Reaction: Vigilantibus

Tarbeach Recordings

Out 20th August

CD/DL

Crashing out of that hotbed of talent, Airdrie, in the late 70’s (actor Ian Bannen, footballer Brian McClair – need I go on) on the crest of the first wave of punk, Reaction only actually released their debut album Accelerator in 2016. They’ve keep their foot down ever since, and this week sees the release of album number 3, Vigilantibus, proving that they, alongside The Zips, are still up there with the West of Scotland’s premier protagonists of that original wave of punk. (Interesting fact…The Zips last album Huh? and Vigilantibus both feature cover art from the talented Stephen Scott)

The current line up of Ian Carson (vocals), Joe Whyte (guitars), John Bryson (drums) and new boy Angus McPhee on bass once again prove Reaction are not a band to rest on their laurels and settle for the same old same old. Vigilantibus has them up the ante once again bringing different instruments into the mix to spice things up a bit. On their last album Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired it was the welcome addition of brass on songs such as the brilliant Welcome to Rust Town, this time we’ve got banjos and harmonica (or the moothie if yer from roon this way) to add some different textures to the music.

Reaction Groove

In my mind, the band haven’t put a foot wrong with their albums to date, but if anything they’ve raised the bar once again with this new record. I’ve literally listened to the album half a dozen times today and wouldn’t tire of an other half dozen listens. Every song sounds very much like it belongs on a Reaction album, Big Carson has an undeniably recognisable vocal, and Joe’s guitar has its familiar tone, but with each release they have switched things up, adding elements and experimenting with styles to bring a fresh new sound. That being said, they still display their original punk attitude and sneer and retain that underlying groove that has Reaction written all over it.

Blast off

The album blasts off in style with The Boy Who Knows Everything, and from then on there is no looking back, every song is a winner, this is absolutely an all killer, no filler album.

Present here are a couple of quite heart-rending numbers, the tonality of Closer Than Most giving it an innately emotive feel, with harmonies that give it a both sides of the Atlantic West Coast feel from The Byrds to Teenage Fanclub whose origins are just down the road in Bellshill. It is a wonderful tribute to the late Mark Allison, with fitting references to Airdrieonians FC, it almost has me wanting to join the ranks of the Diamonds. The other song packed with with sentiment is the superb banjo fuelled Sweetheart Grips, the storytelling in Carson’s lyrics tugging at the heartstrings in a tale of love and war, the mid song break giving it an almost Spaghetti Western feel.

Eddie Cochran on Steroids

There is a triumvirate of songs mid album that are set to be surefire live favourites. My favourite Manic Street Preachers song has always been Stay Beautiful, possibly now one of my favourite Reaction songs is going to be Stay Pretty. It explodes into your eardrums like Eddie Cochran on steroids after being injected with testosterone and then continues to rip through you at breakneck speed. This song could take its place on any of their three albums, taking its energy from the full throttle punk of Accelerator and namechecking the last album. My old bones are already complaining as I can already start to see what’s going to happen the next time I see the band live, depending on the number of pints imbibed, I bet I look good on the dancefloor…

An Utter Riot

Newsflash! Reaction go UK82! Well, just for one song, and in doing so they out-do all the bands that currently tear the arse out of the “genre” on the current circuit. Spitfire! Hurricane! (I’ll stop with the exclamation marks now) is an utter riot from start to finish. A complete piss take, with lyrics which are directed, with a degree of exasperation, at the old punks who claim to be fans of bands like The Clash and Angelic Upstarts while totally ignoring what they stood for and spouting racist jokes and other pish. I’m sure we all know one of these “weapons”, the I’m not racist but… brigade. They’ll love this one without realising they are the target of its lyrics. Dumb fucks.

While I’m on my soap box, why the fuck are this band not on the Scotland Calling bill when we are faced next year with the dread of the turgid sub metal thrash The Exploited currently spew, the one tongue-in-cheek joke band that was never funny in the first place tosh from Anti Nowhere League (is it any wonder people hate you?), and the juvenile puerile pish from Peter & the Test Tube Babies.

