By Monk and The Dark Queen
It had been ever so slightly more than four years to the day since Noo Yawk rock ‘n’ strollers Daddy Long Legs had played this very same venue, so there was a something of a sense of déjà vu as we headed back into the heart of Belfast’s historic Cathedral Quarter for the first time in several hot minutes to this converted warehouse for another evening of back street bop ‘n’ roll.
Just as on that occasion back in the spring of 2019, the task of warming up the still assembling crowd falls to Protex, a group of Norn Iron scene veterans who are probably the closest this little corner of the Überverse came to wannabe glunk superheroes who never quite were there (and once again I don’t mean that in any kind of derogatory way). Having been in there at the beginning of the movement, it’s unsurprising that they have 40+ years of back catalogue to plumb, and they do so with great aplomb as they deliver a classic set of old-school Belfast pop punk (well, we did invent the feckin’ thing!) with as much swagger and bravado at their now middle-aged bodies can muster.
Despite the so far disappointingly small turnout (the curse of knowing what time the headliners are due on stage allowing time for one last pint in many of the nearby trendy bars?), the guys prove that they are still very much shining stars of the local movement, while an admittedly probably needless cover of ‘Another Girl Another Planet’ could have been omitted (although it does serve to remind us of how much a certain local second-generation indie pop band ripped off said tune). Despite the fairly staid response, perhaps understandable given the demographic of the crowd, it’s another reminder of the contribution bands like Protex and their contemporaries made to the overly-formulaic genre we know today…
- Protex play the Rebellion festival in Blackpool on Saturday 5 August.
With the band now expanded to a four-piece, Brian ‘Daddy’ Hurd strolls through the crowd, climbs lugubriously onto the stage, takes a swig of Buckfast and a swipe of that sweet harmonica, and we’re straight into the preaching of those divine ‘Street Sermons‘ that we just love to hear, as music is our religion and this is our holy sepulchre.
Hurd urges us to ‘Call The Doctor’ (there’s no need Daddy LL, we’re sitting beside a paramedic!) as he and the new look band, still stripped down to the bare essentials of guitars, keys and one of the most laconic drum set up you’ll see, deliver infectious rock ‘n’f’n’ roll mixed with old town Chicago-style soul and rambunctious country blues of the type that would have got Johnny Cash an good old-fashioned Ed Sullivan banning!
As Hurd picks up a guitar and the bassist switches to keys, the infection spreads quickly around the room and the symptoms are immediately clear, with involuntary hand clapping and foot stomping shaking the floor and walls as much as the glorious rawk ‘n’ roll spilling from the stage, bringing out that primal urge to stand up and dance while sipping that ol’ whiskey and wine.
One thing is for sure: this big Daddy sure knows how to put on a show, especially when he can play a harp just like a slide geetar, and the result is yet another triumphant set all ’round. Here’s to the next visit… don’t make it so long, eh?
- All photos© The Dark Queen/Über Rock. You can view our full gallery of photographs HERE.
The tour continues at The Moth Club in Hackney tomorrow (Tuesday 30 May) and then The Hope & Ruin in Brighton on Wednesday (31 May). Daddy Long Legs then play the Red Rooster Festival in Euston on Thursday (1 June) before finishing off at the Exchange in Bristol on Friday (2 June) and The Night Owl in Birmingham on Saturday (3 June).
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