Perhaps the most phenomenal characteristic of punk rock is the capacity it has to speak to people directly whose lives are lived outside the moment of its existence. The late ‘70’s phenomenon lasted less than two years before its crash and burn, yet it revolutionised virtually everything about the music industry.
‘Two-Chord Garageland Council Pop’ is a prime example of the modern hybrid. Raw, edgy rock music peddled by the likes of Stockport outfit THE CASINOS, who combine their unthinking, back-to basics approach with a delivery that runs riot on pure relentless energy, etching grins on faces everywhere.
With an ever growing gang of fans, friends and followers (collectively known as ‘The Rollers’) helping to raise the roof, this exciting four-piece are using D.I.Y. principles to great effect to cause mayhem in the area. Tonight they should be supporting The Needles at Manchester’s Roadhouse, but sunset finds me mooching downhill in a semi-rural part of Stockport, to where the artful young hooligans were double booked to appear; in the final of a local band contest slap bang in the middle of what can be classed as home territory. The £500 first prize is more than they’d get for The Roadhouse appearance, and that, dear reader, as far as any dilemma was concerned, was the end of that!
The Norfolk Arms is a pretty large-sized pub, but by 8pm it’s already heaving with bodies, most of them aged 16-21, some of them spilling out of the front and side doors and into the street. Nearly all of them are here to see The Casinos.
Greetings are shouted out into the night as more fans arrive, but all four band members are quickly on form as the interview opens, in the outside area that is half car park, half beer garden. My first question?
What exactly is Council Pop?
“Listen”: states Adam, The Casinos’ guitarist: “We’ll do this interview, but what did you mean by ‘Flatulent behaviour’?”. My pal Mark is already bent double, sliding fast off his chair, weakened by snotty attacks of the giggles.
Adam is referring to my account of The Casinos’ support slot with Undercut and Ollie Robbins earlier this year at Manchester’s Dry Bar. The actual phrase used by this writer was in fact ‘Fledgling behaviour’. Nevertheless, they still want to know what it means…
“Well, that night at Dry, how many gigs did that make for the band in total?” I ask.
“Erm – it was our third gig” comes the reply.
Case rested, ice broken, we continue on….
Adam: “Council Pop is a 2-chord anthem song thing that sort of originated from garageland. It originates around the fact that anyone can do it – the reason why The Casinos/Council Pop is dead popular is it’s just dead easy to get into. You don’t have to think about it, it’s just rough as fuck – that’s why it’s called Council Pop”.
The concept was originally invented by Guy Keeble, manager of the Grimsby band Orphan Boy – this makes Orphan Boy the pioneers of this concept, but the band only got a response to their music when they gigged in Manchester, where they have now relocated. The Casinos became council poppers too, after offering local support, and forming after being hugely impressed by the Orphans’ sound.
“We’re playing with the So and Sos tomorrow night in Grimsby” Adam continues, mentioning the third founder member of the Council Pop phenomenon.
"It’s not all just two chords, Council pop, y’know” states the ever charismatic front-man, Sav. The others howl with laughter, and shut him up with snorts of derision.
“It’s punk that you can dance to” Adam explains amidst the high levels of banter.
Are The Casinos a punk band?
“Wee-e-e-elll…………..” they collectively ponder in cartoon fashion, before bassist Tom states: “Yes, fair point We all love The Clash – they are spot on” with the others making no attempt to shout him down over his disclosure of that one shared influence.
Sav: “It’s simple music that makes people want to have a good time – where they can get involved. Not just the band, but everyone who goes to see them can associate with it. Everyone who comes to see us is our mates – so I’m not thinking like “Oh, shit! I’m gonna play a gig. I’m just thinking that I’m getting up and entertaining some mates”.
Adam: “Criticism of us has tended to revolve around either Sav – the singing, or stuff like ‘It’s so predictable’. Well that’s the whole point, knowing what is going to happen next, and being ready for it”.
Sav is quick to state: “It’s more of a connection than just ‘Music’, and ‘Youth’”.
Adam: “Council Pop songs are football anthems, almost – they’re about the chanting and getting into it”.
The Casinos were formed last year after Adam and Greg saw Orphan Boy play at Manchester’s Jabez Clegg. Adam in particular was moved to the point of wanting to form a band “that sounds like that”:
“It’s the beat, it’s dead dancey” he adds in appraisal of the East-Coast three-piece.
“’Let’s all get up and have a fookin’ good time’ type of thing”: adds Sav
This prompts more laughter at a recent memory – “We did an interview with Radio Buxton…” Adam continues: “…this local station - and they were asking us questions like ‘What do you want to achieve with your music?’…..”
