GIG REVIEW: THE DEFECTS Tear Through Antrim

13th February 2019 admin

Johnny B Goodes in Antrim, 21^st December 2018.

Firstly, this was a new venue for me and I bloody love it. Like an American diner from Alabama crashed into Terry Hooleys shop it’s a clatter of styles and decor that works, not too big, not too wee and from what I heard, great sound.

The B-Sides

The B-sides kicked off the evening with a barrage of punk standards played well and with increasing enthusiasm as the night wore on and drunker folks started to get up for a wee dance.

The Damned, the Clash, Pistols and even the Buzzcocks got a look in as they rattled through a well chosen selection of the best punk tunes from the 70’s and early 80’s.

Like Snuff, it’s a singing drummer arrangement and they certainly know how to play, as I said, they livened up as the crowd started to join in and admirably delivered in the warm up slot. I would gladly go see them again, this was a first for me.

The Defects.

What can you say about the Defects?

40 years and still blattering away at the scene they deserve so much more recognition than they have ever received. It seems unfair that SLF and the Undertones are so much more household names when the Defects are only really known in punk circles. Something should be done about it.

With an armoury of self penned tunes that would be the envy of many, the Defects own the place. I last saw them supporting the Exploited in the Mandella hall in Belfast and the wife reckoned that the Defects put on the better show of the night. They know how to pace their setlist and with their experience they know how to light the crowd and keep them lit.

Did I mention they’re on their 40^th year?

Their 40 year t-shirt is pretty cool, we came home with a few, and the merch is up to par with the best out there.

For anyone who is unaware of the Defects and even has a passing interest in punk I urge you to go see them at your first opportunity, first wave bands are thin on the ground especially talented and dedicated ones like this bunch of lads. Unlike a lot of groups that grew more cynical and started to look to their bottom line this bunch give the impression that they mean what they say and are in it for the rebellion and the f*ck you attitude that they still exude.