It’s always a joy to see the Ukrainians play and tonight they were celebrating 30 years since the first 10″ EP from the Wedding Present of the John Peel Ukrainian session songs was released…..now available in an expanded version with a 3rd session included with the cover in Leeds Utd colours.
First up were ‘East to East’ who do (?Polish) Gypsy Balkan tunes with great vigour and gusto – one to get the pulse going – would love to see them again.
The Ukrainians did 2 sets, one of covers and one of the John Peel Sessions. Everyone on stage and in the crowd was beaming from ear to ear – it was such a fun night. Each of the covers had Sledge, Liz, Alison and I looking at each other….struggling to put a name to the song “It’s the Smiths….Bigmouth strikes again….no, no….its The Queen is Dead!” – Others included American Idiot, Ace of Spade and Venus in Furs – fab stuff. Never Mind The Cossacks – Here’s the Ukrainians.
The second set started with Simon Smith on drums for a couple of tunes – the Weddoes drummer on those early sessions. His booming style of drumming has an energy like nothing else – great to hear. Predictably, the crowd got more and more animated as the night went on with full blown mosh-pit madness by the end – they deserve nothing less.
Some photos here of the first time the Weddoes toured doing a Ukrainian set
Bob the Chiropodist