Penetration + The Distractions review

16 November 2017

The Distractions' tenth 'Live' show (yes, we're counting 2015's Jon The Postman tribute night at the Tiger Lounge) was a triumph here in support of punk legends, Penetration, and after local band, Three Day Weekend. The large crowd at Preston's brilliant venue, The Continental, was admittedly mainly here for Pauline Murray and Co., but the reception after a tight Distractions set full of energy was terrific.  

Soundcheck

Kicking off with tracks from the debut EP, Maybe It's Love and Too Young, a strong set of 45-minutes plus included all the favourites, Nothing, (Untitled), Stuck In A Fantasy, It Doesn't Bother Me, Something For The Weekend, Still It Doesn't Ring and Waiting For Lorraine. Mike briefly missing his line just seemed like part of the show!

Plenty of the knowledgeable punk crowd seemed familiar with Time Goes By Slow, and the now standard closer, the stunning reworking of Adrian Wright's Nothing Lasts, brought the show to and end. It earned a tremendous and well-deserved reception from the crowd, as well as the lively Distractions fans down the front.

Penetration need no introduction or review from us - just check the glowing reviews they are receiving during the current '40 Years' UK tour! The set from Pauline and the band, and the huge, loud and loving crowd, crowned what was surely the best night for the new Distractions Live line-up yet.

There was plenty of positive feedback on the night and we have had more since via social media:

• "Great set gents. Good to see a band happy in their work. My first intro to you last night. Will be investing in your music."

• "Really enjoyed seeing & hearing you for the first time last night. I'll definitely look out for you again."

• "We really enjoyed seeing you in Preston and will definitely come and see you again. I will be hunting down a copy of the first album."

• "Really enjoyed your set."

• "Well done Distractions. Best gig so far!"

• "@DistractionsMcr superb again."

(c) www.shanksticketprinting.co.uk

Next up is a return to Stockport at the Spinning Top on Friday 1st December. Then, the one that many have been waiting for, The Distractions Live in London - at the famous Dublin Castle in Camden on Saturday 27th January 2018.

Back to Stockport

11 November 2017

The Distractions Live return to the venue where they played a homecoming show in summer, the Spinning Top in Stockport. This cracking venue is close to Stockport station, and several of the town's best pubs, on Wellington Road South. The gig is on Friday 1st December, entry is free, plus support comes from The Trend's Mark Revell, so see you there!

Friday 1st Dec – THE DISTRACTIONS + support from MARK ‘REV’ REVELL (front man from THE TREND & ex ICICLE WORKS)

Welcoming back The Distractions after their great gig in the summer!

The Distractions were around in the late '70s and early '80s and were well known in Manchester and beyond on the post-punk music scene and released records on the TJM, Factory, Island and Rough Trade labels. They played with Joy Division, The Fall, The Members, Stiff Little Fingers, Squeeze and many others as well as touring the UK and Ireland as well as doing gigs in New York before splitting up.

About a year ago two of the original members, Alex on drums and vocalist Mike Finney, got together with some friends after being asked to play at a memorial gig for a huge fan of the band, Manchester punk legend, Jon The Postman. It went down so well and they had such a great time they thought it would be a good idea to continue as a live act performing the singles and the great songs from the album.

After extensive rehearsals and finalising the line-up they have been playing headline gigs since the beginning of 2017 as well as supporting bands such as Eton Crop, The Flamin' Groovies and Penetration. In January 2018 they will be playing the iconic London venue The Dublin Castle, which gave a start to bands such as Oasis, Madness and Amy Winehouse, as well as several major festivals next summer.

The Distractions are attracting a new generation of fans who appreciate classic songs and storming live sets!

They have a major retrospective box set, Age + Geography, on the ‘Hidden Masters’ label coming out soon.

Check out the band’s Music Glue page for lots more information, videos and downloadable tracks: www.musicglue.com/thedistractions.

They are: Mike Finney (lead vocals)

Joe Brehoney (bass)

Johnny Poole (guitar)

Chris Dutton (guitar)

Alex Sidebottom (drums/percussion)

Live at the Peer Hat, Manchester

3 October 2017

The next Distractions Live date is again in central Manchester, this time supporting Dutch band, the Eton Crop, with Faerground Accidents, on Thursday 26th October. The venue is the new Peer Hat on Faraday Street, which is between Lever Street and Newton Street in the Northern Quarter, off Piccadilly.

The Distractions

They shared bills with the likes of Buzzcocks, Magazine and Joy Division, and their debut EP, 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That', released in 1979, led to a deal with Factory Records, who released the follow-up, 'Time Goes By So Slow'.

See the Facebook page for the gig:  www.facebook.com/events/1977289259157321

Buy tickets here from just £5.50:  www.seetickets.com/event/eton-crop-nl-support/the-peer-hat-manchester/1124164

Ruby Lounge review: The Distractions + Flamin' Groovies

25 September 2017

Two under-appreciated classic guitar pop bands graced the same stage in front of a loving and appreciative crowd at the Ruby Lounge, High Street, Manchester on Tuesday 19 September 2017.

