When hardcore got me enthusiast, the new, more modern punk sound of the Subs didn’t move me much anymore. I went to see them a couple times in 1983 and 1986 but I wasn’t impressed much, more because it seemed they changed members every 4 months. In the centre is Charlie
Harper,
already an old punker back in the 80’s, today a definite punk fossil. He must
be somewhere in the late 50’s and usually gathers some part-time punk
musicians around him to make tours and concerts, a lot of times persons that
could be his grandchildren.However, very memorable was their concert in the infamous WNC squat back in January 1988 when after the concert everyone went to the hotel except for Mr.Harper who decided to stay around to party/socialize and ended up missing in the suburbs of Groningen. There’s lots of simular stories to emphasize the (musical) punkhart of Harper.
Anyway, since Drachten is only 35 km’s from Groningen, we decided to let nostalgia rule and drive with 2 loaded vans to the gig. When we arrive I suddenly realize I have been here before not too long ago when we went to see the humiliating Upfront and the rather funny Fast Times.
The place is already packed with a couple hundreds and we see all kinds of people. Mohawkpunks, crusties, skaters, redskins, oldpunks, cleanpunks, drunkpunks, straightedgers, skinheads, ex-skinheads, patriot-skinheads…. Uhhh, I dunno. Somehow I fear the worst, especially when I see some of them looking dirty to the crusties. I usually love varied crowds but this time maybe a bit too mixed?
Hellectric starts off and play really boring rock’n’roll. They got 5 punks pogoing in front of the stage. I have a problem getting out. It is not allowed to leave the building. Normally you get a stamp after having payed but here you’re stuck once you get inside. They probably want to avoid problems with neighbours although we’re in the middle of an industrial area…
When after ages finally the Subs take the stage, we see them in their almost original line-up from the 1981”Diminished Responsibility” period! Only the drummer (taken from One Way System) is different. A fucking aged punk band! They blast off with Endangered Species and the crowd starts whirling. Everybody’s very amused by the guitar player. It seems he did some Tae Kwan Do trainings coz he doesn’t stop moving, jumping and posing. I wonder how long he will keep this up coz it is unreal and hilarious. We hear a lot of tunes from the first (and my favourite) 4 albums. After about 10 songs there’s an incident in the crowd between some of my friends and a skinhead. There’s some pushing but fortunately nothing serious. It doesn’t dominate the atmosphere. The band plays requests as well and more golden oldies are played.
I’m glad I didn’t miss this one!