Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, and about 90% of the people here tonight (mostly in their 30s) are here for that reason. Sultans of Ping in the early 90s were generally dismissed as a novelty act who had a few semi successful singles about football, and japanese girls, with the main thing they are remembered by being the massive indie club favorite 'Where's me jumper'. However us true fans were always, and still are, aware of the vast live and songwriting talents of the boys from Cork.
After fizzling out after their 3rd album 'Good year for trouble' in 1996 Sultans called it a day, but have over the last year or so been doing a few gigs, mainly in their native Ireland......tonight they're in The Mean Fiddler, little sister to the London Astoria.
I walked in the gig and was pleasantly surprised, the place was pretty packed, it's a big venue and I thought most of the fans from back in the day will have moved on/forgotten/can't be arsed.....but it looks like we're all here!
They kicked off with 'Indeed You Are'...Sultans jangly guitars and tribal drums all in place, all complemented by Niall O' Flahertys shouty vocals. Instant Moshpit! Straight after this into the best footabll song ever. 'Give 'em a ball( and a yard of grass)' Niall punctuates the songs, proving his razor sharp sacastisc wit is still as biting as ever, any smart arsed hecklers soon shut it. Although by the sound of his accent, he's been spending a lot of time in Ireland, as his trademark
strong northern drawl seems to have gone.
Niall preceeds 'Veronica' by lovingly looking at his Harmonica and asking if theres any Germans in the room....slight boos ensue ( we'll never be happy 'till we win the world cup again), only to reveal he loves his German Harmonica and launch into 'Veronica'. He can do no Wrong for this crowd tonight, he amusingly seems especially intent on slagging off the people stage left on the poncy vip bit of the balcony (he clims up there later on to goad them) very amusing!
We got all the favorites tonight, tracks from all albums, plus some live favorites and B-sides, but for most people here it's the songs from the first album 'Casual sex in the Cineplex' that we're here to see, they don't disappoint. After a fairly mixed set, the end is reserved for oldies only.
The last 3 songs of the main set are all from 'Casual sex', the charming 'Let's go shopping'...." put on your flip flops and lets go shopping dear"....followed by 2 moshpit busting frenzied guitar numbers, 'Kick me with your leather boots' and 'You talk too much'. Before they played the last song he told us they'd be coming back on, not that anyone didn't know that already, they couldn't leave and not play 'Where's me Jumper?' could they??????
They came back on and kicked into the old b-side and live favorite 'Turnip Fish'. A Good proportion of the pit remembered the correct dance for this......basically lying on your back with your legs in the air, turnip fish styleee... Next up 'Wheres me Jumper' I don't think there was one person in the whole crowd that didn't know every single word to this song, Fantastic!
The Band were clearly enjoying themselves, afer 'jumper' they went off and back on 2 or 3 more times and in that time played a host of Sultans favorites. 'Stupid Kid' with it's 3 chord riff rocked the moshpit. This was followed by 'Japanese Girls' a big fan favorite about Niall's fascination!
"Two more songs" says Niall when just him and Pat O'Connell came on for the slow 'Riot at the Sheepdog trials', Niall then came out to the crowd and asked requests,probably just waiting for someone to shout what they were gonna play anyway but hey,it all makes for a good show eh! They then finished with 'I said I am I said' and off they dissappeared.........
Until the shouts of Sultans,Sultans,Sultans....brought them back out, AGAIN........Anyway I can't complain,as they came back on and played my favorite Sultans song ever 'No more Nonsense' a fast thrashy, increasing speed, guitar fest. Not one they apparently play alot. Niall even admitted to forgetting some of the lyrics,not that it matters with such deep, meaningful lines such as ... "You've a lovely mouth for PIIIIZZZZZZZAAAAA" This song encapsulates the best of what the Sultans were
always about for me, Stupid lyrics, fast,thrashy/jangly guitars, a great frontman and fantastically danceable/moshable tunes. No better way to end the show. Truly Brilliant.
The Sultans of Ping are kind of a secret that never really got out into the open...but sometimes those are the best eh.......
They played: Indeed you are
Teenage Punks
Give us a ball(and a yard of grass)
Mescaline
5 Years
Veronica
New song - Girl Watching ?? not 100% on the title of this one
2 pints of Rasa
Wake up and Scratch me
Good year for Trouble
Michiko
Teenage rock n roll Girl
Lets go Shopping
Kick me with your leather boots
U talk 2 much
Turnip Fish
Wheres me Jumper?
Stupid Kid
Japanese Girls
Riot at the sheepdog trials
I Said I am I Said
No More Nonsense
