By Holywell Street and Ste 13th Feb 2019

A bit of a tribute to an iconic album and artist. Holywell Street is honoured that Ste  Carter another Evertonian has contributed to the blog. We welcome him on.

Ste

Obviously, the iconography of the cover to this record is almost without parallel in its influence on certain British ‘80s cultural and social movements.
I remember vividly turning up at Everton games circa ‘80 and seeing lids walking about with THAT fucking haircut and even the odd, cooler than cool cat, matching it with the duffle and going the whole Low hog, as it were.
I’m no chronicler of fashion though, and I don’t pretend it was ever my gig. I was always about the music, man, which is where I’m coming from here.
When Bowie died it was interesting to read amongst my Bowie loving friends which record of his they reached out for. Like my cousin (a much bigger ‘fan’ even than me) I initially reached out for Station to Station, and then Hunky Dory, but it is to this record I returned to time and again, because, for me, at least, it’s the one that seals Bowie’s right to be called a truly great artist.
The first part of Bowie’s Berlin ‘trilogy’ (the record was actually recorded in Paris and re-mixed in Berlin) is a completely remarkable record.
If Bowie killed off Ziggy Stardust on stage, with this record he slays The Thin White Duke persona of the coke-addled rock superstar, in the studio, both spiritually and musically.
This is Bowie’s, burnt out -rock star- kicks- everything- he’s- stood- for- firmly- into- touch, record and therefore sets the template for records like Radiohead’s Kid A.
As one critic correctly said ‘if it had been made 20 years later we could have called it ‘post-rock’.
Gone are the kooky Newley pastiches, the Ziggy glam, the plastic soul (Bowie’s words not mine) and the insane and brilliant ramblings of the Thin White Duke. In their place is a completely Eno driven, new sound and vision.
Low is a record ostensibly in two distinct halves. A brilliant, introspective drum-machined, krautrock influenced first side; lettered with pained and bitter lyrics that subject us to the broken persona he’d become, ‘Don’t look on the carpet; I drew something awful on it’.
It’s complimented by an eerie, yet melodically beautiful and haunting set of instrumentals on side two which show some of Bowie’s musical creativity at new heights, and the heavy pervading influence of his mentor on this record Brian Eno.
The two distinct sides should make the record a little disjointed but somehow they don’t’.
Many Bowie fans will tell you they loved this record on release, and it was a surprise hit, which showed, if nothing else, his legion of fans were prepared to see the script torn up and follow him down musical pastures Neu!
Yet it was released right at the end of the punk explosion and almost at the start of New Wave and was therefore overlooked by many fans and under-appreciated by critics at the time, despite the historical revisionism surrounding it.
If anyone ever tells you they picked up on the cover straight away and went around in ‘77 dressed like that, and with that haircut, if they weren’t scousers, who didn’t anyway, file them away under Billy bullshitters.
Anyway, Low, like nearly all great records, has not only stood the test of time but actually gotten better with age.
Retrospective can be 20/20, and in the light that that sheds this record must be up there as one of the very finest Bowie ever did.

Much obliged Ste Carter.

Review

By Holywell Street 4th February 2019

The Specials’ first official album since 1980 is a rich collection that covers funk, ska and reggae with good bit of energy.

Though just three of the original band are left, the fitting title ‘Encore’ certainly has hit the headlines with Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter—the album hits many of the group’s original vibe. I like how the piece is talking about mental health, race relations and political disharmony with intelligence and integrity.  The two-tone sound is still in there which is what I’d hoped for and kinda expected. There’s a few songs that are covers including an Eddy Grant number but this politically impeccable.

Elsewhere, 10 Commandments (a feminist riff on a sexist Prince Buster song) is delivered with biting anger, here voiced by guest vocalist Saffiyah Khan, who is widely known for facing down the EDL at a Birmingham protest in 2017.  Personally   I’m loving the fact the activist has been given this platform. The two iconic photos of her at this rally – facing down the EDL bloke and the other of her getting lead away with the Specials t-shirt showing are  deservedly seen as legendary.

