If you were part of a successful band in the eighties, it’s very likely that you all got back together for a reunion. Unfortunately reunions don’t work out most of the time, because the energy is missing when playing live, and watching grey haired 50-somethings isn’t as exciting as checking out fresh, young talent. However, the opposite can be said about The Primitives from Coventry. The eighties group disbanded in 1992, but have been back together since 2009. Last Saturday night they turned 2013 into 1988, which was the year of the release of their debut ‘Lovely’.
The Primitives played at 229 as headliner for the C86-festival ‘Scared To Get Happy’. C86 was a compilation cassette that was released by NME in 1986, which featured new British indie bands. The compilation caused a movement of power pop-ish bands. There is a little debate about whether the fact The Primitives were part of this 1986 movement or not: their debut was released in 1988, but their first singles are from 1986. Despite this discussion, the band proved to be a perfect headliner.
The festival further saw inter alia, BMX Bandits, The Popguns and Blue Orchids, that played mediocre shows, but no-one could reach the high level of The Primitives. They knew exactly what to do as a reunited band, which is playing the classic songs. The band used their 45 minutes to play a long playlist with songs from ‘Lovely’, such as ‘Stop Killing Me’, ‘Nothing Left’ and their absolute classic hit ‘Crash’. Obviously another peak of their set was ‘Way Behind Me’ from their 1989 sophomore record ‘Pure’. Not only did the band prove that they can still rock, their fans did the same. Have you ever seen a mosh pit where the average age was 45 years? Well, we did and it was heart warming.
But it’s not only sentiment that made The Primitives show at 229 so marvellous. What made them so good was at some point they made you forget that you were watching a retro band. Singer Tracy Tracy was dressed in a fancy white dress and used almost every part of the stage, while the rest of the band enthusiastically played like it was their first gig ever.
Morrissey, who wore a T-shirt from the Coventry band in the eighties, is very smart not to reunite The Smiths, because it’ll sure destroy the magic around his band – and he and Johnny Marr can’t walk through one door. However, The Primitives gig proves the exception of the rule: it’s possible to totally pull off an exciting show long after the golden years.
