Slits
Masque, Liverpool
08/10/2009
 
Some music genres are so powerful that they take over peoples’ lives. Punk fans, for example, literally wear their genre on their sleeves. And in their hair. And through their noses. And they’re out in full force at this Slits show, but sadly most of them appear to have hung up the Doc Martens and look more like chartered accountants on dress-down Friday.

Lucky then that The Slits’ singer Ari Up’s outfit more than makes up for the shortcomings of the audience. Her garish turquoise dress paired with her sunburn-red mess of dreadlocks is a sight to behold. As is her underwear, which she doesn’t hesitate to flash at least five times, not that The Fly is counting. The band start with ‘FM’ from their now thirty year old debut, ‘Cut’, an album that displayed so many ideas it’s clear why everyone from Ipso Facto to Yo! Majesty cites them as an influence. Then follow the dub bass lines of ‘Love Und Romance’, the reggae of ‘Typical Girls’ and the heavily re-worked version of ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ – which Ari cheekily claims is better than Marvin Gaye’s original. Their chaotic genre hopping is unmatched even by their old mates The Clash, and it’s a terrible shame that the new songs from ‘Trapped Animal’ sound very squeaky-clean and polished in comparison.

It’ll take a lot more than a few unknown numbers to dampen the atmosphere though, as Ari invites a dozen people on stage to sing ‘Earthbeat’ which is broken down into a slow, dub-heavy jungle beat complete with very convincing animal calls from the lead singer. One hesitates to use the word ‘party’ as a verb but it’s clear that punk never died, it’s still, well, partying.

Mike Doherty