Great night out in Derry. Great meal at the Manderin Palace, met Vinny and Wilke both in the Gweedore before the gig, enjoyed the gig despite the fact that the volume was `way over the top`and as for your knee Wilke `serves you right`. I watched you and Vinny instigate a mini riot at the front! Speak soon

The Ruefrex site now features three previously unreleased tracks from the `Political Wings` album session - a nice New Years present for Wilke!

Seems like a good night was had by all. Did the band not play the Nerve Centre, Derry on 28th December last year as well. Suppose I had better pencil that date in for next year. My knees are wrecked at the moment by kneeling for a couple of hours to build a K'Nex toy for my eldest daughter. I've also knacked my back moving my TV. Here's to the eagerly anticipated DVD and those long overdue mainland dates in the New Year.

George, Wilke is probably still in bed, and Vinny too. I was at the gig (yes, and last years 28th Dec also)and was up this morning at 6.30am. Can`t speak for the two lads, you`ve heard of Peter Pan - these boys are everlasting teenagers!

Sounds like a great night. They are the best live band I have ever seen and boy I wish I was there last night. Seeing the Undertones is like drinking from the fountain of youth hence Vinny and Wilke's teenagers energy at gigs. Not sure they'll be feeling as youthful this morning though.

hello you have just got up and feel great have to say nice to meet you ernie .and thanks to alex and lindsay vinny &deborah for a great night out heres to the next one

forgot to thank maureen as well so talk soon see ya

Well - I've just got back home, having stayed at the Acorn B&B last night. Even without Margaret it's still fantastic value but the owners are selling it as they are buying a pub. Went up last night with a Spanish friend (Juan Carlos) and Martha's nephew and his mate who are both 16 and who play in bands. We got in around 7.30 and went to the Nerve Centre to buy tickets as I was bit worried about David getting in as he is a very young 16. There didn't seem to be a problem and I was assured he'd get in so we went upstairs with Marty Edwards and gave him a hand setting up the backdrop. After that it was around to Pizza Hut where I foolishly ordered a small deep pan. (Note to wilke - I know you don't have any idea what a small pizza looks like so if you want I'll send you a diagramn.

Afer that it was around to the Gweedore where I met Andy who is the lead singer with the Teenage Lobotomies who said they were on at 10.15. Despite numerous messages Vinny(Lofty)Cunningham wasn't there but eventually turned up with Deborah, Maurreeen, Wilke, Alex and Lindsay. I didn't get to speak with Ernie. I left soon afterwards as the two lads looked quite bored. It's funny but on this site there is a fair amount of nostalgia, an idea that everything was brilliant when you were a teenager. David and Matthew reminded me that in fact a lot of the time was spent being morose and concerned and worried about everything. I got my own back at the gig by being over enthusiastic and trying to get them to dance whilst I did my 'Prince Charles at a Brixton youth Club' impression. You know the one, stand stiff as a board, only sway from the hips whilst moving your hands as though doing a hand jive. I hope it succeeded - they looked mortified.

We got into the Nerve Centre and the Teenage Lobotomies were onstage. I have to say that I'm not a great fan of tribute bands but they were really excellent, playing it good and tight and 'Beavis and Butthead' even made an appearance at the end complete with 'Gabba, Gabba, Hey' sign. The crowd loved them and rightly so. Normally at the Nerve Centre, I stand stage left near the far wall as there always seems to be space there. Well last night there wasn't. We bought tickets that were around the 500 mark and I'm pretty sure that at least another 200-300 people paid at the door as is the practice in Derry. It must have been sold out as there wasn't a lot of space to move in.

After about half an hour, the band came on. The atmosphere was fantastic. I can't remember what they opened with but I do know that I made an effort to dance for the first three songs and it nearly killed me. After that, I danced to every other song and listened to the new songs whilst taking a breather. I have to say that each time I hear them - they improve, I particularly like the one that stops and starts - more hooks than a ten year old trout. I saw Alex, complete with beer and fag and told him that I was conducting some ethinological research and was he per chance from Glasgow. I had to get my own back because not only did he say I looked like Donald - he said I looked like Donald's dad. Cheeky b***%*%*.

Wilke, Vinny, Juan Carlos and I were all giving it some ( well as much as you can at our age - what with bad backs, knees and wobbling beer guts). Most people on here know my feelings on the band so it's interesting to get a different perspective. Juan was absolutely blown away and the two lads were too. I know this because I asked them but they tended to study the band as they're aspiring musicians themselves whreas Juan was dancing his arse off. They did all six new songs in the set and they were very well received. It's funny because as far as I can make out there's a fair bit of revisionism going on with the band now in Derry. Everybody loves them when in actuality they were getting attacked and slagged off when they were going originally. Micky Bradley said that Teenage Kicks was becoming like Hi Ho Silver Lining and I'd agree with him, so it's great that they're keeping it current and moving on with new materiel.

