UK SUBS
16th February 2000
Metropol,
Hultsfred
Sweden
I have been listening to U.K. Subs since 1980 (when I heard "She's not there")
and practically grew up with their music. Been seeing them for a couple of times over the
years but always felt pity not seeing the Harper/Garratt/Gibbs line up. Now at last, at
the age of 32, I finally got the opportunity. My expectations couldn't have been higher.
After a 9 hours trip by train I arrived to Hultsfred, after being picked up by the one who
arranged the gig I got my 4 room apartment (for 15 pounds/night!) and got the band as
neighbors. Went to the club "Metropol" at 07.30 the support act (a deathmetal
band) was doing soundcheck. Took a couple off beers and spoke with sweet T-shirt girl Zoe.
Nicky was waking around, came by, asking who I was, shook hand, chatted. Not too many
people when the deathmetal band started playing. Had a word with Charlie and Alvin in the
bar. Great guys, telling me unavailable information about Essex girls.
By 11.OO the band started up with Cyberjunk but the audience was a bit lame. Disease,
State of Alert, Go Home (great new song) and some in the crowd started moving. Squat 96,
Endangered Species, Emotional Blackmail, Crash Course and their starting to get warm
(especially Nicky jumping up and down with teenage spirit) Countdown (with a little bit of
death metal singing by Charlie) dedicated to the support act. C.I.D, New York state
police, Riot, Warhead and they're al fantastically well performed. Stranglehold, Tomorrows
Girls,
Party in Paris and it's just great A short pause before the encore and then Limo Life, at
last! (hadn't heard that one live before.) Police State, Teenage and it's over.
Had a word with Nicky after, great guy, friendly, keen on trying to answer any questions.
Charlie told some stories from last time in Stockholm, when Brian Barnes was attacked by
fascists. He didn't seem to be too happy about the thought of returning to the Swedish
capital again. Too bad, it would save me some hours on the train.
Summery of the evening: Charlie was great of cause, Nicky was full of energy and a thrill
to expire, Alvin did a good work with the bass, and last but not least, the new drummer
Tommy was brilliant! Finally I just gotta say I love this band! The audience was probably
far from the wildest they fronted on this tour, and they sure didnŽt got the response
they deserved, but they proved to me this is the real thing, this is band, this is the U.K
subs! IŽll hope they stay together for a long time touring, putting out new material and
making us all happy.
Thanx for a great evening (and for the lift back to the apartment). Next time I gotta
catch them up with a wilder crowd, (maybe in Lillehammer?)
Erik Nilsson
19th February 2000