Jericho Hill (Bellfield Tavern - Kilmarnock - 24/03/18)

JerichoHill neatly side step the usual criticisms that are aimed at the majority of tribute bands by not playing strictly by the rule book. Their punk attitude approach to the music of Johnny Cash has seen them grace the stages of the world famous Rebellion festival in Blackpool to that of Belladrum near Inverness. And regardless of the stage they are playing the accolades just keep coming in. Punk crowds, indie rock crowds. They get it.

Not easily pigeon-holed you get the impression that they like it that way, and in fact prefer to live up to the Chaos for Cash play on McLaren's words.

It's certainly the case when they playfully run through a cover of Atomic by Blondie as a well deserved encore to their set in the Bellfield Tavern, but you never really know what you will get from them and therein lies the appeal.

Missing their first set I arrived in time to enjoy all of the second which started with Delias Gone, and then rattled through other Cash highlights such as Cry Cry Cry, Ring of Fire, a rousing rendition of Jackson and more.

My late appearance was unavoidable, but given the slightest window of opportunity I would have been there from the start because sometimes you have to be good to yourself, and giving yourself a night with Jericho Hill is always thoroughly recommended.

To quote Johnny himself "the beast in me is caged by frail and fragile bars" and that sums up a Jericho Hill performance far better than I could.

Pylon

In theatrical circles, both professional and amateur, the term tour de force has become so over used that it barely carries any value.

Over the years it has been with the kindest of intentions falsely attached to everything from Christmas nativity shows starring less than precocious four year olds to the efforts of village hall pensioners revisiting the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

And as this is most definitely the case it could be easy to dismiss those who are claiming Pylon to be a tour de force as simply reaching for a stock phrase to bandy about.

That would however be a mistake, a large and unforgivable mistake, because 'Pylon' is, to use another well worn phrase, the real deal.

It is theatre that drags the audience in to entertain and inform in equal measure. From passion to professionalism it not only delivers, but punches above its weight class from curtain rise to curtain fall.

It is raw imagination given wings and allowed to lay claim to the sky.  

In casting aside any limitations that could casually be attached to what could be described as amateur dramatics, the performance delivered ultimately leaves glass at the feet of all involved as they smash through a perceived ceiling and arrive in the midst of the professionals who call the arts their stock in trade.

In so many ways the success Pylon has already enjoyed should not be possible.

Considering that it is a theatrical writing debut, and that it is being performed by a cast of local artists; better known for their musical endeavours, then the lack of experience should scream that it will fail, but failure has very obviously never been considered.

Instead this is a production that carries itself with the swagger of having been penned by a well established playwright, and performed by a cast of experienced actors. That in itself is not just impressive, but something that at times is difficult to actually comprehend.

It could be argued that Pylon has no right to be as good as it is, and yet if it was to be placed toe to toe with anything playing in the bigger cities then it would more than hold its own.

Centred around the cancer scare in the nineties that was attributed to electricity pylons weaving their way through the housing scheme of Shortlees in Kilmarnock, the story is gut wrenching in its emotional range, but also laced with enough kitchen sink humour that the darkest moments can be met with a smile.

Reminiscent of a certain type of working class theatre that thumbed its nose at what had come before it is a production that embodies the spirit of the now legendary 7:84 theatre company and its offshoot Wildcat, and it is entirely possible that this play will be seen as the genesis of yet another wave of socially conscious theatre coming our way.

But only if it is seen, and championed by, a wider audience.

And therein lies a problem. That being in how all the funding applications to take Pylon on tour have thus far been unsuccessful.

This rejection must feel like a body blow to those involved, but they should consider what they have already achieved against all the odds, and then take from that the belief that when the curtain went down on the most recent performance that it was only the end to one chapter of this story.

It really shouldn't need to be said, but theatres across Scotland should be looking to support initiatives such as this, and it seems obvious that the Citizens Theatre of Glasgow is the natural home for Pylon.

And maybe it will be.

Who knows.

Watch out for an interview with the people behind Pylon coming soon.

In the interim go and buy a CD direct from the Pylon team from their facebook page.

Going Out #8 with The Chords UK

For a provincial town Kilmarnock (Ayrshire) consistently punches above its weight when it comes to attracting bands to play.

Happy Mondays are coming, TheLibertines too, but at a grass roots level it is the Bellfield Tavern - a bar that sits outside of the town centre - that flies the flag for live entertainment.

The Rezillos, Wendy James, Space, Neville Staple, and more, have all performed under its roof to capacity crowds.

On paper the concept of an off the beaten track pub attracting artists who have graced much larger stages, and enjoyed critically acclaimed careers, doesn’t look like it would work, but in reality the bar keeps knocking it out of the park as music fans from the surrounding areas will heartily attest to.

Latest to play were mod revivalists The Chords UK, but to be fair calling them mod revivalists doesn’t really cut it as for all intents and purposes their show, which lent heavily on the material from their latest album, was a far cry from a nostalgia trip.

It’s doubtful that Chris Pope will ever sit at a bar with a pint in hand and bore anyone with tales of glory days.

When the band hit their stride they sound like the Kinks with the fire of the Clash fuelling them.

It’s an evergreen wall of sound.

Lyrically adept and passionate in their delivery the band push hard, very hard, and expect the audience to respond in kind, and they do.

Pints held aloft, clenched fists punching the air and a boisterous crowd roaring their approval is in so many ways the bands natural habitat.

Take what they do from a small venue and push it onto a larger stage and it would still have a great deal of power, but with a whites of their eyes performance it is undistilled rock and roll that evokes lightning in a bottle comparisons.

And yes, it is easy to dismiss a band that on the surface doesn’t appear to have any current currency in the modern music business world,

Too many do it, but the quality of bands such as The Chords UK can’t be measured by chart hits, or how many appearances they can secure on music channels in this fast paced world.

Or even in the venues that they play.

Their relevance exists in the moment when you are standing in a crowd and the sound they are creating washes over you.

It exists when you open up to their latest album.

It exists when that primal tug whispers to you that they are damned good.

And isn’t that what it is all about?

Just that!

Just being blown away by a band on a Friday night!

And if you agree then The Chords UK are for you.

Thanks to the Kilmarnock ScooterClub for their participation in co-promoting this show.

Take a bow. 

Bellfield Tavern Events.