I'll finish this later.

arthur what beer guts?? and yes i do know what a small pizza looks like but never had one i like the big deep pan onesi know its not a tones song but they play white roitand it was f*&^*^great as for being peter pan not sure about that tssy

allmost time to take lindsay and alex to the airport.took them to see a place called muff donald will know what i`m talking aboutone thing about the gig last night it seem to go so fast .hope they play england for all you lot over there tssy

Well I know you have a bad back Arthur and Wilke has dodgy knees but I would never say that Vinny has a beer gut! Looking forward to the rest of the review Arthur.

Just spoken to Alex and the band did play 'white riot'.

Why Cliff, did you not believe me??!! It was an excellent version, no intro or anything, just straight in!!

Hey, Vinny! While you were busy pogoing to `White Riot` Micky Bradley was plling Paul McLoone out in the second verse of `White Riot`. He obviously had rehearsed it last minute as he made a cock up of the vocal - takes the older hands to get it right

It seemed to me that there were definitely alot more younger people at the gig than at previous ones. The band were superb. Paul was just brimming with energy and really got the crowd going. He is one lucky fucker to have landed the job as front man in one of the best live acts around - I wonder if when he was younger he jumped about his bedroom, like the rest of us, mimming and playing air guitar and dreaming of being an Undertone (or was that just me). Damien looks like the happiest man in the world when he is on stage, smiling from ear to ear. And it is true a great night listening to The Undertones really does make you feel younger, until that is you have to go get your daughter from the front row and take her home. Thanks to the band for a great night - here's to many more to come. And well done to Andy and the Teenage Lobotomies - fucking great performance lads.

Hey Ernie!!! Those are small details, to be ignored when you're pogoing/ fighting for survival!!

Enjoyed part 1 of the review Arthur but since you're possibly my dad I may be a bit biased. Did anyone get any recordings of White Riot last nigght? Video or audio? Please someone say they got it.

Great footage of the Ramones on OGWT just been shown ('shes the one')it was a tribute programme called 'RIP 2002' on CH4 and featured Dee Dee Ramone.Also a great tribute to Jeff Astle.

I can't give a complete set list but yes they did play White Riot and the also played the sumptious Julie Ocean and the first encore was When Saturday Comes. You know, I just had such a blast dancing away, you can analyize as much as you want to but it is just such mad, exhilerating fun. Another standout moment was seeing Vinny trying to cut through the Moshing crowd just as the band launched into Teenage Kicks. would he spill that newly purchased bottle of harp? No chance - throwing body swerves like a young Geordie Best he cut through the crowd like Moses through the Red Sea and landed back in position without a drop spilt. Awesome.

Before the first encore - the crowd were singing We Shall Not Be Moved in a football terrace style. I'm sure that goes back to the Vibe gig and the benefit for Derry City. Anyway the atmosphere was brilliant. They finished the night with Teenage Kicks again and it was brill but I was glad that it had finished as by this stage I was absolutely knackered. I'd say the sound was ok but really that's not what gigs are about, if you want a great sound you can get it with Garth Gates and a backing tape - it's about the whole experience and it was first rate.

I spoke with Juan Carlos afterwards and he could not believe that they were so good. I told him that they were and are the best live band I've ever seen and now he believes me. As for the two lads they were completely blopwn away. I asked them if many of their mates knew about the band and they said that a lot didn't so there's a whole audience that needs to be reached somehow.

All three newcomers to the Undertone's gig experience were completely blown away by Paul as well. Juan asked me if the Undertones were better with Feargal and I have to say that they weren't. Don't get me wrong they were still brilliant but there seems to be a far better vibe about them now. I don't agree with the idea that Paul was lucky. Any person who has ever stood on a stage and sung knows how daunting it can be. To come into a band and replace someone like Feargal well Paul McLoon was onto a hiding to nothing. There were plenty of people (some on this site) who were not even prepared to give him a chance but he had the ballls to go out and do it so fair play to him. The fact that the band are still a brilliant live proposition owes a lot to Paul's contribution and he should get the credit he deserves for it.

Great review Arthur. Glad everyone you brought enjoyed the gig, it was a belter and it just leaves you waiting for the next. Sorry we didn't hang around after but the taxi was waiting at the top of Magazine Street for us. The Derry City FC crowd chanting is excellent but you still wanna hear them singing TEENAGE KICKS at The Brandywell, it's great. Talk later, knackered tonight!!

Afterwards - I managed a few words with John O'Neill and Juan asked him if they were always that good! It seems that they are still enjoying it and still writing new materiel which John was very positive about (that is really saying something). I can't wait to hear them, I can't wait to get to a gig again. Cheers everyone for a great night, Wilke you are a gent, Alex it was good to meet you, Lindsay you're becoming younger by the miute and Vinny you are still growing. Cheers!!

thanks arthur its allway greats to meet you.i know a lot of pepole like reviews of the the gigs but me i just get into the gig i dont give a f$%$^ what songs they play or what order they play them in sorry but it seems kind of sad to me .and i think some people whan to give the best review of the the gigs me i think theres only one thing to say if they crap there crap if there great there out of this world which they seem to be all of the time tssy ps what a bouth wrong way will we herd at the next boys its a great song tssy

i`m piss right now so if i made a mess forgive me but to say i dont give a F*&^& about reviews of gigs sorry but that just me. so heres to next one

still piss but looking forward to gigs in england next year tssy