The track is a sprawling spoken word reggae jam akin to their global hit Ghost Town and its follow up The Boiler, a harrowing rape narrative fronted by Rhoda Dakar. Though the track updates the sound with intellectual honesty, “Is that what it takes to impress a bloke whose brain is made up of curvy size zero”

One of the reasons that the Specials have been through so many levels most notably the Special AKA, is the format of the band. Conceptually, they are a musical collective, they have combinations sometimes the Special AKA didn’t come over as a band but more a mass group of likeminded people.

The band certainly wear their influences on their sleeves. The track The Life and Times of a Man (Called Depression) is very close to home for a lot of people these days and it certainly is for Terry Hall.

While the album is excellent, it really promotes them as a live act. I didn’t know what to think of the live tracks on there, maybe being unnecessary add-on’s but one imagines a Specials gig in 2019 is just as affecting as it was 40 years ago. Or as Hall puts it, just as “horribly relevant”.

It’s a 10/10 from us.

By Holywell Street 28th January 2019

Uppers

The Keto Diet.

No black mutt episodes in January

Filling all yer Mums shoes with mashed potatoes.

Timothy Weah

Being aff it

Bouncing about with the Green Brigade when approaching 50.

The new lights at Paradise.

The release of the Benetton rugby top at long last.

Three points clear and a game in hand.

The Specials teaming up with  Saffiyah Khan

Saying: ‘double treble, treble treble’ ten times without slipping up.

Calling yer auld dear Duchess

30 year friendships reunited.

Whistling the Rebs.

Downers

Love Island.

Steven Gerrard

Ninja Assassin – Alfredo Morelos

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

Horizontal rain at the match

Keyboard warriors with invisible wheelbarrows.

Blokes with t-shirts saying: ‘let’s celebrate’ with a pic of a champagne glass on it.

song on the radio, lyric: ‘wanna fu-oo-oo, but I’m broken hearted Cr-cr-cry but I like to party’

Old song on the radio lyrics: ‘Cry me a River!’ 

Inheriting a Darth Vader mask for Sleep Apnea. 

Blokes with t-shirts saying ‘I don’t need to google’ on it.

Weatherspoon’s.

Blowies for Beak on the increase.

By Red Casual 26th October 2019

Opening  in late 1989, Tin Pan was the first club in Glasgow to play the new sounds coming from Belgium and Detroit at the time. Split across three floors, the club was hidden away on Mitchell Lane and was Year Zero for techno in Glasgow. It launched the careers of Slam and established classic nights like UFO and The Orb. Negotiating all those stairs was a bit of a whitey though.

I was taken there by a good friend Frank Paterson in the late eighties I was an out-of-towner.

This was the first time I’d mainly heard beats only in a Club for the majority of the night. This wasn’t rave or house as such, more like electronic beats. This was also before any ecstasy scene had kicked off. It would be a Football Terrace clubbing crossover.  A three floor dance club with a connecting staircase, you’d always meet a good section of clubbers

The crowd were cool, Glasgow always had the unique style of matching up between casual or tailored threads and of course a few permanent sun-tans.  This was a place where you just wanted to dance, no chemicals apart from a Red Stripe or maybe a shlitz.

It was here I first heard dance tracks like White Horse – Laid Back, although the track was old I’d never heard it before especially in a club. Also Electrical Salsa by Off.

I was also introduced to some good pubs in the City which seemed to be the crowd that would later be at Tin Pan. Carnegie’s was a great little joint and again a good crowd, always on a good vibe. It was here I noticed  remixes of Ten City also Joey Negro – Promised Land.

Tin Pan was a club that was hidden away in Mitchell Lane. Theres not many tributes or photos that justify it’s excistence, but it was certainly a catalyst to a lot of major clubs and DJ’s that came about in the 90s.

Holywell Street would like to pay tribute to Glasgow and it’s Night Clubs and of course Frank the legend.

Uppers

Being a Tim

Deciding to purchase the original Benetton rugby shirt at £95 to at least frame.

Paul Heaton doing gigs for the Miners.

Top the League.

Callum Macarena McGregor!

Rebs on full-blast and not giving a shizer!

The Green Brigade singing George and Pop.

Cameron Diaz for Sunday Beer Fear.

Pinky out espresso  drinking.

Priya Sharma from Emmerdale.

Driving past Celtic Park and saying to yourself: ‘er she is though!’