Anyway, forget that shite, sandwiched between these two songs is the bands single from a year or so back, Illuminate, with its COVID/zombie video, and the band channelling US slacker rock in the vein of the magnificent Dinosaur Jr.

Rumbles Menacingly

There are a couple of darker heavy songs, like The Whip Don’t Lighten the Load, towards the end of the album that veer more towards sludge rock, or even at points, dare I say, channelling Black Sabbath? Wake Me Up (Before You Pogo) rumbles along menacingly and seemingly suggests that we’re sleeping through the destruction of society by corrupt government, with civil unrest the only option left. Wake me up, when the rioting starts…

Track 11 (and bonus track 12) conspire to end the album in glorious style, All Aboard the Bad Trip Express is an epic journey that takes in a bit of reggae and a bit of Madness-esque 2-tone along the way, Reaction’s Night Boat to Cairo if you like, before they fully go down the wormhole and leave us with the sublime Warped Plan dub version of the Bad Trip Express. Absolute class.

Live

What a thrill ride this album is. I can’t wait to see these songs played live so it’s just as well Reaction are playing several gigs in the near future including supporting Cult Figures in Glasgow in the 10th September, and with the Zips, Stiff Lips and The Red Lite District on the 2nd. See you down the front at that one.


Reaction – Facebook

Tarbeach – website

All words by Neil Hodge. More writing by Neil on Louder Than War can be found at his author’s archive.

You can also find Neil online at his blog thegingerquiff.

 

Reaction – The La Chunky Sessions EP Volume 1 – review

Posted OnJuly 21, 2020AuthorNeilho27@Sky.Com

There are dozens of independent record labels that are a cause for celebration. The one’s that, when you hear they have a new release coming, it is almost guaranteed you will love it. I’m not going to start listing those. Suffice to say that Tarbeach Records based in New York but with roots still attached to the heart of the West of Scotland is one that holds a special place in my music collection. I own all the releases to date. So far there is not one I don’t like. So, it gives me great pleasure to be reviewing the first of three tree-mendous releases (the pun is intentional) coming your way now. Coming shortly is Dreaming from the magnificent New York Junk and Treefort, an album from Ty Murray.

The first of those releases is from Reaction, a band whose late ‘70’s punk roots are firmly Airdrie based, Airdrie also being the basis of the Scottish link for Tarbeach. The La Chunky Sessions EP follows up the quite wonderful Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired album from 2018, and plays like a history of punk/alternative rock.

Illuminate

The links with the style of music from both of the bands albums is very much present. Lead track the rather wonderful earworm that is Illuminate, comes with a rather natty video. When I first heard Saints of Tamla Hill on the Keep it Weird album, Sonic Youth was the band that came to mind. Illuminate comes from the same stable, but this time Joe is channelling J Mascis and co, the guitars very much reflecting the great Dinosaur Jr, complete with majestic soaring guitar break two-thirds of the way through. Altogether now “Anytime, anytime…” Yes, the addictive refrain will be lodged firmly in your brain forever.

Stay Pretty

This high-octane track kicks into life with some maximum velocity Eddie Cochrane styling much loved and copied/sampled by many over the years – Steve Jones & Sigue Sigue Sputnik to name a couple. This leads into a riff not dissimilar to Arctic Monkeys Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Stay Pretty, does just that throughout, maintaining its energy and hitting you like a cyclone. Listening closely to the lyrics, it becomes apparent this is a very personal song for the band’s vocalist.

Kamikaze Baby

Kamikaze Baby follows on wearing its punk influences on its sleeve too, this time though its much more of a NYC vibe, complete with hand claps and backing woo’s, this song along with the bands background making this the perfect release For Tarbeach. The lyrics for this one are littered with clever little punk/post punk references.

Strychnine

The melody for Strychnine has a darker post punk edge to it, with a Banshees element coming through at times. The song is dealt with in a sinisterly humorous manner by Carson, “Some people like water, some people like wine, but I like the taste of straight strychnine…”. The manic yelping and primal screams scattered through the song from main man Carson, bring to mind the late great Lux Interior.

