Barrowlands Ballroom
Glasgow
17-04-26
O! Happy Mondays, how blessed the world has been to share in your musical vision. Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches is a solid gold masterpiece from November 1990. A year earlier, the Mondays had shar’d the Top of the Pops stage with the Stone Roses & their high water mark, Fools Gold. As the Roses then ground more or less to a halt, the Mondays went to work, releasing the anthem of the north, Step On, in March 1990, after which life has never quite been the same for us all!
Outwith Step On, there’s some reyt tunes on Pills ‘N’ thrills; Loose Fit & Holiday just a couple of the album’s classics. So, it was with some excitement that I headed to Glasgow to see the 35th anniversary show with the drummer in my own band, Jonny. I’d visited Sawmills Studio down Cornwall the previous week, where Fools Gold had been recorded, & also Definitely Maybe. I’d told Jonny we would be recording there next year with a rock-dance-northern vibe album, & a trip to hear live one of the seminal artefacts of the culture would do us good no end.
So in we went, & there we danc’d, having a ridiculously fun time with 18 year-olds & eighty-year olds. The Farm were a great support act – of the era, of the place & the vibe. Then strutted on the Mondays, in their early sixties now, but still having it – Bez still bouncing aboutlike Peter Pan on poppas. “Thirty-five years – thirty-five minutes!” he kept chirping out regularly, referring to the length of the album.
I mean, all credit to them, for doing this every night on an extended tour. This was the middle gig of a three-day stint at the Barrowlands, by the way, on a tour that started two months ago. Also – massive respect to Ryder for still having an amazing voice – almost choir boy at times – a true singer & a true poet.
My favourite moment was when the album’s acoustic-driven ‘Bob’s Yer Uncle’ turn’d into a full on dance-track – I need a version of that like. Then, when the album had finish’d being play’d out, the band continued for a good 40 minutes, giving the punters value for a money & an opportunity for a rave. I gestur’d to Jonny to leave the dance-floor & find more of an open space out to the sides where we could express our dance moves better – & there we bump’d into Joe, a pal from Edinburgh, who’d just done exactly the same. Another sweet success for serendipity.
Back when I was first clubbing, we’d go out & dance to house & techno, whatever, then go back home & put on Thrills ‘N’ Pills. This time it was the complete opposite. Once me & Jonny got back to the ranch, we bang’d on some dancey tunes & kept on struttin’ til dawn. Classic Rhythm Section bonding malarkey.
Words: Damo
Photos: Jonny H
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