Creator and director: Ged Graham
The Sex Pistols ended their final concert, and arguably the Punk Rock genre, mocking their audience by asking if they felt cheated. This sad conclusion is definitely not in accordance with the celebratory tone of Ged Graham’s tribute Punk Off – The Sounds of Punk and New Wave.
Puck Off tells the story of two types of music- Punk and New Wave- that are not really compatible. There is a political element to Punk; many early bands served as an articulation of the belief among music fans that established groups had grown so wealthy they were remote from the day-to-day concerns of their fans.
Punk, therefore emphasised attitude over ability; the DIY ethic encouraged the formation of groups even if their musicianship was not of a high standard. The songs were short, fast-paced with hard-edged melodies and aggressive singing styles with sparse instrumentation. The lyrics were angry revolving around anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian themes.
New Wave was a later development with lighter and more melodic songs and more technically capable bands. The tone was quirky rather than challenging, an alternative to, rather than a condemnation of, established music acts. The music involved the use of electronics, in particular synthesisers, which gave a futuristic vibe enhanced by the distinctive visual style in fashion.
Puck Off makes some efforts to be a theatrical show rather than just a tribute act. Kevin Kennedy’s narrator sets out a timeline of events and reminds the audience of developments in wider society when the songs featured were introduced. The Punk section of the narration ticks the obvious boxes highlighting key events and personalities – The Sex Pistols gig at Manchester’s Free Trader Hall ( just down the road from tonight’s venue), their interview with Bill Grundy and so on. The narration is less adulatory when turning to New Wave, unable to ignore the fact money and fashion became important motivators.
There is a basic stage set – a backdrop of Camden Lock and shabby walls. A live band (Reece Davies vocals and guitar, bassist Phil Sherlock and Ric Yarborough drums and vocals) perform upon a raised platform. The front of the stage is used by dancers (Adam Evans- who also serves as vocalist and Music Director, Joshua Fowler , Lazy Violet- who also provides vocals- and choreographer Louisa Clark) . There is, however, a sense of including ideas and seeing if they work- the dancers illustrate a working day in Malcolm McLaren’s fashion boutique ‘ Sex’ and , less successfully, stage short skits on suburban life in the 1970’s.
Clark’s choreography, like the show as a whole, is a curate’s egg- good in parts. The Punk section tends to be simple but energetic- pogoing up and down or rock’n’ roll routines from the glory days of the 1950’s. The dancing becomes more imaginative with the New Wave section, interpreting lyrics or reproducing routines from promotional videos. At times, however, the choreography becomes reminiscent of the routines that used to be staged on TV’s ‘’Top of the Pops’’.
Punk took a ‘Year Zero’ approach and refused to acknowledge any musical influences before 1977 so it is odd that Punk Off begins with songs by Bowie and Iggy Pop. Otherwise, the choice of songs is impeccable although one might quibble about the number of medleys that are used. The band are technically proficient rather than charismatic with the vocalists tentative about whether to reproduce the original vocal styles of the songs or give their own interpretation – the latter works best.
Like the best tributes, Puck Off provides an idealised version of the past as one would like it to have been. It is a warm-hearted and enjoyable show and certainly does not leave the audience feeling cheated.
Touring until 9th March 2025
The Reviews Hub Score
Not a cheat