Four quality tracks that will have you coming back time and again. Reaction always put on a great live show. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait forever to see them again. Illuminate me anytime…

Get over to Tarbeach and order yours now.

 

Reaction – Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired: Album review and some…

November 6, 2018 Author Neilho27@Sky.Com

AIRDRIE – SO MUCH TO ANSWER FOR…

I didn’t think I would see myself focussing so much of my leisure time on the outputs of the Lanarkshire town of Airdrie.

Airdrie. A town I don’t know much about, apart from it being home to a few friends, the Diamonds (Airdrieonians FC) and that one of its famous landmarks is something I remember hearing about on the radio and TV from my youth, the Blackhill transmitter.

Interesting fact fans. Airdrieonians FC are the first football team in the World to have a fans group as the main sponsor of their kit. Life-long Airdrie fan Mark Allison’s image appeared on the shirts having tragically died from pancreatic cancer aged only 49. After his diagnosis, Mark went on to raise over £80000 for cancer charities before his death. The shirt sponsorship was a fitting tribute from this relatively small club and its dedicated group of fans. Kudos to everyone involved (and for getting a pair of trainers named after him too).

So why my apparent sudden fascination with Airdrie?

This is Memorial Device

First up, my recent train journeys to and from work have been accompanied by the tales of imaginary Airdrie band, Memorial Device. The novel, This is Memorial Device by David Keenan, came highly recommended and I am pleased to say the enthusiastic recommendations have lived up to their hype. The book views the band from the perspective of several different characters and is often hilarious, often shocking but always engrossing.

The book held my imagination and had me wondering who the characters were based on. I’m sure over the years I’ve met people that sound exactly like some of those in the book. I’ve never been in a band myself, and you certainly don’t need to have been to enjoy this triumphant novel, but I can imagine those who have been in bands will have some wry chuckles as they read the book recognising situations that mirror their own experiences. Bizarre as some of them may be.

So, what music to listen to to accompany this phenomenal read? I can’t think of anyone better than Airdrie’s finest export – the mighty Reaction. A quick search on google suggests other famed Airdrieonians are actress and (not) Gregory’s Girl Dee Hepburn (a close second export to Reaction having been in one of my favourite films – though I preferred Gregory’s actual Girl, Clare Grogan), actor Ian Bannen, Ross Davidson (actor), countless footballers including Sandy Clark. Oh, and Jim Traynor. No comment.

Reaction

Back to Reaction. A band formed back in the heady days of punk, but still going today after splitting and reforming many years later to produce some fine music. Having originally formed in the punk days, their new album is a triumph of punk roots layered with…well, layered with a bit of everything. And a mighty fine mix it is too.

Despite having formed aeons ago, their debut album, Accelerator was released by the tremendous Tarbeach Records (if you’ve read my blog before, you’ll be aware of my love for this American based label with its roots very much in Airdrie) in 2016. And what a debut it was, not a duff track in sight. If you’ve seen the band live, you’ll know the energy that radiates from the band when they perform. And just watch the audience “reaction” to live favourites like the stonking I Wanna Be Your Dee Dee Ramone, Fubar and Hey Patty Hearst to name but a few. Quite an album to have to follow.

Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired

Have they managed it with Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired? I’d say so. And the rest.

The album is distinctively Reaction. You can’t mistake big Carson’s instantly recognisable timbre, Joe Whyte’s accomplished guitar style and the strong and stable (pardon the over-used term) rhythm section of John Bryson on drums and Scot Van Den Akker on bass. Take the original Reaction sound, add some layers and influences to bolster and change up a few gears and you have the sound of Reaction 2018.

When I first started my blog and getting back into going to gigs, OK, so I never really stopped going to gigs, but it was always to see bigger/more established acts. Maybe a better way to put it is when I started getting back into going to smaller club sized gigs, Reaction were one of a number of Scottish based bands, along with the likes of Heavy Drapes, The Zips, Red Eyes, Southern Approach (and several more – you know who you are) that really re-ignited my passion and made me want to write about the music I love regardless of style or genre.

