The RuTs DC with The Spitfires- at The Reading Rooms – Dundee, UK

The night starts by strolling into the Reading Rooms , to be met by Leigh Haggerty manning the merch table for the RuTs DC . I brief chat with Leigh and I buy the new album from RuTsDC – Rhythm Collision vol 2 , I have waited a long time for the next release and now I have it in my paws I couldn't wait to hear some tracks from the album being played. 

 

 

The bar fills up rapidly and before too long it’s time for the first band , The Spitfires , a three piece band from London . These guys remind me of the Jam , the lead vocalists dress sense the hair cut the stance and guitar playing … all reminiscent of the Jam back in the day . The Spitfires churn out great songs and are well worth checking out if you get the chance , this is a great start to what is about to become a gig of a lifetime !

The RuTs DC then take to the stage , I last seen them at Rebellion festival last August and before that was right here in Dundee at the Caird Hall in 1980 with the Damned and Irritators a week after Malcolm Owen had died. So seeing The RUTS Dc play Dundee again is a very special thing for me and here they are right in front of me in a small venue about to start the set .

The band started the night off with ‘WHATEVER WE DO’ a fantastic song from Rhythm collision vol 1 the drums and bass kick in and it is a powerful sound that blasts from the PA. First impressions are that the bloke doing the sound knows what he is doing thankfully cos that bass drum and bass guitar get the heavy dub treatment and pound out some heavy sounds.

Next up is FOOLS and ONE STEP Im sure One Step was new so must be off the new album , but I’d have to wait to confirm this …low and behold it is on the new album , and it is another superb song with that reggae feel to the music and superb vocals .

Then we are treated to a few RUTS songs … BACKBITER and IT WAS COLD got the old Ruts fans jumping about and I must say the band gave it 100% . Seggs treats us to some story’s along the way all funny of course and he has the place in the palm of his hand at this point ..he can ssay or do no wrong from now on. Next up was SMILING CULTURE another new song from the latest album and it doesn’t disappoint . Also played was NO TIME TO KILL , then MIRROR SMASHED a ditty from the Animal Now album . The band ripped through the songs like a warm knife through butter, everyone was cheering them on …not one person standing still while the band plays I don’t think . 

STARING AT THE RUDE BOYS is the one that really sets the tone for the last half of the gig … LOVE IN VAIN follows and everyone is in fine singing voice … followed by another new track called MIGHTY SOLDIER which is a superb track . JAH WAR then into DOPE FOR GUNS and a little story from Seggs again and its into WEST ONE SHINE ON ME ..the set is finished with WEAK HEART BABYLON which as you can guess incorporates Babylons Burning .

On the whole the gig is one of the best Ive ever attended. The venue was just right , the sound was just right , the band were perfect ,and the fans loved every last minute of it . I chatted to people ive known for 35 years who attended the gig but hadn’t been to a gig for a very long time, they were blown away by the RUTS DC . Everyone I talked too about the gig said the same thing , this was one of the best gigs they’d seen and I had to agree. 

Don’t hesitate – if you’re an old RUTS fan or RUTS DC fan , get along to the gigs while you can , buy the latest album you won’t be disappointed.

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            More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Sally Morrison-
Big Wheel Overseas Contributor

 

 

 

 

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