Frank Turner is a man whom I discovered with a random MP3 floating around college computers. The MP3 in question was named ‘Thatcher Fucked the Kids’ and I couldn’t have agreed more. A jaunty folk track sung in the same vein as Billy Bragg, it’s hard not to love. Fast forward many years and this folk punk singer songwriter is opening for Blink 182 and hanging out with the likes of NOFX (which he also collaborated with on a couple tracks). Folk music with real punk credentials. Tonight he is with his band The Sleeping Souls at The Garage and Glasgow has turned out in force.
We get an opening slot from Ben Brown who has recently signed with Xtra Mile Records – home of not only Frank but absolute bangers Rueben and Skinny Lister. Knowing that was enough to get me to the gig for doors as Ben started 15 minutes after they open. It wasn’t a bad decision as Ben’s brand of acoustic, folksy tunes with a hint of reggae hit nicely as a warm up. His voice goes so high as to prevent singing along, but I don’t think these songs are to be sung along with. They’re deeply personal stories presented in a soft and cheerful way by a man who’s so genuinely funny and likeable that the set can’t help but make you smile and bob your head. It’s a little rough around the edges, but that’s the folk in it. This isn’t an acoustic pop act and this crowd appreciate it. There’s laughs, mouth trumpet solos, and a lot of love. The room is almost full by the end of the set.
The support for tonight is The Meffs, a two-piece from Essex. They hit the stage about two seconds after Ben vacates which is a pretty punk rock pace. Front woman Lily is charismatic and fierce while delivering huge sounding punk riffs and vocals that sit up there with the top tier new wave English punk bands such as Kid Kapitchi, Soft Play, and Snayx. You wouldn’t think there was only two people on this stage, especially when they cover The Prodigy’s ‘Breathe’ with ease. This is another band that causes genuine excitement when you see them live. I’ve no idea if the recordings capture that energy – it seems an impossible task – but I’m going to find out after this.
“This is a punk rock show, so it is going to get rowdy”, says Frank during his “keep each other safe” speech. He isn’t wrong. The ‘folk’ part of the folk punk takes a rest tonight as Frank thrashes his Gibson SG for most of the set and we are subject to an onslaught of real grass roots, working class angst. The acoustic does come out for a bunch of tracks and that gives us a slight rest from the ruckus – not that it was asked for. The crowd are screaming every word back at the band as if they wrote them.
Even when the acoustic comes out, everything is up to eleven. It’s a classic example of a fantastic crowd putting more energy back than they’re given – and they’re given bucket loads. The full band tracks led by acoustic are like the Pogues but with more edge and aggression. A somber point in the set is Frank’s cover of Frabbit’s ‘The Modern Leper’. I’ve seen many people cover Scott on a stage – and Frank has a long history of it – and each time, it gives me chills. This time it almost reduced me to tears. The sincerity of Turner’s voice and the feeling he puts into the song can’t be faked by someone paying lip service or playing it because they’re in Glasgow. You can hear the song means as much to him as it does us. Following it with ‘Mittens’ and ‘A Ballad of Me and My Friends’ solo rounds that particular act off nicely.
A good chunk of songs are off the album that the tour is supporting – ‘Undefeated’. But even then, it’s the fan favourites picked from the eight other albums on display tonight that have the lion’s share of stage time. If you had never heard Frank before, you’d swear every song was off the same album by the way the crowd roared at the first notes. Here is a man that needs no fear when playing newer tracks. Tonight is a powerful, and ultimately cathartic night and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a crowd enjoy themselves this much. Few are preoccupied with phones or recording, it’s about singing along and being there with their friend, Frank. It’s a rarity in this day and age, as is having an artist that connects this well to his fans and manages to put on a show that could blow the windows out of any building.
Photos by Catching Light Photography
Catching Light Photography
- Tom Meighan / The Capollos - 16 December 2024
- Me First And The Gimme Gimmes - 9 December 2024
- Anthrax Vs Kreator / Testament - 29 November 2024