Welcome to Rust Town

Welcome to Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired, and Welcome to Rust Town. What a powerful album opener. A great lyric, tremendous tune and with added trumpet (Kiki Chaos & Ali Hendry) and a sublime additional vocal from the glorious Monica Queen, I defy anyone not to have this song running through their head for days after listening to it. Welcome to Rust Town, Welcome to Hell? From the opening song on this album, I’d say, welcome to Heaven (if such a place actually existed). Give me more. Great storytelling from Carson, with his vocal seemingly charting the progress of a town’s fall from grace. I also detect more than a hint of suspicion regarding the current incumbent in the White House with the line “In God we no longer trust now” rephrasing the U S of A’s motto. Great.

Monica Queen is an inspired choice as foil to Carson’s vocal, congratulations to whoever made that decision. As a result, I have dug out all my old Thrum CDs and memories of seeing Moni & Thrum live. One of my favourite Thrum gigs was at Yoker Ferry in 19whenever, when they played with the magnificent Martin Stephenson. A great night where I also bought a Thrum t-shirt I loved and have since lost. It was bright green, Thrum make you come it said. Maybe I wore it out. Anyway. I should perhaps also point out that Queen’s bandmate (Monica that is, not Freddie’s lot… Oh never mind) Johnny Smillie also plays on the album adding his own commensurate guitar playing and piano to the mix.

A Glorious mix

I said give me more and the album does just that as you move through the beautiful Stars So Far and the magnificent Valerie Solanos and Me. Remember that I said the band formed way back in 1978, before splitting and reforming? Don’t assume then that all you’ll get is first wave punk copyists. Obviously, they have their roots grounded in punk, but not limited by it as some bands become.

This album has influences flying around throughout. US indie/Americana along the lines of Replacements, Husker Du/Sugar, R.E.M., Buffalo Tom makes is apparent and Sonic Youth would kill for the intro to Saints of Tamla Hill. I detect a bit of nod garage fuzz and the glory of Poison Ivy and The Cramps in Won’t Go Back to Jail. And of course, US punk, and in particular the guitar genius of Johnny Thunder, both in the playing and a couple of lyrical nods.

Little Treats

Morrissey once sang about little things making big differences. There are loads of little treats throughout this album that will make some people in the know smile. Several nods to “local” heroes in the lyrics to Valerie Solanos and Me – the legend Danny Mac appearing alongside Jack Kerouac and Zips frontman Jonzip McNeil alongside Kim and Kelley Deal in lyrics that also namecheck the aforementioned Johnny T, Muhammed Ali and another Airdrie legend, “Little Julie Hamill, reading me her novel”. A wee mention too for the band that showed several punk bands how it should be done, Hanoi Rocks, reminds me that I’m seeing frontman Michael Monroe very soon. Happy days. Oh, and there is Joe Whyte thinking about his stomach at the end of Killing Time (“Please tell me no-one fucked up there, cos I am starving”).

Girl Power

Valerie Solanos and Me is a stand-out speeding romp of a track. The song influenced by feminist and writer of the SCUM Manifesto. Solanos preceded the #MeToo movement by over 50 years in writing about how men have ruined the world. And a small matter of attempting to murder Andy Warhol in 1968. The track opens with a quote from her “Why should we care that there is no younger generation to succeed us?” (part of a quote where she goes on to state that social evolution would eventually lead to female control of the world – there’s girl power for you right there Spice Girls). It is not the first time she has influenced music – Big in Japan – Society for Cutting Up Men, the band S.C.U.M. Manic Street Preachers also quoted her in the Generation Terrorists sleeve notes to name a few.

Killing Time has a lush guitar break while, with its frantic harmonica opening, courtesy of Andy Smith from Used Blues, Been There, Done That goes on to evoke REM guitar vibes. On Gravity, Carson’s intonation in the chorus of “I’m always thinking of you, gravity’s’ a drag” and throughout serves to create an air of despondency, like he really is being dragged down. I can picture him now, standing there in Central Station.

Kick to kill kill kill

In another album highlight, Airdrie gangs are the theme of Saints of Tamla Hill. The song has an underlying air of threat and menace throughout, but with a soaring uplifting chorus, despite the line being “Tamla Hill Hill Hill, Kick to kill kill kill”. Second chorus in and the listener is treated to a sublime bass, drum and guitar break. As mentioned earlier Sonic Youth would have killed for the intro to this song.

