London Calling

Once more unto the San Fran, this time to see The Clash cover band London Calling, who hail from Bristol. This was the penultimate date of their Oz/NZ tour, playing in Auckland the next night; having been around Australia extensively beforehand. The Clash, you say? Yes, I know some of their songs! We should go!

To sustain us through the long night ahead, I searched establishments nearby. Many have changed names or changed hands, and what was once Heaven Pizza now appears to be Santeria. They still sell pizza though, so we had that.

Then we trotted down Cuba Street, bumping into quizmaster Andy & wife Tanya on the way – it was kinda pre-arranged, we knew we’d both be at the gig. Andy is a Clash aficionado, whereas I’m more of a dilettante – I only have London Calling and Combat Rock in my collection.

The support band came on just after 8pm – a local Wellington band called Mister Unit. They sound like a good old-fashioned rock band, and also sound like a company that replaces the doors on your kitchen cabinets.

Mister Unit

Then the main act, London Calling, arrived. My knowledge of The Clash isn’t comprehensive, so I only knew about half the songs they played, but they included Tommy Gun, White Man In Hammersmith Palais, Rudy Can’t Fail, Should I Stay Or Should I Go?, Death Or Glory, The Guns Of Brixton,  Clampdown, and I fought The Law. After a brief interval they reappeared for a three-song encore of Rock The Casbah, London Calling, and White Riot.

London Calling

This was definitely a high-energy gig, and all the songs were delivered with vim, vigour and verve. It was exhausting just watching them. At the front, some of the young folk (and some of the older folk – the crowd demographic was more diverse than I’d expected) were moshing and pogoing away like in the old days…the only difference being that the band was probably more together than at an original Clash gig. We so punk rock!