It was 32 years ago at the Hacienda that I last saw Killing Joke and tonight left me thinking ‘Why on earth did I leave it so long?’ – They’ve got the sound, the lyrics, the look, the energy…..why would you not go and see them?!

Their choice of support was a bit odd. Earlier in the tour they’d had the wonderful Jah Wobble in support who is currently on top form. Tonight we get a talented acoustic guitarist who’s name I didn’t catch, but whose balls must be made of steel – to do that infront of a Killing Joke crowd – well played mate!

The first time I went to see Killing Joke was almost exactly 33yrs ago (27/10/82) at the old Manchester Poly. My friends Terry, Mike and I were actually scared before going into the gig – their reputation was one of ferocity, taking no prisoners. We weren’t sure if we’d come out in one piece…..or even at all. They were so ‘Brilliant’ that we went again when they played Fagins only 2 months later.

Tonight we’re treated to vintage Jaz Coleman who as a front man plays a sort of crazed angry puppet type character who stalks the stage with a high-steppage gait and whips the crowd into a frenzy. The frenzy is fuelled by vintage Geordie who’s unique guitar sound cuts through everything like a chainsaw but is melodic at the same time. Hearing him play you’d be expecting a manic frenzied style, but no, he seems to stroke the frets as if he’s polishing an antique – extraordinary! And the vintage rhythm section of Youth and Ferguson are truely awe inspiringly powerful and tight.

Loads of classic tracks like Psyche, Change, Fall of Because, the Wait, Wardance mixed with new stuff like I am the virus.  They even did a couple of hits (8o’s and Love like Blood which Jaz dedicated to Raven)but no Empire Song or Follow the leaders…….maybe next time….I’ll be there

Bob the Chiropodist

It was a real treat to see Slug play an amazing show of 2 sets to help celebrate Halloween. The gig was one of the highlights of a beautiful Manchester day that felt like summer and had me ‘enjoying myself’ for 16hrs straight – the short version being: 9am – Breakfast at my mums; 11.30-3pm – The Independent Salford Beer Festival; 4-7pm – Rugby world cup final at a bar in the Northern Quarter; 8-10.30pm – Watching Slug at the Deaf Institute; 11-3.30am – Rachel’s 40th Birthday bash at the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show………….The long version goes like this…….

Even before the start of the fun, I could just tell it was going to be a special day – took my mum to Morrison’s and found myself dancing in the frozen food section when they played ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence followed by the Cure’s ‘A Forest’. Was helping her to get to grips with her iPad so showed her the page for the Independent Salford Beer Festival at St Sebastioan Centre in Broughton that I was going to for the afternoon session.  “Your dad went to St Sebastians School” but there’s no ‘Earl Street’ where they were brought up any more.

The Independent Salford Beer Festival is in its second year and is run by Beers Manchester Blogger Jim who I’ve known since secondary school. A compulsive gigger (we saw Joy Division together in 1980) and music buff, he also manages to find the time to put on a cracking beer festival.

Met up with loads of old school friends Spud+Sue, Mike+Gerry, Jeff, Jazzy, Poz, Mike+Jo and was very happy to see George the Architect down from Scotland again. I got chatting to him last year because he had an Andy White T-shirt on. He and his misses had come last time as they had tickets to see Johnny Marr in Manchester and had been looking for something to do in the afternoon. This year there was no gig but they came anyway for the beer! Sleaford Mods on the T-shirt this time – I’d like one of the Revolution Brewery T-shirts Jim had with a message for those who talk at gigs on the back……

It was a shame to leave early but I had to meet up with Rachels crowd – it was her 40th birthday celebration and they’d gathered in ‘Montpelier bar’ in the Northern Quarter to watch the Rugby – what a fab game. Managed to meet up with my nephew Sam who’s at Uni there as well as all the gang.

Next I was off to meet Jeff at the Deaf Institute to see ‘SLUG‘ who had impressed him so much the last time he saw them, that he cited it his gig of the year.

No sailor suits this time but suitably dressed for Halloween, their first set was pretty much all of their ‘Ripe’ LP with a cover of the Residents ‘Perfect Love‘ from the Commercial LP thrown in. They were so up for it and the crowd responded massively. Had a chat with Marc Riley about Iceland in the interval (like you do). We were slightly suprised to see him there as he’d said on his show that he was off to see Joanna Newsom instead, but I can’t see how she could’ve been any better than these guys – what a show!

I must admit that apart from John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ the majority of the horror soundtracks that they did in the second half were new to me – but they sounded amazing. Gloriously dark and intense with heavy guitar riffs – superb. There was even a bit of ‘Rocky Horror’ style shown in their dress sense……with his mums pearls……I think they enjoyed it as much as we did….their LP now lives on the shelf between The Slits and The Smiths….

We went next to The Band On The Wall to meet up with Rachel’s 40th birthday posse at the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show. There was a band on ‘Nick Pride & The Pimptones’ but we only caught the end of their energetic set as we’d popped in the pub next door to meet up with Simon and Grace first.

The rest of the night was a blur of dancing and chatting and laughing with friends who – like everyone says at my age – I just don’t see often enough. 16 hours of fun fun fun – let’s do it again!!!

Bob the Chiropodist