Review: PUNK OFF - THE SOUNDS OF PUNK AND NEW WAVE, Dominion Theatre
Photo credit: Stephen Niblett
For any pop music fan growing up in the 1970s, punk rock would have hit them squarely between the eyes. An irresistible brand of anarchy that recalled the very essence of rock’n’roll. They were the pathfinders to a new and invigorating style of music. One that wasn’t stale or predictable but dared to be different. Just to illustrate the point, the Sex Pistols sacked their bass player Glen Matlock because he had too much talent… It was a wonderfully perverse act that summed up the genre. This desire not to be constrained by convention or traditional parameters was the hallmark of punk rock. Although short lived, it sparked an exciting new wave of bands including The Jam, Clash, Buzzcocks and The Stranglers. Now this exciting live show celebrates the very best of punk and new wave.
The narrator and emcee for the evening was Kevin Kennedy, who many will recognise as Curly Watts from Coronation Street. He provided a useful commentary on the history of punk and new wave beginning in 1974. An excellent three piece band were on hand to run through the songs that signposted a unique era in popular music. Many of the numbers were accompanied by dancers who also filled in on lead vocals. An hour either side of a twenty minute interval neatly divided the story into two sections, tracing the genesis of punk through to the exhilaration of new wave.
Even with the narration providing a clear timeline, it fails to properly marry up with the track running order. This sense of throwing in random songs with no reference to chronology reduces the show to a jukebox musical. The songs, by and large, are well chosen but there are some odd decisions. They will, of course, never please everyone. But we were staggered that only one song by The Jam featured ('In The City'). Yet, they found it necessary to play a medley of songs by Sham 69, a band that barely merits a footnote in the genre's history. One hit wonders such as Jilted John and Plastic Bertrand also get space in the first half. Whilst nods were quite rightly given to David Bowie, Iggy Pop and The Clash, it created a lopsided view of the artists that were most influential.
The second half began with a misjudged cover of 'Once in a Lifetime' by the Talking Heads. Kevin Kennedy took the vocal parts of David Byrne which wasn’t the wisest move. Similarly, he sang lead vocals on ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. It didn’t really work because he couldn’t perfect Dury’s unique London intonation. As a production, it’s bursting with energy and enthusiasm but the dancers are superfluous. They may well be there to satisfy theatre audiences but defeats the object. Punk and new wave was all about stripping down the look and sound of a band, a rawness that screamed rebellion. It’s great fun but too clean to be a true representation of the genre.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Brian Penn
