Fronted by flat-faced frontman Feargal Sharkey, The Undertones grew up in, arguably, one of the most dangerous places in Britain at the time – Derry, or Londonderry to be colonial, in Northern Ireland. Starting their career in the mid 1970s as a pub rocking coves band they were miles away from what was going on in the other London at the time – and one glance at their non-existent fashion sense confirmed that.
However, when the Sex Pistols made their spunky splash in 1976 not even the Ulster upstarts were exempt, and the now punkish quintet would go on to produce one of the great debut singles of the decade with 1978‘s Teenage Kicks. All three-chord power pop and tremulous vocals, The Undertones sang not about the Troubles but about teenage angst, girls, cars and candy bars.
By 1982, their chart-bothering success was behind them, but that didn‘t stop new Smash Hits scribe Neil Tennant from checking out the band’s 16 August gig at the National Ballroom in what was then colloquially known as Country Kilburn, such was the dominant Irish population (ie almost everyone except my paternal family and a bunch of West Indians).
Formerly the Grange Cinema, this Edwardan picture house turned music hall had been my father‘s local entertainment emporium in the 1950s and 1960s. After conversion to a live venue, everyone from New Order to Sigue Sigue Sputnik played there, with The Smiths even recording their posthumously released live album Rank on site, while David Bowie’s squally rock quartet Tin Machine also issued an extract from their 1989 show.
In the 1990s it became my local, though, unfathomably, despite living one street away I only caught two concerts there, by indie glam stompers Suede and a recently reformed Echo & The Bunnymen, in 1996 and 1997 respectively. The Suede show was part of the Coming Up tour that culminated that December with a special performance at the yet-to-be-renovated Roundhouse featuring guest vocals from one half of the Pet Shop Boys. The same one that wrote this short but sweet review in ’82.
Take it away Neil…
The Undertones: Kilburn National Ballroom, London
Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, 2 September 1982
PLAYING ONLY their second live date of ’82. The Undertones were greeted by an ecstatic audience.
They must have been keeping busy though, judging by the number of brand new Undertunes that were unveiled. A probable new single, ‘Love Parade’, sounded promising with its descending chord changes and ’60s organ. The ‘Tones in typical high spirits.
Feargal Sharkey is still one of pop’s most inspired warblers. His trembling voice, which switches from the fierce to the gentle, dominated the proceedings. His taut body was rarely still although he did have a lie down at one stage and deliver a song from the floor.
He teased the audience throughout the two-hour concert, pretending to be on the point of launching himself into their out-stretched hands. They loved it.
The band have tightened up a lot (in other words they make a lot less mistakes) although there’s still a hint of a local group playing at the church hall for the youth club dance.
But you’ll be relieved to learn that they still look the same. A quick trip to Mister Byrite and Top Man for loads of needlecord trousers and naff shirts.
Most importantly, the band can still move their audience to a state of gleeful excitement. Their short, neat songs not only bristle with emotion but also a ‘good-time’ swing which creates a kind of private party atmosphere.
Having said all this, I couldn’t help wishing for something new in their songs. Or should The Undertones be appreciated as a constant in a business over-concerned with fashion? Perhaps they should.
Edited by Steve Pafford
© Neil Tennant, 1982
