THE BOYS

Sheffield Corporation: 23-10-2010.

Gordon bloody Bennett, the Boys really do make me sick. The last time I saw them was when they supported the Ramones way back in the mists of time & they don't seem to have aged a single day.

My dears, here is knowledge. The Boys  are still one hell of a red hot live proposition.
 Now the Sheffield Corporation is a kind of multi purpose venue, housing a few different rooms & stages & I was more than a little surprised to find the Boys playing the smallest room of all. The word 'shoebox' flatters the place. Surely a band of this stature would be allowed to flourish more on a larger stage.But then again, ticket sales cannot lie. Sure the venue was full, but, there really is no justice in this world, when a band this good has to slum it in pokey little rooms, when they should be lording it up in front of packed houses.

 The Boys gave one hell of a tight, slick, professional performance & that comes as no surprise when you think back to how many bands they've been in & how many records they've made between 'em. 

Cool Brat.

Not least of these being the great, Casino Steel. Ivory tinkler of some distinction & solo artist in his own right.

Not to mention the fact that he was keyboard player & part of the songwriting team which gave us the finest rock'n'roll album in existence.

 All of the Boys old classics were there; Brickfield nights, First time,& the ever painful Worm song (Yuk).

That's the thing with this band though, they've made some absolutely cracking singles over the years, but the album tracks were all great songs too. Not in any of their long playing records will you ever find a filler.

 This gig shot by in the twinkling of an eye, but rest assured dear readers; your old mate Flash, lord of pockets tight, will be endeavouring to witness this great rock'n'roll show as many times as his ever dwindling bank balance will allow.

 Kid Reid was as dynamic as he ever was, all high jumps & bouncing hither &  thither. (Those shiny white DM boots were a bit of a sartorial faux pas) but hey, other than that, the baby faced assassin still looks & sounds great, so I'm sure he can be forgiven the odd minor indiscretion.

 It's such a shame that Europe & the South Americans seem to see more of the Boys than we do here in dear old blighty. However if that's where they are most appreciated, then who can blame 'em for giving us the cold shoulder.It really is a sad state of affairs when venues are closing down wholesale, we the great British public need to get off our arses & go to see more live bands or the whole genre will die a slow,undignified death & bands as good as the Boys will be no more.

Before I sign off dear viewers, I regret to say that your old mate Flash Tightpocket turned into a sad, trainspotting, autograph hunting geek after the show. I couldn't help myself from accosting the great 'Casino Steel' & getting him to sign my prized Hollywood Brats postcard, which now has the signatures of 2 members of the band emblazoned across the front. RESULT. I know, I know, I'm one sad individual. But f**k it, it made me feel good.

  Chin chin my dears.