Street Voice UK

I’d been looking forward to seeing Ruts DC and TV Smith for a while and the day had finally arrived. Got into Birmingham ok despite the train service being late and headed off to a favourite bar of mine while I waited for the doors to open. I was sent an email to say the stage times had altered by a hour and what was one to do in that time?

Have another drink!

On arrival at the venue one of the security recognised me from a show four years previous and got me sorted with my photo pass very quickly and politely. Lovely chap as were the rest of the security at the venue.

Had a chat with Liam (Ruts DC tour manager). Hadn’t seen him in a few years – Last time with Sonic Boom Six in Wolverhampton. 2016 if memory serves correct! Also had chat with TV Smith where we reminisced about a show at Westgate-On-Sea where Tim played to 5 of us and acted like a human juke box!

8.15 had arrived and it was time for TV Smith to hit the stage. Tim’s acoustic set blows people away with and he captures the audience for a set of his own songs, Adverts songs, his time with Cheap and TV Smith’s Explorers. The guy nailed it and the audience lapped it up with songs like ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’, ‘Tomahawk Cruise’, ‘My String Will Snap’ and ‘No Time To Be 21’. TV Smith is so energetic and who care’s if the songs are acoustic versions? They’re bloody great and that’s what matters!

A short build up commenced and we knew it was time for Ruts DC to come on stage. Ruffy was first to appear then it was Leigh and Seggs and the show kicked off with ‘Faces In The Sky’ from the new album Counterculture?

What a start and the audience lapped it up!

Next up saw the band returning to its roots with ‘S.U.S.’ and ‘You’re Just A….’ and ‘It Was Cold’ from’The Crack’ album. Then it was back to the newer stuff with ‘X-Ray Joy’ before venturing back to older songs such as ‘Dangerous Minds’, and ‘West One’ before returning with the amazing title track ‘Counter Culture’ from the new album along with ‘Born Innocent’.

By this time the audience were captivated. I was stood at the top of the steps watching this amazing show unfold. This three-piece are amazingly talented which was helped by an amazing sound engineer who knew his job and delivered the best sound I’d ever experienced at a live gig.

Next was the amazing ‘Jah War’ a dub number that I’ve loved forever. Glad they played it! ‘Music Must Destroy’ really got audience going and then this amazing show carried on with more excellent songs.

‘In A Rut’ really set the place alive especially when they did a melody of songs halfway through to remember the likes of Keith Levene and Nick Turner before finishing the end of the song.

Final song of the night on a super high was ‘Babylons Burning’ which even had mme jumping up and down.

This was an epic show that you were crazy to miss. Sadly missed the encore as I had a train to catch but what a memory! This was one of my all time favourite shows I’d been to in a decade or so! If you were there you’ll know what I’m on about! If you weren’t you’re just going to have to take my word on it!

Thanks To: Ruts DC, TV Smith, James Sherry (Division) and Tara Rez.

This write up is dedicated to Steve ‘Cast Iron’ Smith of Red Alert who passed away on November 30th 2022 after a short illness. Sleep well my brother.