Bastards on Parade European tour began in Sestao last Wednesday 10 February 2010. I was lucky, Sestao is around 25 minutes from my town and I was eager to see the band live.Hibai, from the band Deiedra, was the man who brought the Bastards to Bizkaia. He opened for them playing some Irish and Galician traditional tunes together with Sergio (tin whistle) and Aspy (Bastards on Parade piper). Hibai played the bodhrán.
What can I say about Bastards on Parade? I am a fan of the band and maybe I’m not objective. However, I feel that I can affirm that nowadays the Galician kids are one of the most interesting bands in the European Celtic punk scene, together with Circle J, Pipes and Pints, Black Tartan Clan, Paddy and the Rats and Mr. Irish Bastard. Bastards on Parade have not released their debut album yet, but if a European label is clever enough, he should sign a deal with them straightaway.
The sound of the band has followed a geometric progression. The quality of the songs have been improved recording after recording and, IMHO, if you have three Euros + shipping costs, you should invest them on “Death Shore Pirates”. I’m sure that you will be bewitched by the songs and you will be unable to put another CD on your player.
The sound was OK, even if the venue was not very big. The band opened the show with “Pipes and Drunx” and, after that, they played a couple of numbers from the new EP, “Norfolk Street” and “Death Shore Pirates”. David was wearing a Cock Sparrer T-Shirt (in fact they played a Cock Sparrer cover, “Anthem”). Roberto was wearing an Ireland national rugby team shirt and Aspy, the piper, a DKM t-shirt and a kilt.
The set list included songs from the three EPs that the band has released till now: “Time To Go Out”, “Swallows in the Sea”, “Saint Patricks’ Day”, “Whiskey in my Heart” “Captain’s Dargle”… but they also played a couple of unreleased songs and their version of the traditional tune “Muiñeira de Chantada”. Apart from the Galician pipes and the tin whistles, Aspy played the low whistle in one of the numbers.
Covers of traditional songs? Yes, of course. A Rumjacks-esque “I’ll Tell Me Ma”, a Real McKenzies-esque “Bugger Off” and the Bastards on Parade excellent rendition of “Whiskey You’re The Devil”.
Berto (Skontra, lead vocals) drove three hours from Xixon/Gijón in order to see their mates live. I also met Carlos Martinez, a long-distance traveller Pogues fan, who also drove around 120 km because he didn’t want to miss this gig.
Bastards on Parade are not “Great Expections” anymore. We were “Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards” and they have done it. They are neither the Galician Dropkick Murphys, nor Rancid with pipes. They have reached their own sound and they are BASTARDS ON PARADE. Having a Galician traditional music background that we will be feeling in the new songs, I guess that other bands will try to imitate them.
Celtic punk fans from Germany and the Netherlands, an advice: don’t miss them if they are playing in a venue near your home. I cannot go to Utrecht, but the release party of Circle J “Weekend Warriors” will be the event of the year: Circle J and Bastards on Parade sharing the stage!!!!
www.myspace.com/bastardsonparadeband
www.myspace.com/deiedra
www.myspace.com/ezkerraldeonceltic
Review by Kinksmarkham
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