dkpw – Wicked Fire

Get the latest Flash Player to see this player.

I can’t wait for my trip to Durham!

Well, I’m back from my first gig in about 20 years and I’m in a daze. I have literally time travelled. My best Christmas present in 1978 was Penetration’s first album Moving Targets which was, I remember, pressed on some sort of yellowy luminous acetate. I played it to death and destruction. It’s now worth £20 on eBay.

Sadly, Penetration never really made it big, they were too punk for the main stream and too main stream for many of the punks. Add in the usual fuckwittery from major record labels, in this case Virigin (as with Another Pretty Face) and you have a major case of a missed opportunity.

There are many sites on the web which can give a more accurate history of the band than I, but all I’ll say is that they’re my favourite band from those days which are now over 30 years ago. Fuck. Why do they continue to resonate for me? Well, there is first and foremost Pauline Murray’s exceptional voice, her phrasing is unique and clear in every vocal is her commitment and energy. Then there is the music and the songs. Two guitars, playing tightly with each other over stonking bass lines. I don’t think any of their tracks lasts more than 4 minutes but they are timeless, promoting an ability to loose oneself. There is still the punk ethos, recalcitrant, individualistic, anti-authoritarian and possibly surprising to some, positive. Finally, I will admit there is a tinge of nostalgia, for a 14 year old me.

So since 1978, the nearest I got, was to reorder Moving Targets and then the double live album Live 1978-79 and rip them to my iPod. Thanks to the internet, I found their website and was delighted to see that Pauline had reformed and was actually touring. Even better they were coming to Scotland, if not Edinburgh – Glasgow is close enough.

So come 8 pm I found myself pleasantly pissed, in the basement of Stereo in the centre of Glasgow. The stage was set in a dank, moist, sweaty, hot cellar with barely painted walls, exposed girders and gaffa tape cupping cables from the stage to the mixing desk. Nothing had changed.

The support band were The Cathode Ray from Edinburgh and they were a good fit for Penetration’s audience and music. While they did get me toe tapping, their set at an hour long merely prolonged my agony at having to wait until Penetration were on stage. This is unfair to them and it must be the hardest thing in the world being a support act, even one as clearly talented as them. Again, it’s not fair but all I could think of when listening to them, was that their bassist looked like a chunky (and left handed) Keifer Sutherland.

So Cathode Ray finished and began packing up their gear. Penetration came on stage and started setting up. There was Robert Balmire, immensely tall and thin and always smiling. He was chatting away to the rhythm guitarist, and I’m sorry if you’re reading this, but I don’t know his name, although he did remind me of a rocking Graham Norton. He was wearing excellent cowboy boots and shirt and he can play! The lead guitarist, Steve Wallace, was very focused on tuning up and wow he too can play.

Then without further ado, they began to play. Fuck! I was at a Penetration gig. You have to understand that this is something I never thought I would ever experience. It’s as if you had invited me to see Hendrix play. Then there was a rattling of a tambourine and Pauline was on stage. I can’t tell you what the first song was. I can’t tell you what the first three songs were. I was in shock! I was watching and listening to Penetration at full fucking volume, with their music rattling my diaphragm. All I could do was smile and not quite believe it.

I think I calmed down by the fifth song. I wanted to dance but I didn’t want to die of a heart attack while having so much fun. I sort of danced on the spot.

Of course I’m biased but they were so professional, so tight, so clearly better than playing in a basement holding about 200 people. Pauline in web interviews has said she reformed the band because “they wanted to do it” not because they had to, and you could tell that from the energy and commitment of the performance.  Robert was smiling throughout the set and encouraging Pauline and “Graham.” They played many of my favourite tracks, “Life’s a gamble,” “Movement,” “Nostalgia,” “Silent Community,” “Don’t Dictate” and my all time favourite “Come into the Open.” Their new double A single, “The Feeling” and “Guilty” were well received  and  you can buy it on iTunes.

Time passed in a daze and they were gone, after one encore. So ended the 2010 tour. There are rumours of a new album and that probably means another tour. I’m sure of one thing, this is not the last time I’ve enjoyed the experience. Thank you!