“Sav said ‘We just wanna get the youth up off their feet”. Howls of laughter, as Sav defends the comment: “Hey I’m 23 me, I’m gettin’on…..”.
Their view on the music scene at the moment is positive, but they do have their reservations. A case of too many bandwagons?
Sav: It can get a bit pretentious…..and this….line..this line of people. People in line. With punk, we’re getting right back to the roots. All punk was, was about making music for the young to dance to, which is what we’re all about”.
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Sav: “I enjoy being part of a gang of lads, making music”.
“The gang’s getting bigger though” muses drummer Greg
“It is getting bigger!” comments Tom.
Having the venue jam packed with The Casinos hardcore support, including several of the ‘Rollers’ (yep, their devoted following even has a name of its own!) made it difficult for the other two acts to say the least. However, opening outfit DIRTY DIAMOND (nope, not the U.S. grunge-merchants, but a local act of the same name) took to the makeshift stage without looking too daunted, and proceeded to captivate most who witnessed their set.
Tracks like ‘Millionaire’ showcased a sound that was raw and uncluttered. Their upbeat/off-beat delivery was in parts progressive, whilst also embracing a variety of styles. There was some debate as to whether the acoustic number ‘Ride A Rainbow’ had adversely affected the gathering momentum of their set by coming halfway through it, but there could be no arguing with their take on roots reggae with their rocksteady song ‘Summer Sun’. From where I was standing, they overcame a crowd that seemed determined to be less than receptive from the outset, and ended up warmly applauded for their trouble. Nice one chaps!
Next up we got a dose of straight up rock n’ roll from Solid Air, who sweated their way through their take on classic rock, with a solid set that was also unassuming. Their angsty faces and guitar throttling had the raw edge about it, whereas more experienced musicians might have sounded too polished. Deep stuff though nonetheless.
And so to THE CASINOS. The garage-rough ska-punk merchants opened their set amidst a frenzied, beer spilling chorus of chanting that brought the mounting excitement explosively into being. Screams of horror blended with the whooping adulation, as the crowd swarmed the pub and shoved their way forward, knocking aside the tables and chairs not already being used as vantage points for a better view.
The bobbing, weaving sea of heads began to slam dance long before the first note, as out of the corner of my eye I spotted front-man Sav deep in conversation with a Roller, whose aim was either issuing instructions, offering words of encouragement, or to engage in a bizzarre motivational ritual of some sort. Looked deep whatever it was. That was pretty much the last I saw of him – clutching the microphone close amidst repeated and futile attempts at chain smoking, he was soon to disappear beneath a flurry of front-row chaos, drowning in a sea of his own bad language. I’m smiling without realising, I discover, which only widens my grin further as the pickups on Adam’s battered Telecaster howl and crackle, blending with white noise and shouting, screaming mayhem filling the pub. Suddenly, we are underway.
Fittingly, they launch straight into ‘Riot in St. Peter’s Square’, an urgent, spiky ode to city centre Manchester that also serves as an appropriate soundtrack to the scene in front of them. Sounds like four chords to me, but who’s counting?
By the time they’re into their third tune ‘Mummy’s Boy’, the venue looks wrecked, but it’s also ¾ hidden by the mass of bodies. Adam disappears for a moment, but emerges still playing, perched on God knows what (I think it’s a corner of the bar) to whoops of delight. Sav meanwhile is engaged in what looks like a combination of stage-diving and freestyle gymnastics, still vainly attempting to light up amidst the beer showers and sweat splashes.
Amazingly, the power of their sound loses nothing despite all of this, as Greg the smiling drummer manages to keep his feet on the pedals. Bass guitarist Tom, whose lightning fast bass style is all the more impressive when considering his tender years (only 17, ahh, bless!), performs magical feats of dexterity as the din heightens - yes, the rhythm section is as tight as ever, and stands as testament to the fact that this Council Pop group is more, much more than just an unadulterated racket.
Through ‘Pick Yer Game Up’ and ‘Drinking’ they plough, really into their stride now. By the time the ska-sounding ‘Take My Cares Away’ strikes up, the place is in full swing, and even the bar staff find it in them to smile at the ensuing riot as it draws to a messy conclusion. Our verdict is that The Casinos are well worth catching in action, an embodiment of DIY style with a delivery that feeds off its own momentum, unspoilt by inhibitions or fashionable pretensions. There are no delusions of grandeur here, only a tight and vital sounding group that is doing all it possibly can to put the fun back into rock n roll.
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