Scabies/James play "Damned, Damned, Damned" with Texas Terri at The Retro, Westbourne Park July 27th

Photo by Paul Slattery

I couldn't make it to the recent Scabies/James gig at the 100 Club, but I was in two minds anyway, maybe even a bit sceptical about it. How was it going to work? How were the drummer and guitarist going to pull this one off, not only with the absent, but still imposing presence of Captain Sensible and Dave Vanian looming over them, but with a girl singer taking the lead? Not only is "Damned, Damned, Damned" one of my all time favourite albums, but all those classic songs, with Vanian's somewhat Americanised drawl, they are all etched into my brain. So I was curious but not a little dubious too. However, after the 100 Club gig, I heard back from people that were there and it was all pretty much positive. Most of the reviews and comments were all glowing red hot and it did indeed seem that Scabies/James and Texas Terri had in fact pulled it off extremely well. 

Texas Terri by Paul Slattery

So I was really keen to see them play and made my way to the Retro in Westbourne Park, where an excellent set from The Priscillas warmed things up nicely. This was a special gig to celebrate Rat's birthday and also the 35th year of what was to be the first ever U.K. Punk Rock album, "Damned, Damned, Damned". The Damned were always ahead of the game, the first Punk single, first to tour in America and the first ever Punk album too. It's iconic custard pie splashed cover photo, heralded originally by those rather sinister adverts suggesting you should "Play It At Your Sister", The Damned's debut was a raw and chaotic statement of intent. That live, youthful energy was captured perfectly by producer Nick Lowe, and on first listen it felt almost as though the band were leaping out of the vinyl and bashing you around the head with their guitars and drumsticks. Back to the present, and I'm getting a breather outside the venue when I hear that familiar elastic bass riff to "Neat, Neat, Neat", I rush inside and make it down the front, a quick drum burst from Rat and then I'm almost blasted back outside again by the sheer power and volume of Brian James' guitar amp. 

Texas Terri is a vivid blur of bright red hair and tattoos, she's been compared to a female Iggy Pop and it's not hard to see why. Terri was previously in sleaze trash rock outfits The Killer Clowns and The Stiff Ones, and has just released an album under the name Texas Terri Bomb! brilliantly titled, "Your Lips...My Ass!". That album features a guest appearance by Wayne Kramer of The MC5, one of The Damned's big favourites. Tonight, although they do play all the songs from the album, it isn't in strict track-listing order, for example a brilliant "Born To Kill" is followed by a storming run through of "You Take My Money" from the follow up album "Music For Pleasure". Hearing that makes you wonder why that second album is so maligned as it is a really great song. Maybe it was the production or the dynamic of the band changing, what with the the band expanding to a five piece with the addition of Lu Edmonds as second guitarist, incidentally now playing in the revamped Public Image Limited. I do think it's an album that deserves a second chance. Texas Terri is really getting into her stride as an unrelenting blast of high octane tracks follow, including "So Messed Up", "See Her Tonight" and an immense "Fish", with Rat's drumming blowing the cobwebs away. After seeing Rat recently drumming for the Members, where you get to appreciate the true skills of a drummer not usually noted for his subtlety. But, tonight we get the full on assault of the Punk Rock Keith Moon, crashing round his kit. Not a bad songwriter either, as two Rat penned numbers follow, the brilliant single "Stretcher Case Baby" and the brutal, short sharp shock of "Stab Yor Back". 

Scabies & James - Photo by Paul Slattery

Terri leaps off the stage and makes her way to the back of the room where she balances on a partition and belts out her vocals. I thought having an American singer would be strange but she makes it work so well, and really injects her own personality into the songs. Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, I always felt Vanian was singing with a bit of an American twang on the album. Plus, Brian James was always steeped in that Stooges/MC5 influence and did go on to work with The Dead Boys' Stiv Bators in Lords Of The New Church. My slight cynicism was quite literally, blown away, maybe because I'm standing right in front of Brian's amp, it is loud, he turns up the volume. Rat later tells me that Brian's volume can cause a bit of consternation for some venue's sound engineers, I can understand why, my ears were not to recover for the whole weekend. It's great to hear those familiar riffs though, Brian is a hugely underrated guitarist, he has that unique angular way of playing chords, and I find myself playing air guitar along to "I Fall". I look around, sheepishly hoping nobody noticed, but it was just an involuntary reaction, and I guess I wasn't the only one!