There is not one tune or song on this album that is forgettable. No tracks make you think “I’ll skip this one”.

The treats continue with You Love the High Life, serving up yet another tasty guitar break and at just over a minute and a half, Dumb Dumb Dumb clocks in as one of the albums shorter tracks but it packs plenty into its 1 minute 40 seconds with staccato guitar and, well I don’t know the technical term for it but the squeaks as Joe’s finger slide along the strings add an extra texture to the sound.

Born to Lose, Free to Choose

Defiance and living your life on your own terms is a theme in Dreams are Free referencing Johnny Thunder again – “Born to Lose, free to choose”. And once again another track punches me in the gut, Won’t Go Back to Jail with its fuzz garage guitar/Crampsy feel is yet another highlight. Ain’t no place for a pretty face. Indeed. Triumphant.

The album ends as gloriously as it began with the magnificence of (previously reviewed) single Days of El Dorado a paean to times past and memories of days (and nights) gone by with friends of old. (You can still get this on coloured vinyl split single with Desperate Measures). Now I have several tunes and lyrical couplets competing for my headspace. I’ll take any of them.

 

Reaction – Days of El Dorado/Desperate Measures –

Executive Order: split single review

By Neil Hodge November 12, 2018

Another collector’s slab of shocking pink coloured vinyl on 7 inch. On one side a new song from Tarbeach regulars, Airdrie’s Reaction and New Zealand’s Desperate Measures, with Vive Le Rock’s Eugene Butcher, featuring on the AA. This is another Tarbeach release to savour and treasure.

Eldorado definition: the name of a fictitious country or city abounding in gold, formerly believed to exist somewhere in the region of the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers or more generally a place of great abundance.

Or in deepest Lanarkshire and Glasgow, a tonic wine to rival that other stalwart, Buckfast. A livener for many a youths weekend travails.

Eldorado – where did the time go? Either of the above definitions works for this song – being as it is a paean to days gone by, a lost youth when time seemed abundant – and so did the supplies of tonic wine. Or to lost weekends…

The sound on this track is distinctly different sound to the debut album but still undoubtedly has Joe’s unmistakable riffing, Carson’s warm distinct vocal and the tight, solid rhythm section from Scott and John. The music is as edgy as you would expect from the band who produced the mighty Accelerator, but with the added keys and backing vocals (courtesy of the talented Johnny Smillie of Thrum & countless other contributions to bands, including on one of my favourite albums of last year, Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders Scenery for Dreamers) the track sees the sound developing and adding elements of alt-country/Americana taking you in different directions.

There is a certain nostalgic feel to the song telling, as it does, a great tale in its lyrics.

“My Cuban heels are worn down, from marching all over town and I hear that you’re looking for me now. I’ll be in that bar you know, so bring the old gang in tow and we’ll raise a glass to the Days of Eldorado”

Engaging guitar hooks, the piano, drum and bass intro (no not that drum and bass, they haven’t changed that much) draws you in. The lush guitar melodies, backing harmonies complementing Carson’s passionate vocal, throbbing bass, crashing drums and cymbals and driving piano keep you engaged and have you reaching for the repeat button.

As a taster for the new album (along with other tracks that anyone seeing the band live will have been treated to), the bands sophomore release is going to be another stormer to complement the cracking debut Accelerator.

Desperate Measures entertain with their brand of punk rock on Executive Order.

As you may expect from the title, there is an element of vitriol aimed at a certain PUSA, and his policies and support from right wing extremists and racists. Their passion for the subject is apparent but while they raise their objections it certainly isn’t going to stop them doing what they came to do.

“We ain’t ever gonna take your poison, we’re just here to rock n’ roll”

Kicking off at a rate of knots with no messing screeching garage punk guitars, pulsating bass rhythm and thumping drumbeats the band are certainly here for “kicking up a storm”. Having a gruff vocal to rival a certain Mr Kilmister, no-one is going to ignore Mr Butcher.

