Slits - ABC2, Glasgow, 9/5/2010
by Tony Gaughan
published: 29 / 4 / 2010
intro
At the ABC2 in Glasgow, Tony Gaughan finds all-female punk/reggae act the Slits to have lost none of their fieriness or sense of fun in an energetic set to promote 'Trapped Animal', their first album in over twenty years
Femme punk stalwarts the Slits were back in town promoting their first album for 20+ years to what was considering their absence a fair-sized audience, made up of old school punks and some fresh faced kids who weren't even born when they performed their first John Peel session in 1976 . The band is led by the sole remaining member and frontwoman Ari Up, who is backed up by Tessa Pollit (from the second line-up), German drummer Anna Schulte, guitarist Honeychild and Hollie Cook (daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul) on keyboards and vocals. Ari introduced the band's sound as 'punky reggae dub' which is fair enough. Certainly the new songs are more polished and heavy on the dub and reggae vibe, although the band claim despite interference they have never compromised and always done their own thing. Jokingly Ari claimed she would not perform any of the punky stuff unless she saw a Glasgow fight or a bit more life from the crowd. Opener 'New Town' from their 1979 debut album 'Cut', which Island Records reissued last year as a deluxe pack with demos and rarities, alongside other tracks from the era like 'Let's Do the Splits', single 'Typical Girls' and their unorthadox cover of Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine', were worth the entrance fee alone for sheer nostalgia value. The fantastic 'F.M.' worked well from their latest release 'Trapped Animal', as did other tracks from it such as 'Fade Away' and 'Partner from Hell'. Ari's trademark trills and coos and assorted other bird impersonations were on display throughout. The band can certainly play and reminded the crowd that they did actually perform on the records despite interference from producers and others around them. Ari even picked the bass on new track 'Cry Baby' with Tessa moving to keyboards and the lead vocal duties reverting with a true reggae vibe to Hollie. For the encores of 'Lazy Slam' and 'Babylon' Ari took to the drums, Anna moved to guitar and guitarist Honeychild took over vocal duties. You'd think they had a point to prove!
Band Links:-
http://www.slitsdoc.com/https://en-gb.facebook.com/slitsdoc/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Slits
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2018) |
John Clarkson talks to Tessa Pollitt, the former bassist with seminal all-girl punk band The Slits, about the new film documentary 'Here to Be Heard: The Story of The Slits’, and its accompanying scrapbook. |
Interview (2010) |
Interview with Ari Up (2005) |
profiles |
Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits (2018) |
Nicky Crewe finds that a new revealing and entertaining documentary about the Slits will remind fans of just how special they were. It is bound to inspire a new generation too. |
1962-2010 (2010) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Ruts - Life After Death ? : A Profile
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Leprous - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
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