Mission Of Burma - Koko, London, 22/5/2006
by Jamie Rowland
published: 26 / 5 / 2006
intro
Legendary Seattle post punk trio Mission of Burma reformed in 2002 and recently played their first British gig in many years at the London Koko as a warm-up before their All Tomorrow's Parties appearance. Jamie Rowland finds them on stunningly good form
For me, the chance to see Mission of Burma play live is like someone offering me tickets to see the Clash. They’re a band of legendary status (in some circles, at least) whose amazing live shows I’d read about numerous times, and whose songs inspired many of my favourite bands today. But having been broken up for 3 years before I was even born, I never thought I’d actually get the chance to see them. With the band’s reformation in 2002, and the announcement of an All Tomorrow’s Parties warm up gig at London’s fantastic Koko, that chance, however, came up after all. Of course, there was a slight sense of apprehension as I walked into the venue. Quite often when bands reform, it seems like a desperate attempt to fight the aging process, showing the kids they’re still cool, they still rock and they can still stick it to the man – but more often than not they look like your teachers doing Blondie at the end of year performance. My excitement out-weighed my worry, however, and I pushed such pessimistic thoughts to the back of my mind and took my place in the crowd. The band came on and hooked their instruments up. Clint Conley gave a twang of his bass string which translated as a sonic boom out of the PA system. Roger Miller then joined him, testing how his guitar sounded - it sounded LOUD. Peter Prescott was ready at his drums, and, although a number of people in the crowd didn’t at first realise it, Shellac’s Bob Weston was sitting in a high balcony at his tape deck. As Burma went into their first number, I could literally feel the pressure on my ear drums; I had heard a lot about the volume this band would play when they were originally playing shows, and they’ve lost none of their desire to make peoples’ ears bleed over the years. And neither had they lost any of their energy; they jumped around, screamed and pounded their instruments as hard as any angry young punk starting out today. Their sound's a mixture of punk riffs, thunderous drums and whirling noise from Weston’s tape manipulation, and the crowd loved it - many of them were even younger than me and had not come to see Mission of Burma but Broken Social Scene,the other band on the bill, and probably had no idea who they were, but by a couple of songs in most people were lapping it up. For me, this was one of the most memorable shows I’ll probably ever go to. To hear songs like ‘That’s When I Reach for My Revolver’ or ‘Academy Fight Song’ played live is a fantastic experience, like watching masters of the trade go to work. The new songs, such as ‘Spider’s Web’, are also equally as strong. I particularly liked the songs where Prescott took the lead vocal, as he really barked out his lyrics. Mission of Burma live is as good as I had been led to believe, and more so; loud and energetic with brilliant songs and a sound still fresh today.
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2013) |
Paul Waller speaks to Roger Miller from seminal Boston-based post-punk act Mission of Burma about his group's influential early releases, their reformation after two decades apart and latest album, last year's 'Unsound' |
live reviews |
Dingwalls, London, 13/5/2010 |
Anthony Strutt at Dingwalls in London watches an uninspiring set of noisy, repetitive new wave from 1970's Boston-based punks, Mission of Burma |
features |
Profile (2005) |
Often criminally over-looked, Mission of Burma made some of the most influential post punk of the late 70's and early 80's. Mark Rowland looks back on the Boston rockers all-too-short career |
reviews |
The Sound, the Speed, the Light (2009) |
Compelling fourth album from influential Boston-based alt.rock band, Mission of Burma |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jimmy Nail - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Nerve - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart