Reviews Main Page

Gig Reviews

CD Reviews

Book Reviews

Film Reviews

Postal Address:
PO Box 267
Woonona NSW 2517
Australia

Taken from Issue #4 of The Skammunicator

Who: Bad Manners Sydney Harbour Cruise supported by The Porkers
Date: 7th June 2001
Reviewer: Glen Smyth

Good overseas ska bands don't tour Australia regularly, sure there's that crap pop/punk stuff like Reel Big Fish or Less than Jake, but when Bad Manners tour down under you know it's a show not to miss, because it's a chance to see them you may never get again.

Waiting on Pyrmont Bay Wharf with anticipation were a diverse group - skinheads, mods, rudies and even skaters of all ages. Some were there to see The Porkers, but most were there solely for Bad Manners, including me. The boat started its circle of the harbour and after a chance to greet past aquaintances and have a beer ($4 a can mind you) The Porkers were up and playing by request. I'm not much of a Porkers fan, but a few of their less recent songs were played which was a positive. They had their fair share of fans dancing, highlights being their cover of The Specials "Little Bitch" and "Earthquakin" where the captain got the boat rocking appropriately. I was hoping they would pull some old ones out for the occasion such as "Des's pies", but it seems they no longer remember how to play such songs. They played quite a short set, between 30 and 45 minutes - a positive because it gave Bad Manners plenty of time to do their thing.

As soon as it looked like Bad Manners were making their way to the stage I grabbed pole position, right in front of where Buster would be standing when he made his entrance. The dance floor and above viewing area were filled and everyone was smiling. After the introduction instrumental, Buster arrived and the classics began. I knew my vocal chords would be sore afterwards as the boys belted out hits such as Lorraine, Sally Brown, Special Brew, Skinhead Girl, Skaville UK, Wooly Bully and the list goes on. Buster's tongue was as long as ever and what about that grin, best experienced from only a foot away. The man is huge and yet quite mobile, dancing and having as much fun as us. "Your favourites? What about my favourites," he yelled at one stage before breaking into another song that had the crowd in a skankin' frenzy.

Buster's antics are famous and yet the other Bad Manners members had character of their own. The bass player Steve Armstrong was dancing the whole time with a smile that showed every tooth in his mouth, the sax player Tony Rico didn't mind getting into the crowd and had Buster's mic shoved down his bell during one of many great solos and the keyboard player Rickesh Macwana's fingers were working like mad.

Bad Manners played for one and a half hours and the whole set was played with the same famous Bad Manners intensity. If there is a better live act I'm yet to see it. You can listen to Bad Manners records for ever, but it just doesn't compare to the energy of seeing Buster and the other Bad Manners boys in person. Highlights are hard to choose, but Lorraine, Skinhead Girl and Special Brew got my votes. The only negative were the drunk, yellow shirted skaters who obviously didn't know the songs and replaced lack of skankin' ability with pushing and attempted crowd surfing. That didn't affect the enjoyment of the night and I'll put it down as one of those shows I'll never forget.

For all photos of the gig, click here