Chilled Peroni.

Four f*ckin chunky kit-kats £1 Asda!

Heaton & Abbott’s new album.

Speaking through your nose on a conference call.

Baking a can of strongbow and calling it Sunday roast.

Mistaking baldy people for each other.

Tripping up Fascists.

Tripping up men with man buns.

Winning the pottery.

Brendan’s toothy smile

Lady’s with thigh tattoos (again)

Gerry Cinnamon.

Singing down the pub to wonderwall with old geezers.

Being a sound chap.

Andrew Wevvers Weatherall.

Downers

The Christmas quote: ‘are you all set?’

Office Santa’s grotto types ringing a bell every two mins ‘ho ho ho’

That Morelas twat that plays for SEVCO!

Being a plum when it’s easier to be a sounder!

Thinking yer ten years younger than folk, but you’re ten years older.

Lassies saying ‘cheers now’ after blowies for beak.

30p for the f*ckin toilet at a train station. 

Capitalist Cold Callers: ‘remember the accident you were in’

Last train whoppers.

Man Buns (again)

Folk moaning about the hot weather!

The trendy concept of ‘street food’

Steven Gerrard.

Domino Pizza leaflet through the door once a week.

As a good friend said …

Just a boy from the streets, with practiced magic in his feet!

By Holywell Street 13th Dec 2018

If you really know Leigh Griffiths he’s a down to earth, working class lad. A lad from the street, a guy that has time for people going through hardship. He’d reach out to help. Always the first to reach out to kids never forgetting where he comes from with help and encouragement.  

He’s done outstanding in his career but also outstanding in his help in the community.

Addiction and Mental Health can affect anyone, at anytime. Depression does not discriminate. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But we’re confident that his character and strength will get him through these hard times with our support.

Calling all Celtic fans: 

Sunday 16th December we visit Easter Road where we’d like to do a joint tribute with the Hibernian fans. He’s a hero to both clubs. It’s fitting that we play each other at this time. 

He played number 9 for both teams.  In the 9th minute of Sunday’s match we’re asking the Celts to raise a tribute with the rest of the stadium to our hero!  

So on 9th minute we’ll raise our voices together to let him know we stand in solidarity with him at this difficult time and sing …

“He’s one of our own .. he’s one of our own … Leigh Griffiths… he’s one of our own “

Feast yer eyes. 1, 2, 3, 4 …

By Holywell Street 10th December 2018

Uppers.

Mind the Gap!

Kris Boyd’s face on Saturday.

Stevie Turncoat Gerrards face on Sunday.

Liam Gallagher liking your Tweet.

Liam’s Love Celtic’s T-shirt

Doner Kebab when sloshed.

The George & POP Rebs tune.

Day’s out not Nights out!

The Football Lads & Lassies against Fascism, movement.

Ma pal Francie McCann.

Great pals – old and new.

Double Treble … Treble Treble.

Stocking up on berroca.

FB Snides throwing out fishing bait to attract wrong un’s.

The odd Cameron Diaz.

Brendans toothy smile.

Double dropping Berroca.

Googling yer own name.

Filling yer Mums shoes with mashed potato.

Yer Manager saying ‘cheers now’

Downers.

Photo Booths at Weddings.

People who say: ‘so I turned round and said …’

Muso’s.

SDL members with teeth like a fruit loaf!

Wee black-mutt visits when the weather changes.

Any song by Simply Red

The quote ‘I’m not a racist but …’

Doing the job of three folk.

Mental Health Stigma #122 ‘choose to be happy!’

Tommy Gammon Robinson.

People believing Gammon Robinson.

Every lickspittle comment on The Appretince.

Kinning Park Rowing Club away ticket allocation.

The Irish Rugby Top made its debut at Celtic in the mid-eighties. A well-known red-haired lad sported it with a Daks scarf, while many other lads and lasses wore Benetton rugby tops. It was considered quite an anti-suss style which suited the situation as Celtic were playing Hearts in Edinburgh the same day Scotland was playing Ireland at Murrayfield.

Phil Thornton provides us with further insights from the North West.

By Phil Thornton, 2020

“Rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen.”

