Q:
What do you call a ten-piece ska band that write their own songs.
A: The Amphetameanies. Observant readers will have noticed that
that was not a joke, which is exactly the point the 'Meanies
are keen to make.
"If we wanted to, we could make a packet playing novelty Madness medleys
to students, but we don't - we put a lot of effort into writing
our own songs", says Gordy, a founding member. "Some
of the band actually hate ska" adds Jane, who shares singing
duties "so we end up with a lot of different influences coming
through".
This means that The Amphetameanies recorded output sounds a little like
bis arguing with Mark E. Smith about how great the Specials were. Which
puts the band in something of an awkward position; old skinheads dismiss
them for not wallowing in nostalgia, and potential new fans are put off
by the fact that 'ska band' tends to be seen as shorthand for 'novelty
act'. Not that the 'meanies are bitter, according to Alex, guitarist
and songwriter, "We set the band up to have fun and to get audiences
to have fun. The main difference between us and other bands in Glasgow
is that you come to our gigs to dance and jump about."
And fun they have, from their recent opening of T In The Park to thousands
of overexcited punks, to an apperance in Paris, reference to which sparked
an intra-band debate on the extent to which their audience was naked.
So, if you balk at the idea of paying to see a one trick pony, pork pie
hatted ska band, but enjoyed the ska sound of old, The Amphetameanies
are a must see.
Jack
Mottram
The
List No.367