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Steel Pulse
Robin Banks in
ZigZag No.76
September 1977
I first saw Steel Pulse the night Elvis
Presley died. I was soaking wet from the pouring rain, couldn't
afford a drink and my equilibrium was at an all time low. The
Vortex seemed like hell on earth, and all I really wanted to do
was go home and collapse into bed. But Steel Pulse came on and I
stayed. And I would have stayed all week if they had kept on
playing. From the first number onwards, all my melancholy was
just blown away, and I could feel only elation. I can't think of
many bands that could do that for me, especially on the first
time of seeing them, but God, I came out of the club just
buzzing.
So when I discovered
that Steel Pulse were supporting XTC at the Nashville, I couldn't
wait to get down there. And all my feelings about them were
completely justified. Watching Steel Pulse is like shooting up
speed. Instant, exultant, and ultimately physically exhausting.
The band comprises seven black guys from Birmingham, and before
we go any further, here's the line-up: Basil Gabbidon (lead
guitar): David Hinds (rhythm guitar): Steve Nesbitt (drums):
Michael Riley (percussions, harmonica and vocals): Selwyn D Brown
(organ): Phonso Martin (vocals and tambourine).
The mainstay of many
bands is the drummer, and this especially applies to Steel Pulse.
Steve Nesbitt lays down such solid, weighty rhythms that it is
impossible to imagine the band without him. This guy is so
powerful he can only be described as the Jerry Nolan of reggae.
When you see him you'll know what I mean. And round him are six
other guys, each and every one of them taking an integral part,
no one being superfluous even for a moment. With a line-up of
seven that's no mean feat.
Steel Pulse manage to
maintain a standard of musicianship that is enviable, whilst not
only enjoying themselves on stage, but actually appearing to
enjoy themselves, something which is fairly unusual. And what is
even more important is the fact that they manage to communicate
their own enjoyment to the audience with ease. What was the last
gig you went to where the atmosphere was one of uncontrived
enjoyment, and the faces around you were actually smiling? (Even
if it ain't cool, I like to enjoy myself now and again).
The music is reggae
with a subtlety and a power I have rarely experienced before, and
all the songs are original material written joint effort style by
the band. The numbers have titles like, Prodigal Son, Bad Man,
Nayah Love, Bu'n Them (Burn Them) and Prediction. But the ace up
their collective sleeve is an unforgettable number entitled Ku
Klux Klan. David Hinds wrote the words to this, and they are just
incredible. "Do unto others as they do to you/In this case
hate thy neighbour." These lyrics are sung to a tune that
you simply can't get out of your brain, and for me this song is
the highlight of the set. "Those cowards only kill who they
fear/That's why they hide behind the hoods and cloaks they
wear." You have got to hear this song to have any idea how
powerful it is. The lyrics on their own can't possibly convey the
anger, frustration and exasperation that the words and music
combined communicate so effortlessly. Another number that
deserves to be singled out is Soundcheck. The only words on this
one are "Rock little children rock," and this is all
but chanted over a compelling almost hypnotic riff.
But this Monday night
at the Nashville there seems to be something missing. No fault
lies with the band, the exact same thing had happened to The
Slits the night before at the Other Cinema. They had played a
mind-boggling set whilst half the audience simply sat there,
completely unaffected by what was going on. Ari Up had managed to
give Steel Pulse's Nashville gig a plug, and she turned up
herself with Tessa and Palmolive (sister Espe too) to give
support. But somehow, although the set this night was as vibrant
and spellbinding as the Vortex one, Steel Pulse weren't
completely happy, and despite loud cheering, clapping and
stamping from most of the crowd, they didn't return for an
encore. Perhaps they felt the Nashville lacked the intimacy of
the Vortex or Clouds (the Brixton venue they played with The
Slits) and in a way I have to agree with them.
Anycase, Steel Pulse
will be back in London real soon, and they'll be gigging with
Generation X during September, so just bear that in mind, because
those two bands together mean entertainment on a large scale.
Steel Pulse also want to play the Roundhouse, and that would
perhaps be the perfect venue, for them. So far, they have only
done four London dates, and my biggest regret in life is missing
two of them.
Text copyright ZigZag 1977, used without
permission.
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