So said proto-fascist ‘war hero’ Sir Winston Churchill. I beg to differ. Rugby (union at least) is a hooligan’s game played by public school boys and bizzies with a sense of entitlement and hatred of the working class.

Rugby doesn’t feature much in the annals of terrace fashion in the same way as, say, cricket jumpers were worn – sometimes around the shoulder in a ‘Parkhead Re-visited’ kinda way – so rugby tops enjoyed a very brief moment in the sun around the mid-80s. Probably inspired by the success of the Benetton rugby shirts, the trend was big, and Ireland tops,, in particular,, became very popular, although some right-wingers wouldn’t wear them and put on the crap England ones.

Let’s rewind to 1985. Everton v Man Utd FA Cup final day. We were travelling south in the back of a transit and got off at Watford Gap to be confronted by coach loads of Evertonians, many wearing Benny rugby tops and Rapid Wien beanie hats from their recent Cup Winners Cup triumph in Rotterdam. We walked through them and remarkably didn’t even get a comment, although behind a coach on the North Circular another coach load began threatening the lad in the front with a machete from the back seat window.

When we got home, we had a big row with some local Evertonians who were woolyback Toffees in the local alehouse. Blue and white Benetton and Green and white were the favourite colour schemes for supporters of all colours, whereas Ireland tops became the trend even for those with no Irish heritage. I vividly remember being in the United Road in 85 or 86 and one Villa lad made his presence felt in J Stand, stood in an Ireland top and staring down in his best hard man manner at those of us taking the piss below. Villa weren’t really known for their fashion sense at this time (if ever!) so it was surprising to see one of them confident enough to place himself in ridicule’s way. The United Road in those days was a funny place with various individuals being selected for ridicule – a fat Spurs fan in a donkey jacket ‘ There’s only one Eddie Yates’ – the give me a ‘B’ give me a ‘W’ what’ve you got? Bwbwbwbwbwbw!! Lip wibble sound! This Villa lad got tormented all through the game especially when he reacted by trying to offer out the entire terrace.

Maybe only The Farm only ever sported ye old rugger top on stage in the musical world, where terrace fashions and Top Of The Pops were a galaxy away from each other. The trend faded away as quickly as it arrived although there have been a few revivals from time to time – I’ve worn them mid way through the 90s and the past few years, although Patagonia had replaced Paddygonia this time around.

Rugby is still a game played by divvies for divvies and no one from football should have anything to do with it. Having said that, the Italian squad’s top with the big fuck off Kappa logo was belter!

By Macaroon 2nd December 2018

League Cup Final
Sunday 2nd December 2018
Hampden Park, Glasgow.

CELTIC defeated Aberdeen 1-0 in a well-contested League Cup final at Hampden. The win sees Brendan Rodgers’ side retain the trophy, and also marks the Double Treble holders’ seventh consecutive domestic honour.

A wonderful long ball from Dedryck Boyata found Ryan Christie in the box four minutes into first-half injury time, before the 23-year-old fired home with an emphatic rebound into the roof of the net. The Hoops created a number of other chances in front of goal and, despite the single-goal margin, were dominant in both defence and attack throughout.

Both teams started the game with the intensity fitting of the occasion, showcased by a flurry of hard tackles in the middle of the pitch. Aberdeen pressed the Scottish champions deep into their half in the opening five minutes, but the first clear-cut opportunity was carved by Celtic’s Tom Rogic.

A cultured long ball from the Hoops’ centre-back Filip Benkovic found Mikael Lustig on the right flank, before the Swede knocked it on to James Forrest. The midfielder’s inside pass was picked up by Rogic, who then curled a left-foot drive across goal and off the post.

Much of the game was held up in midfield, and Aberdeen dealt well with Kieran Tierney, Scott Sinclair and Ryan Christie’s smart and direct link-up play on the left side. Just after the quarter-hour mark, Andrew Considine found space in front of goal and, while being flagged offside, forced a great save from Scott Bain.

At 26 minutes, Rogic and Forrest combined to sculpt a half-chance for the Hoops, when ball from the left was taken by Forrest with his back to goal, who then teed up a volley for the Australian that was blocked en route to goal.

One minute later, Odsonne Edouard collected the ball in centre midfield before finding Rogic on the inside-right channel. He then played in Forrest, and the 27-year-old followed with a snap-shot that was dragged wide across Lewis’ right-hand post.

