First wave mod-punk rarities from
the brothers Meynell.
There's a cliché within music biz
circles that there's always a folk revival going on, whatever
mainstream musical fashions may be. In these days of global,
internet-connected scenes you could say the same applies for any
musical genre. Especially Mod. That said, the first Mod revival at
the tail-end of the 1970s stands out as something quite special. The
Jam of course led the pack, and The Who's Quadrophenia movie
helped attune youthful ears to the sounds of of the previous decade.
One band at the centre of all this was
Squire, who released a couple of classic singles on Arista, and were
one of the scene's must-see live acts. I have to admit to being
unaware of the band before hearing Get Ready To Go!, a newly
released album that rounds up their early demos. The bulk of the
tracks on Get Ready To Go! Were recorded on a TEAC 4 track
machine by brothers Anthony and Kevin Meynell to present to the other
band members in order for them to learn the songs. What strikes most
about the album, apart from the sharp 'n' savvy musical moves is how
it captures the tail-end of the '70s. Youthful energy had been fired
up by punk rock but now bristled against the realities of everyday
life. Find work, find that love doesn't always work out, find that
Radio One still playlists the blandest of the bland.
The demos on this collection address
these concerns with wit, brio, and an infectious energy. It's
modernist for sure but mixed with punk and pop. Catchy three minute
songs laced with to-the-point lyrics. 'Lets Have Some Fun' mixes hope
and cynicism at the promise of summer. 'Tesco Music' pokes fun at the
corporate music business. There are songs about the lure of big
cities, the pains of finding work and your place in the world. The
cumulative effect is akin to a teenage diary in song form.
A
good indicator of any band's worth is often their staying power, and
I'm pleased to report that four decades on Squire remain active
today. In addition to the demos are some 1978 mixes and a new song
'I'm 21', which casts an eye back over the ensuing decades.The band
clocked up over 30 gigs in 2019. An impressive number whichever way
you look at it. It's well worth connecting with their social media
channels to find where and when you can see the band play live.
LIVE DATES
May 3rd – Round Chapel,
London
May 22nd –
Nochtwache,Hamburg, Germany
May 23rd – ZOSCH, Berlin,
Germany
Click here for Squire's website.
Click here for Squire on Twitter.
Click here for Squire on Facebook.
