primitives’ are going through a new phase of popularity since coming back onto our radars after a period of some 18 years. However, the band was reunited by tragedy when their original bass player Steve Dullaghan died unexpectedly in 2009. But for ‘The Primitives’ and their devoted fans something good came out of this loss, and over the past 4 years fans have been treated to a series of live shows, and a first album from the band in 20 years. ‘Echoes and Rhymes’, which saw ‘The Primitives’ record a covers album of girl fronted obscure pop gems from the 1960s, and their infectious sunshine pop is all over this album to such an extent that they virtually make the songs their own.
After witnessing ‘The Primitives’ for the first time ever at the ‘Scared To Get Happy: A Story of Indie Pop’ launch night back in June, it was hard to believe that they had ever been away as they played brilliantly to a rapturous audience. I was wondering if ‘The Primitives’ could top that performance at the 100 Club, and I felt privileged to be among this sell-out crowd last night. ‘One of the great things about watching a band at the 100 Club is just how intimate this venue is, and being so close to the stage and the band makes a gig even more special. The anticipation of seeing ‘The Primitives’ made me quite forget that there was another legend in attendance last night. Erstwhile drummer of ‘The Smiths’ Mike Joyce who was supposed to be playing a DJ set. Whoever the DJ was he deserves some credit for priming the audience with plenty of anthemic punk and new wave gems, which set us up nicely for the arrival of ‘The Primitives’.
The anticipation of the 100 Club audience could be felt, and it was exciting to say the least to be witnessing ‘The Primitives’ this close up. However, no ‘Primitives’ gig would be complete without ‘The Flower Man’, who stood rooted to his usual spot right at the front of the stage in front of Tracey Tracey’s microphone. I witnessed this scenario back in June, when ‘The Flower Man’ presented Tracey Tracey with a rather lavish bouquet at the end of the show, and surely Interflora’s best customer would be armed with another bunch of flowers this time. However, if he did present any flowers to Tracey Tracey then I sadly missed it this time, due to the heaving and swaying crowd.
‘The Primitives’ jostled through the crowd and took to the stage to a rapturous reception, and just blasted through a set, which included the entire ‘Lovely’ album. Every time the ‘The Primitives’ launched into a song, the crowd came surging forward time and again, with fans literally falling on the stage, to the amused concern of Tracey Tracey who politely tried to get the audience to move back a little. However those were her only words to fall on deaf ears, as the fans took no notice of her light hearted please for calm. It is easy to see why people could not stand still for a single minute, as ‘The Primitives’ have such an impressive back catalogue of airy and brilliantly melodic songs, which were played to stunning effect last night.
However, the gig was not without its odd moments. At regular periods during the show the lights kept coming on, which is always an indication that the night is over and it did make me think back to the times when I used to stagger out of the 100 Club after the Northern Soul all-nighters. The problem with the lights was not without its plus points as it made taking a couple of pictures slightly easier. This was a euphoric performance and the audience would not let ‘The Primitives’ finish, and they managed an encore to the delight of everyone, including ‘The Flower Man’. I can only assume that if he did bring a bunch of flowers then they would have been well and truly destroyed by the crowd.
I am always skeptical when bands reform and most reunions fall flat, and it usually ends up with bands doing badly what they used to be so good at. However, the same cannot be said of ‘The Primitives’, who clearly enjoy being on stage together. Their welcome return to the stage and the recording studio could not have come any sooner. ‘’The Primitives’ youthful vigour still shines through, and last night’s show absolutely bristled with energy and fizz. They are simply a band that no one could get tired of seeing live.
After the gig had finished I had the good fortune of meeting Tracey Tracey and Paul Court. They were so down to earth, and unaffected by their status as Indie pop darlings, and they happily had photos taken, and signed records and t-shirts for the fans. However, the night was not without calamity, as I staggered up to Tracey Tracey who graciously posed for a photo with me, which I subsequently deleted by mistake and I am still trying to come to terms with it today. I told her how much I used to love ‘The Primitives’ in 1988 (and still do), and I cheekily asked her how she managed to look so young, in which she smiled, shrugged her shoulders and I blushed like a naughty schoolboy.
The night was fully made perfect by an excellent DJ set from none other than Smiths’ legend Mike Joyce who kept the buzz and atmosphere spot on. Does it get much better?