Celtic pressed the Dons increasingly deeper over the course of the half, but a well-organised Aberdeen backline dealt with the Hoops’ build-up play. At the other end, Filip Benkovic and Dedryck Boyata were faultless – with the former occasionally but driving forward confidently from defence.

At 38 minutes, Gary Mackay-Steven and Boyata collided mid-air in the Celtic penalty area which saw both receiving extensive on-pitch treatment. Several minutes after the head knock, Mackay-Steven was stretchered off whereas Boyata was able to carry on.

Four minutes into injury time, Celtic got their break when a superb searching ball from Boyata found Christie in the final third. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder controlled on his left inside the opposition penalty area, before firing a shot a goal with his right that was well saved by Lewis. Christie however returned the rebound with an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net, and the League Cup holders went into the break deservedly in front.

The Hoops continued their pressing play into the second half, and a flurry of counter-attacks provided a handful of half-chances for Forrest and Edouard. At 53 minutes, the Scottish champions were awarded a penalty when Dominic Ball was deemed to have handled in the box.

Sinclair’s spot-kick was well-struck, but Lewis reached to his right to turn around the post. Just before the hour, Benkovic found space 25-yards out, and a rifled shot was again stopped by an out-stretched fingertip save from Lewis.

For the next ten minutes, Aberdeen enjoyed a good spell of pressure, but Edouard regularly looked a threat on the break. On as a substitute for Boyata, Jozo Simunovic had a shoulder-to-shoulder clearance come off the Celtic crossbar, while, minutes later, a sublime piece of footwork from Edouard was followed by a curling shot over.

The French striker may have deserved better in that instance, as might have Sinclair when a similarly aggressive counter from the Englishman and Callum McGregor also ended with a drive high and wide over the bar.

Personally questions must be asked on Scott Sinclair,  he cost us today from going   two ahead which would have closed the game early.  It’s been suggested he’s back to his best, certainly improved but not reliable.

With Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham on for Rogic and Forrest respectively, Celtic dictated the pace of the game and retained possession in the last quarter of an hour, and, despite continually pressing the Dons deep into their half, the Hoops ran out worthy League Cup winners.

Flat Beer Moment:  The injury to Gary McKay Steven.

Also: Aberdeen’s Manager claiming the ref cost them whilst his team gave out ninja-assassin attacks.

CELTIC: Bain; Lustig, Boyata (Simunovic 60) Benkovic, Tierney; McGregor, Christie, Rogic (Brown 64); Forrest (Ntcham 86), Sinclair; Edouard.
Subs not used: Gordon, Gamboa, Hayes, Griffiths.

ABERDEEN: Lewis; Logan, McKenna, Considine, Lowe; Shinnie, McGinn (Wilson 70), Mackay-Steven (McLennan 45), Ball, Fergusson; Cosgrove (Anderson 79)
Subs not used: Cerny, Gleeson, Wright, May.

By Holywell Street 2nd December 2018

Uppers

Saying ‘Double treble, treble treble’ ten times.

Calling people ‘Muckle Jessie’s’

The riot gear.

The salad bar at Morrison’s.

Being Jam Hat!

Fifty year old cashies.

Seven out of seven!

Vicky McClure 

Starting a Jumbo Cord’s gang 

Pickled onion crisps 

Salt and pepper chip eating supporters.

The new yellow Jacket by Albam.

Football lads camaraderie.

Blocking right-wing cranks on Facebook.

Winning the pottery.

Green bras.

Ryan Christie.

Downers

Stephen Yaxley – Lennon.

Aberdeen Ninja-Assasins.

Toothache.

Black Mutt visits at winter.

Moobs.

Flirty Florence’s.

Mental Health stigma 800: ‘decide to be joyful’

Herrenvolk Hubris attitude to life!

Steven ‘Wee Naisy’ Naismith the ninja assassin.

Folk still asking ‘are you fuckoffee?’ in the workplace.

The return of the community oddball. 

Saying Eh up.

Salt and pepper’s lonely hearts club band.

Right-wing cranks getting their buddies to message you to ask: ‘why block me’ 

Todays Linesman at Tynecastle.