Posted on July 20, 2010 - by James Linthicum

The Mattless Boys

The Good Ship
Kilburn High Road, UK
Saturday 26 June 2010

Among the many Old School Punk bands The Boys have always maintained a committed following not only in the UK, but throughout continental Europe and beyond.   The Boys themselves have been influential and iconic since ’77 with bad luck (including even the timing of Elvis’ death subsequent to the release of their album) preventing them from benefiting from the wider success they deserve.  A following has always remained though and influential artists including Paul Weller who sported a Boys sticker on his guitar have credited them as being an influence.

The Mattless Boys came into being when Boys’ members -  Duncan Reid, Casino Steel and Vom Ritchie became involved in a project that had started as a solo outing by Boys’ guitarist Honest John Plain.  Boys’ guitarist and songwriter Matt Dangerfield was not involved in the project hence the title the Mattless Boys.  The show featured material both original to the Mattless Boys as well as a strong selection of Boys’ songs, many obscure and never having seen the light of day in a live setting.  All of them, however, were worth waiting for.  The trio who performed for this particular show consisted of Duncan, Honest and Vom Ritchie current Boys’ drummer as well as drummer for continental heroes Die Toten Hosen and formerly of, among others, Dr and the Medics.

Starting with ‘Rumours,’ an Honest John Plain track (written with Jaime Balbontin and Jim Vain) that will feature on the Mattless Boys album, the show kicked off with an energy that was to feature throughout.   The set-list was eclectic and featured a variety of authors and styles including two numbers, one by and one made famous by the Rolling Stones (‘Tell Me’ and ‘You Better Move On’) of whom Honest John Plain is a big fan.  Past Honest John Plain songs like ‘Where Have All the Good Girls Gone’ (recorded originally with the Crybabys) mixed with new songs written either by Honest on his own or with Duncan Reid  as well as Reid’s ‘She’s a Handfull.’   The latter song had an introduction at the show reminding the assembled audience that even punk is about more than gobbing and pogoing.  Boys favourites ‘Jimmy Brown,’ ‘Gabrielle’ (in an incredible acoustic version), ‘Brickfield Nights,’ ‘Terminal Love’ and many more including ‘You Can Give It’ written by Matt Dangerfield’s brother kept the Boys’ fans well satisfied.  The night ended with an all Boys’ encore of ‘TCP, I Miss You,  Box Number and Sick on You (originally recorded by the Hollywood Brats)’ and everyone was yelling for more.

It must be noted that the Mattless Boys does not mean the end of The Boys.  The Boys will be doing several dates throughout Europe this year as well as a gig in Sheffield on 23 October.  The Mattless Boys do, however, show up that maxim that sometimes less can be more.  Their set was energetic, eclectic and showed that punk or power pop or whatever you want to call it does not mean a lack of musical talent and ‘chops.’  It also continues to beg the question of why they weren’t bigger back in the day.  The good news is that they are still around.  If this show is anything to go by, it should not only be celebrated, but taken advantage of!

Set List
Rumours
You Better Move On
Jimmy Brown
Good Girls
Talk to Me
Any Old Time
Tell Me
You Can Give It
Gabrielle
USI
Romanian Girl
She’s a Handful
Cop Cars
Worm Song
I Don’t Care
Terminal Love
Brickfield Nights
First Time

Encore
TCP
Miss You
Box Number
Sick on You