UK Subs Empress Ballroom Blackpool 3rd August 2023

 

If Max Splodge is part of the Rebellion furniture then Charlie Harper is the fittings! As we regularly passed Charlie as he manned the UK Subs merch stall over the duration of the festival posing for selfies with young Japanese punks, the joke was 'Who hasn't had their photo taken with Charlie!'. But fair play to the man. He has fronted the Subs for no less than 46 years. During this time I don't think that the band have ever craved the big time. I get the impression that Charlie would be equally content whether the band are playing to thousands in a German arena or in the back room of a Stoke pub on a Tuesday night in January! If the audience in front of him are appreciative and perhaps prepared to buy a T shirt from the merch stand then all is good in Chuck's world!

Along with long term collaborator, Alvin Gibbs, the Subs' set focusses on their output from '79 to '81 (not so unusual for punk bands of some longevity). The current line up, that will hopefully see Charlie into a well deserved artistic retirement, are tight and will ensure that the band wind up with in appropriate style.

As an aside, I did look at the band's line ups on their Wiki page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.K._Subs#Band_members). Possibly only The Fall could boast a longer list of 'also serveds'!

Thanks again to Peter for sharing. Cheers!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-KeojVe481B

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-dbZQ3jVB0q

01. Intro
02. CID
03. I Live In A Car
04. Kicks
05. Emotional Blackmail
06. You Don’t Belong
07. Endangered Species
08. Rockers
09. Organized Crime
10. New York State Police
11. Bitter And Twisted
12. Fear Of Girls
13. Limo Life
14. Down On The Farm
15. Party In Paris
16. Tomorrow’s Girls
17. Warhead
18. Riot
19. Stranglehold
20. Disease
21. Encore Break
22. Keep On Running
23. Teenage