The band bring the tempo and volume down a bit for a rich and mellow instrumental break before Eugene brings the pace back up with a few yeah, yeah, yeah’s for one last passion-filled chorus.

Avoid disappointment, get your copy now from Tarbeach Records – Reactions new album Keep it Weird, Keep it Wired is also out now and coming soon in vinyl.

 

Reaction – Out of My Head – 7″

February 19, 2018 Neilho27@Sky.Com

WHITE VINYL

To keep Reaction fans going until the new album, they have a limited edition white vinyl 7″ out now for ordering on Tarbeach Records.

The two songs on this 7” show two different sides to the band. On one side, “Out of My Head” with its driving guitar, pounding bass and drums intro & refrain is the sophisticated melodic punk rock that the band have become known for. engaging guitar breaks, cymbal crashes and tambourine all add up to this being a stonker of a tune. Carson my want “you out of my head”, but I’m quite happy for this tune to stay there all day.

On the flip-side the bass heavy dub of “Crystallised Radio” a re-invented, re-energised version of Accelerator album track Crystal Radio.

Out of My Head – white vinyl – order now from Tarbeach Records

The band is currently recording and mixing the follow-up to debut album “Accelerator”. That album is a hard one to follow but I’ve heard some of the new songs live and also the studio version of “Days of El Dorado”. Reaction fans new and old are in for a treat when this drops later in the year.

If you haven’t already got it, treat yourself to the CD EP (also on Tarbeach) too. You’ll get the added bonus of “Street Fight”. A two-part tune a la Smash it Up. Part one is all delicate and intricate guitars from Joe, before it blasts into the fast paced aggressive in yer face punk of part two. Awesome. Also, the bands exceptional version of External Menace classic “Someday”.

There are plenty of live dates on the horizon too. These include gigs with External Menace in McChuils in May and also Adolescents in August with Duncan Reid & the Big Heads following later in the year. Some gigs not to be missed.

Reaction are on Facebook & Twitter.

 

Reaction – Accelerator – Album Review

May 25, 2016Adrian Bloxham Leave a Comment

Reaction : Accelerator album released on Tarbeach Records available on CD & DL

Scottish Punk band Reaction formed at school in 1978, splitting up after leaving a trial of ‘chaotic behaviour and venue bans’ they agreed to reform in 2014 for a couple of charity gigs. They realised that there was still some chemistry there and the fruits of that are an album, only thirty seven years after the band formed. Fighting Boredom have been throwing themselves into the Punk Rock’n’Roll abandon of Accelerator.
This comes out of your speakers and the endorphin floods in, Punk gets you like that. If you truly love a type of music and have been listening to it for most of your life you can’t help but love when you hear more of it. Reaction aren’t young, but that just means that all of the influences and stuff they have drilled into their ears over the years has been distilled and slammed back into you on this record.
And what influences! You can hear the ghosts of the Heartbreakers and Ramones, the echoes of Killing Joke and Buzzcocks, the insanity of the Cramps and the pure abandon of a youthful twos up at the rest of the world. There’s even a quick skank along a to two tone beat in Fireball XL5.
The thing is too that it would have been piss easy to just write your own Ramones song or Dead Kennedys copy, but Reaction never do that, they take elements from all the bands they love and add enough of their own ideas to make this reactive rather than historic posturing.
My favourite moments on the record are when the demented spirit of Rockabilly is splattered all over the front of a stolen hot-rod in Puta Madre, the twisted surf sound behind the slow burning FUBAR and the staccato guitar and rousing emotive chorus of Walk into the Sun. I’m also dragged right into the last track, Fireball in dub which turns the rest of the album on its head and like the best dub welds snippets of the sound around a bass groove to die for.
The thing is, give me a rough buzzing guitar, a pounding rock’n’roll drum beat and loose loud bass and I’m happy. Add the rough and ready vocal with the wonderful Punk harmonies and chorus’ and it’s just perfect.

You can buy the album from in the tarbeach store, Reaction are on Facebook.

 

All words by Adrian Bloxham.

Reaction Live

Reaction Live shows updates here.