The Melting Pot 24th Sept Pavilion

So last Thursday at the Pavilion, The Melting Pot was all about the punk rock and the ska. It was a specially organised night in celebration of The Clash, a band that were an integral part of the 'Rock Against Racism' movement during the late 1970's in the UK. For the occasion, LMHR-NI organiser, and former drummer with Stiff Little Fingers, Brian Faloon, put together a one off band as a tribute to the legends that helped shape his own musical journey.

Known as Burton Suits they ripped passionately and respectfully through old Clash favourites such as '(White Man)in Hammersmith Palais', 'Career Opportunities', 'London Calling', and to our delight they finished with a blistering version of 'Alternative Ulster'.

Audience suitably warmed up, Burton Suits stepped aside for the new generation of punks. From Enniskillen Momma's Slippers hit the stage full of youthful exuberance, swagger and attitude. Their front man Ant confident and uninhibited, encouraged stage invasions and acknowledged hero's like Rancid and The Ramones. Their bass player Jolene is awesome too, and we're guessing it's only a matter of time before we see them in Belfast again. Our only criticism is, we're not entirely sure about the band name.

Pocket Billiards were the original LMHR band, having played the first ever Belfast gig in 2004 at the Empire, they now return a band on the verge of a resurgence. The debut album has finally arrived, and the sound is bigger, braver, and more infectious than ever. Horn sections are tighter, and the songs bounced around the Pavilion along with the crowd. It's ska with a party attitude, and punk with a positive spin.

Pocket Billiards launch their album on the 10th October at The Black Box in Belfast, and we urge you to go.

At the end of the evening we encouraged people to sign the letter put together by the Anti Racism Network (see other post)to have the BNP call centre in Dundonald closed down.

We would like to thank BBC Radio Ulster DJ Stuart Bailie for supplying the tunes in the DJ box, and to our resident stalwart supporter and shit hot DJ, Venus Rollergirl, and of course to Mac, the sound engineer and all round top bloke.

Thank you also to the people that bought our t-shirts.

Want to know why Brian and co decided on the name Burton Suits?

Then read the lyrics to '(White Man)In Hammersmith Palais'

Midnight to six man
For the first time from Jamaica
Dillinger and Leroy Smart
Delroy Wilson, your cool operator

Ken Boothe for UK pop reggae
With backing bands sound systems
And if they've got anything to say
There's many black ears here to listen

But it was Four Tops all night with encores from stage right
Charging from the bass knives to the treble
But onstage they ain't got no roots rock rebel
Onstage they ain't got no...roots rock rebel

Dress back jump back this is a bluebeat attack
'Cos it won't get you anywhere
Fooling with your guns
The British Army is waiting out there
An' it weighs fifteen hundred tons

White youth, black youth
Better find another solution
Why not phone up Robin Hood
And ask him for some wealth distribution

Punk Rockers in the UK
They won't notice anyway
They're all too busy fighting
For a good place under the lighting

The new groups are not concerned
With what there is to be learned
They got Burton suits, ha you think it's funny
Turning rebellion into money

All over people changing their votes
Along with their overcoats
If Adolf Hitler flew in today
They'd send a limousine anyway

I'm the all night drug-prowling wolf
Who looks so sick in the sun
I'm the white man in the Palais
Just lookin' for fun

I'm only
Looking for fun

Oh please mister just leave me alone
i'm only looking for fun

Stuart Bailie gave the event a mention in his blog on Saturday 26th, see related links.