“Scousers, Poolies, Britpop, Pig Iron, Swatters Carr and digging the new breed”.

Another great night out in the Boro. Local heroes The White Negroes (that rhymes!!!) with Britpop faves Cast. All at the superb venue that is; The Empire in Middlesbrough. These two played together back in the heady days of Britpop (95/96) and have remained friends ever since. We arrive as the White Negroes are just getting going. Having seen them a number of times I know what to expect. Great tunes that all sound like something else ( a compliment) mixed with a few covers. All brought to you by a raggle taggle gang of pimps and pirates. The boys have been celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and finish off on Friday with a free home town gig at the Park Inn, Hartlepool. It’s amazing that they’ve managed to stay together for so long with the stuff they’ve been up to over the years. My partner in crime for the night was impressed with his first hearing of Hartlepool’s own wayward sons. His comment was “they pull it off because they can play and he (Ian Monaghan, lead singer) can sing!!! two worthwhile traits in any band but not always possesed!! Ian gets the crowd in the mood with his usual infectious enthusiasm. After 20 years he puts many new bands to shame. I dare anyone not to enjoy them live.
Then it’s the turn of Cast. Now I used to be a fan. Bought the first album, saw them a few times. Went off them by the second album and thought of them no more. But tonight I was pleasantly surprised with them. I forgot about how many great tunes they have. John Power has an excellent voice and, like Ian from the White Negroes, looks like he’s really enjoying himself. Not content to just play old tunes they throw in a few brand new tracks. These go down well and their album due out in the new year looks like being a return to form.
Afterwards we retire to the newly re-furbished “The Pig Iron” (used to be the Hairy Lemon). I guess the name has something to do with the steel industry on Teesside. Good to see two newly done up pubs have been given names reflecting their past rather than rubbish like “the Hairy Lemon”. (The Tavern on Linthorpe Road has re-opened as the Swatters Carr. A refernce to it’s original name from 1891). In the Pig Iron we argue (nicely) with some other 40 somethings about our favourite Jam song!!! A great way to end a great night. The winner: Saturday’s Kids, of course!!!!

CAST’S SET LIST:
Promised land
Sandstorm
Timebomb new cd march
See that girl “its a kinda single“
Finetime
Bow down
Troubled thoughts
Guiding star
Get up
New one
Lay your love on me
Walkaway
Alright
Bad waters
Free

A big thank-you to Ash at the Empire. Check the link for some great stuff in the New Year; Wiley, The Subways, Alkaline Trio and Wretch 32. Also see some extra photos on Facebook. I know my photos are poor so if you can do any better get in touch. There are t-shirts, free tickets and maybe a pint for those up to the mark.

LINKS:

THE EMPIRE: http://www.theempire.co.uk/home.html

CAST: http://www.casttour.com/

THE WHITE NEGROES: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-White-Negroes/147898492872

THE PIG IRON: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/10/28/middlesbrough-s-hairy-lemon-pub-renamed-the-pig-iron-84229-29674549/

SWATTERS CARR: http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/gazette-communities/ts1-ts2-central-middlesbrough/ts1-t2-local-news/2011/09/09/swatters-carr-pub-makes-a-comeback-84229-29388797/

FACEBOOK PHOTOS: http://www.facebook.com/thenorthernline?ref=ts#!/media/set/?set=a.10150417792941640.355053.153421781639&type=1

By peter on December 19, 2011