The Defects/Heavy Drapes/Crimedesk - Bellfield Tavern (Kilmarnock) 13/05/18

Apparently Crimedesk are not a real a punk band.

They are too melodic, you can make out the words to the songs, and they can play their instruments.

How very dare they.

Imagine having the audacity to try and pull the wool over the "real" punk fans eyes by being good at what they do. Someone should write a strongly worded letter of complaint in words of one syllable and post it to "punks reunited" as the catalyst for a debate on what colour of tartan bondage trousers are in this season.

Stuff and nonsense. 

Crimedesk flash their punk rock credentials out every time they play a gig.

It's only those who are uncomfortable with anything that doesn't fit their narrow ACAB, smash the system, anarcheeeeeeeeee, cider4life, understanding of what punk is that can't accept that they are quite literally the definition of a punk rock band. 

From paying homage to The Stranglers to rolling out the tongue in cheek self penned " Manky Hoor" they are doing their own thing and refusing to be told what they should do. 

Isn't that celebration of non conformance to expectations exactly what punk is?

Crimedesk came to Kilmarnock and won over new punk fans on the strength of the power of a live performance and that in itself is the best counter argument to those who seem to cling to wilful ignorance when it comes to defining punk. 

They let the music do the talking and can walk away with their punk rock reputation intact after their set in the Bellfield Tavern in Kilmarnock.

Those who disagree are wrong.

And similarly Heavy Drapes are another band who suffer the slings and arrows of contemptuous sneering from those who are as equally keen to flag up their ignorance of what punk is at any given opportunity.

And again the argument carries no weight.

Heavy Drapes are carrying the torch that was lit by punk rock legends, and they can trace their aural lineage back to the primal roar of all the greats who defined what people widely understand to be punk rock. 

How anyone can claim they aren't punk, or not punk enough, is something that makes no sense at all.

There are of course the jealousy tinged dissenting voices that ask why they get the quality support slots, the festival offers, the support of the year zero pioneers, and a wave of media support.

The answer isn't complicated, and they know it.

It's because they are clearly better than most.

As the debut album creeps ever closer to being released their set continues to swell with new songs and they are operating at all killer no filler levels right now. 

It feels like a privilege to have seen them develop from those short sharp shock gigs to the current crowd killing shows that they are playing now.

Anyone who claims to have a passing interest in punk should already know who they are, but if they haven't seen them then they should rectify that as soon as possible as Heavy Drapes carry a real deal reputation lightly on their shoulders.

Not punk rock? Pfft. Put the cider down, slap the green eyed monster out of the way, and just join the party. It's happening whether you are on board or not so you may as well jump on and enjoy the ride.

The Defects suffer no such attacks on their punk rock credentials, and quite rightly so. Taking a leaf from Charlie Harpers book they are forever playing here, there, and everywhere, and cementing their reputation as a solid punk rock outfit as they go.

The reputation hasn't simply come from the relentless angle of playing though, but from delivering quality shows.

If they were bog standard then it wouldn't matter how often they played.. 

The longevity of their career, and the love and respect that is attached to their name, comes from being good at what they do.

Again it's not a complicated concept to wrap a head around. 

If a band have an ear for a tune and the ability to perform it with expertise and passion then they have struck on the winning formula, and if they can repeat that then even better, and the Defects can do that.

Song after song they kick the perception of punk being a stupid and unimaginative one trick pony into the long grass.

Far more melodic than their peers in the loose scene usually referred to as UK82 - a scene I have little to no interest in - they stand head and shoulders above their peers by avoiding all the tired old redundant unintelligible shouty cliches and instead concentrate on delivering a show that so many other bands wish they could.

It's bands like the Defects who take the jaded fans of punk and give them an injection of the good stuff that reminds them why they love it in the first place.

Viagra should sponsor them as they can bring life back to even the most tired old prick.

They came, they played, they conquered. What more could you ask for?

Here's to the next time they all congregate together to shake things up a bit.