Photo by Paul Slattery

So, a short but ultimately satisfying set draws to a close with "I Feel Alright (1970)", and a quick happy birthday singalong to Rat. The band kick off the encores with their crazed cover of "Help!" with more energy and power than most young bands can seem to muster. The Bass player Austin, who has worked with Brian before, handles his role really well, taking a bit of a back seat next to Terri, Rat and Brian, he nevertheless deserves a big shout as he played brilliantly too, keeping it locked in as Rat and Brian bash away respectively on the Stooges style free-form wig-out "Alone". "Sick of Being Sick" is a great choice and of course there can only be one closing number, yes it's "New Rose". I was converted, it was a really fresh take on the reunion/come back and play a classic album scenario, and I suppose if you are going to recreate something like this, you might as well do it with a totally different slant. Unless you can pull off the ultimate trick, as the Buzzcocks did recently, and get all the original members back on board, then what's the point of roping in some karaoke tribute band style lookalike/soundalike. Yeah just do it different and do it well, just like they did tonight. So, all in all it worked perfectly, a great idea and I wouldn't be surprised if they couldn't make this into an interesting little side-project band with maybe some new material to come in the future? Now, that really would be something!

All Photos above - Courtesy & Copyright Paul Slattery 2012

Photographer Paul Slattery with Texas Terri - Photo by M. Worrall (Copyright 2012)

The Priscillas live at The Retro, Westbourne Park July 27th

Jenny by Paul Slattery

Retro Man at the Retro Venue...it was my first visit to this pub venue and it turned out to be a great little place, well worthy of the name..! It's tucked away on a square between the Westway and the main-line Railway tracks into Paddington station, right in the shadow of the imposing Trellick Tower. It's prime Rock 'n' Roll territory, perfect then for my first experience of seeing The Priscillas, who tonight are here supporting Rat Scabies/Brian James (more on that to follow...). The venue is pretty small, with a capacity of about 100, and it's hot as hell in there. Unfortunately, that means the crowd is pretty sparse as the chords to opening number "Gonna Rip Up Your Photograph" ring out, as a lot of people are drinking outside in the fresh air. It's a tight fit to get all the band onto the smaller of the two stages in the venue, the drum kit is crammed into the corner and pretty soon vocalist Jenny Drag is escaping the confines of the limited space and is prowling the dance floor. She's a rather fetchingly feline focal point, a live-wire cross between Joan Jett and Catwoman, pulling shapes with a cool charisma. The superb single "(All The Way To) Holloway" is followed by the catchy ode to cross-dressing "Jimmy In A Dress" from the latest album "10,000 Volts". Next up it's the New York Blondie style disco of "Fly In My Drink" dedicated with best wishes to Rat's birthday, it's a really great song and one of my highlights of the night. 

The Priscillas - Photo by Paul Slattery

"All My Friends Are Zombies" is another excellent track and Jenny can't stay on the stage for long, one minute she is pressed against the windows singing to the punters outside, who seem oblivious to the fun going on inside, and then she is leaping onto the bar to sing. Leather clad Bassist Suza Sputnik and soon to be departing, Stu the drummer and token bloke, keep up a steady rhythm throughout. The band's three minute Bubblegum Pop gems are a delight, there's hints of The Go-Go's and The Shangri-La's but with gritty Punk attitude and a trashy Cramps style glamour. 

Guri of The Priscillas - Photo by Paul Slattery

This glamour is personified in the Scandinavian cool of guitarist Guri, who also joins the audience at one point to play her fizzing riffs. The raucous "Y.O.Y" is followed by the last number, the impossibly catchy "Superhero" and Jenny swings the mic stand as she belts out the chorus, then it's all over, a really great performance. Now, after the long wait to finally get round to seeing the band I can't wait for the next London gig, The Buffalo Bar, Islington, Friday August 17th, see you there!

Suza Sputnik - Photo by Steve Worrall

Jenny - Photo by Paul Slattery

You can get info on ordering CD's or download their new album "10,000 Volts" from their web-site.

"Calling all female drummers! The World famous Priscillas are looking! Our boy, Stu, sadly has to leave us within the next couple of months. It's a tough position to fill but if you think you're good enough, get in touch. We're hoping to get a girl on board this time around!"

Send your "CV" to hellopriscillas@yahoo.co.uk and say Retro Man sent you...good luck!

Thanks to Paul Slattery for the photographs (copyright Paul Slattery 2012)