UK SUBS
9th December 1999
Witchwood Tavern
Manchester
England
The Witchwood is a great venue, small, intimate and atmospheric. The stage is few inches
high and the band are just there, right in front of you. First, the Victims of Radiation
delivered a well received set, the lead singer has a major image. Then the Subs appeared
to sort out their gear and Nicky spent a few minutes removing about 50 meters of bandage
from his leg. Then they were on. Alvin was back on bass with Nicky and Charlie, but Gary
was still off sick and Tommy from One Way System was on drums.
An initial hitch and then they rip into the set. CID for starters. Energy was being burned
by the band and the audience with a manic pogo-ing crowd straight into action. Charlie
apologizes for not dressing up, he is modeling a restrained black sweatshirt with skull
and cross bones and rather smart patch pocket trousers , explaining that they have just
got in from Scotland where it never stopped raining, except when it snowed. 'All my gear
is piss wet through' .
Nicky delivered each song with power and aggression, like he'd not played them before.
Belting out the backing vocals, performing of his trademark leaps and dropping to his
knees or virtually doing the splits. His energy rubbed off on Charlie who seemed to be
pogo-ing and dancing more than I remember.
The set motored on with some great highlights, Squat 96, Police State, Emotional Blackmail
and into a fantastic Tomorrows Girls. The front section of the audience was getting more
and more frenzied and the security had to line up along the front of the stage,
massive though the are it doesn't seem to slow the action. Jumpers get ripped, mikes get
knocked, groups of people crash to the floor, or the monitors or the stage. Nicky's mike
stand takes a heavy hit and Charlie has to help out by holding both his own and Nicky's
mikes in place. Nicky swaps sides with Alvin for the vocals.
The main set is nearing it's end as Live in a car, Warhead, Riot and finally Stranglehold
drive on. Charlie shares the vocal duties with the crowd.
A short break and they're back without Charlie, who is standing in the audience chatting
to his girlfriend and watching the band. Then he's back and the set carries on with
Rockers, Limo Life, Party in Paris. And they're are gone, but never far, the Subs are
mixing with the fans as ever. I'm out in the rain with 'born a rocker, die a rocker'
looping round my brain and a huge ringing in my ears. That's my Subs experience over,
until tomorrow!
Richard Henderson
19th December 1999