THE PRIMITIVES
Le Pub, Newport - 25th November 2024
Support: Murder Club
I'm not being Lazy, but I'm keeping this one shortish, suffice to say it is one that joins a very select club of gigs...
Firstly, Newport's Murder Club. These young ladies make what you'd call twee-indie-pop, I suppose. They've got a strong, youthful following in Newport and no doubt have some catchy tunes, but they're just a bit too far on the twee side of things for me.
As for indie-pop veterans The Primitives, well, I Don't Know Where To Start... The last time we saw them way back in May 2013, I lamented how poor Tracey's voice sounded, unable to reach too many notes. I was assured by some Primitives acolytes I know that they must have just had an off night. They're not always that bad. Which is why we gave them another chance. Considering they were right on our doorstep, it would have been Really Stupid not to.
Or so I thought.
Time really hasn't been kind to the Primitives. Gone are the days where they reached the Dizzy Heights of Top Of The Pops and regular music mag covers. Sure, plenty of bands can Empathise with that, but the Prims are a mere Shadow of their former selves.
They sounded messy, and Tracey's voice is now completely shot. In four songs, I think she hit about four right notes in total. Clearly the tunes are now Out Of Reach for her. MrsRobster and I looked at each other cringing, it was pretty painful. We stuck at it for half a dozen songs, but eventually we became so Sick Of It and had Nothing Left to give, so we actually did it - we walked out! It was the first time I'd walked out on a headliner since the Manics in 1993, and only the third time ever (the first time was My Bloody Valentine in '91).
Outside the venue, there was a couple who had been in front of us for the first few songs. When I asked them: "Were they really that bad or was it just me?", the lady replied: "No, they were awful!" That confirmed it - the Primitives' best days are Way Behind Me.
Such a shame. I still love their music and I treasure my collection of singles and 12-inches, but I won't be seeing The Primitives live again. It's too much of a car Crash.
(Interestingly, no one seems to be posting clips that represent just how bad the Primitives have become. Definitely some selective uploading going on...)
No comments:
Post a Comment