Arthur writes:-

Gasyard, Derry 12 August 2001 Four days of non-stop rain and the site for the gig looks paticularly bedraggled, a few clumps of people hanging around soaking - its like a washed out village fete.

Its a marvellous facility, an old gasworks converted into a work/theatre whatever you want space. Outside a football pitch with terraced grass banking, making a natural amphitheatre. The bands are playing from a portable stage which is thankfully covered.

There's a young band on being watched by about 20 people - less as it starts to rain. I sympathise with one of the organisers - so much work has gone into this, it's a shame that the weather is so atrocious. It has really affected the turnout over the day and I start to worry about the turnout for the Tones later in the evening. Inside I meet up with Debbie Page who has travelled up from Dublin. After a bit, the band start to arrive and I feel a bit sheepish about what I wrote last week. They knew it hadn't gone well and I can tell are very disappointed about it. Time to move on.

A group called Neck are on stage but I give them a miss. The previous week I'd heard them introduce a song with the title "If Everyday was St Paddy's Day" - the type of stage managed Oirishness that's as genuine as an Irish theme pub, which is where I imagine they'd get most of their gigs. Alright if you like that sort of thing. Far better are Bam Bam & The Calling who've really got some great tunes. I don't hear all of their set as I'm off to get some Gaffa tape and help to hang the backdrop. Events are running late with the Tones due on at 11.30pm. During the past hour, the rain has eased up and the crowd has really swollen. I get help, sticking the backdrop up.

As the banner is stuck in position, the crowd start to cheer. Theres an anticipation about tonight - the atmosphere is tingling. I ask the fellah helping me, to apply more tape to his side and he declines assuring me that it'll hold. Guess what it starts to peel away near the end of the set only for Paul McCloone to smoothly stick it back mid song. I get out front for the crowd and it really is large.

I wouldn't like to guess at how many but theres a lot of people here at 11.30 at night in a muddy field and they're all here to see the Undertones. The girl who is acting as MC is getting the crowd to cheer for the Undertones. Eventually to a (Maine Road greeting promotion) roar, they hit the stage. They go straight into Jimmy, Jimmy - the sound is clear, Paul's voice rides on top of the music, the band are together, in short, they're back to being their brilliant best. The set progresses seemlessly, they include Jump Boys (a personal favourite)and its rapturously received. From the awning covering the stage, water that has collected previously, funnels down and you're fearing a Spinal Tap incident but thankfully nothing happens - no exploding dfrummers for this band! All the hits are played and the crowd love it. I look behind me and at one stage the whole audience is bopping up and down.

In front, the band are really enjoying it - even the banner looks brilliant. I'm caught between trying to memorise the set for this report and actually getting into it. The music wins.

It really is electric but the crowd are also appreciative of the band's softer side and the beautiful Julie Ocean is wonderfully well received.

You can see Paul McCloone develop in confidence with each gig, his voice is brill but his prescence is developing as his confidence grows. He's becoming more commanding on stage, exerting greater control, in short making the transition from super sub to first choice striker. Michael Bradley informs us that the spoken part in "I Gotta Getta" is in fact him reading from the Derry Journal. It's one of those gigs that you don't want to end but before you know it - the gig including encore is over. The atmosphere is still fantastic - most of the crowd want more and cheer for another encore but its 1 am and too late to continue. I meet up with Vinny's brother Danny who hasn't seen them since 1983 and who has been completely blown away. He's getting married today so many congrats Daniel.

I stop off at Vinny's house for a coffee and he gives me a sneak preview of his documentary. It looks great and puts the band and their songs in conext. One part strikes me in particular, when one of the band states that it's taken them 20 years to realize they were good! When they were going originally, the band were hate figures in Derry being physically attacked with Feargal getting the brunt of it.

On Sun night - they were greeted like conquering heroes. Theres a lesson in there somewhere.

Vinny wrote:-

What can anyone say about last night's gig?I am not a good person with reviews and son as I get so into the gig that I can't stand back and ixyse but it felt to me that it was the best since they got back together.

Paul, who hasn't had a bad night in my opinion, was just amazing and seemed to get better and better as the night went on. The crowd, a guestimate of say 6,000?, danced all night and it was a real hero's welcome to them.

I also got the feeling that the band didn't wanna come off the stage as they were enjoying it so much!!

Sean wrote:-

I was at the Gasyard gig last night and a friend (Frankie H)told me about this site.Excellent! Having seen the Undertones the last time they played in the Bogside and the three times they have played in Derry since their "comeback" last night they were unbelievably brilliant. Sorry to you's guys who didn't make it over but YES you's did miss probably their best gig of all time!

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