Opening were local heroes, The Distractions, who are currently gigging in a live line-up including original singer Mike Finney and drummer Alex Sidebottom. The recording band have officially disbanded following their third and final album ('Kindly Leave The Stage') what with original guitarist Steve Perrin now living in New Zealand, while newer songwriter Nick Halliwell is at the other end of England. However, this new incarnation are currently gigging their late '70s and early '80s material to great success.

(c) Nick Barber, 2017.

A short but rocking set included "Maybe It's Love", "It Doesn't Bother Me" and the timeless Factory Records single "Time Goes By So Slow". A quite brilliant closer was a furious version of "Nothing Lasts" which the new live band - including Joe Brehony, Chris Dutton and Jonny Poole - have put their mark all over. The Distractions Live are a post-punk pop force to be reckoned with, and surely more gigs around the North West and hopefully beyond will follow. Next up it's The Peer Hat in Manchester on 26th October, then The Continental in Preston in November supporting Penetration.

(c) Nick Barber, 2017.

Joining several well-known local faces who turned out for The Distractions - such as CP Lee and Mick Middles - was Marc Riley (founder member of The Fall, and current BBC 6Music DJ) for the main attraction. Chris Wilson partnered the original Flamin' Groovie, Cyril Jordan, and they rolled back the years (65 and 69, respectively, Wilson informed us!) in a rocking hour-plus set.

Tracks from their new album, 'Fantastic Plastic', like "What The Hell's Going On?" and "End Of The World", were scattered amongst choice cuts from the late '60s and '70s. The inevitable and rightly lauded "Shake Some Action" brought the house down, and the smiles in the crowd lasted until after the show when Jordan and Wilson joined the fans for photos, chats and signatures.

(c) Nick Barber, 2017.

These two legendary but still fresh-sounding bands hail from opposite sides of the pond, but are hewn from the same rock: melodic guitar pop rock. We can only hope that they will both be playing to appreciative Manchester audiences again in the not-too-distant future (update: The Distractions are playing at The Peer Hat, Manchester on 26th October).

Stage times for Ruby Lounge

18 September 2017

We have been advised that approximate stage times for the Flamin' Groovies and first of all, The Distractions, are as follows:

• 19:30 - Doors 
• 20:15 - The Distractions
• 21:15 - Flamin' Groovies

See you there for what's going to be a memorable night of post-punk and power-pop!

Live in Manchester this week

16 September 2017

The Distractions open for the Flamin' Groovies this Tuesday 19th September. Get your tickets here!

https://therubylounge.com/event/flamin-groovies

The Flamin’ Groovies story goes all the way back to 1965 when the band began as The Chosen Few in their hometown of San Francisco, California. After a name change and a self-released 10 inch album called “Sneakers”, which sold amazingly well, the band caught the attention of Columbia who signed them up and sent them into the studio with a big budget to record their first real album, “Supersnazz”, on the Epic label. Their next two albums were on Kama Sutra (home of their heroes, The Lovin’ Spoonful): “Flamingo”, and the now revered classic “Teenage Head”.

Lead singer Roy Loney left the band right after that and lead guitarist Cyril Jordan moved the group to England with Chris Wilson taking over as front man. A few singles on United Artists, recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales with Dave Edmunds producing, followed in the early ‘70s. In ‘76 they signed to Sire Records, who released three true gems of power pop: “Shake Some Action”, “Flamin’ Groovies Now”, and “Jumpin’ In The Night”.

The band’s upcoming new album “Fantastic Plastic” will receive a very limited European release on Otis Recordings and will be available ONLY at their live dates

“One of the great lost bands of the New Wave era” (Blurt magazine. USA)

The Distractions in the late 70s and early 80s were very well known on the post-punk music scene. They released records on the TJM, Factory, Island and Rough Trade labels to excellent reviews, as well as sharing bills with Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Fall, The Members, Squeeze and many others.

They played all corners of the UK, Ireland as well as doing gigs in New York before splitting up. The present group has two of the original members: Mike Finney on vocals and Alex on drums as well as ex members of The Things and The Blue Orchids, all steeped in the Manchester music tradition. The Distractions (live) have been gigging regularly since the start of the year and are building up a new generation of fans who appreciate classic songs and storming live sets!

Ruby Lounge tickets - special offer

21 August 2017

We are pleased to announce that tickets for the Manchester gig at the Ruby Lounge with the Flamin Groovies on 19 Sept are on special offer, exclusively for Distractions friends and family!

Instead of the full price of £19.50 (which is great value for two legendary bands anyway!, you can pick up tickets using the details below for just £7.50.  This is a limited offer so move quickly!

Go the the ticket site: https://agmp.ticketabc.com/events/flamin-groovies-1909/

Enter the promo code: DISTRACTIONS01

See you there!

Shake Some Action! - The Distractions Live in Manchester

2 August 2017

We are delighted to announce that The Distractions Live will be supporting the legendary Flamin' Groovies at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester. Tickets for this unmissable show, on Tuesday 19th September 2017 from 19:30, are available via the link at the Ruby Lounge website.

The Distractions have featured on a couple of compilations named after the Flamin' Groovies classic album, 'Shake Some Action'. On the original Shake Some Action Volume 1, 'It Doesn't Bother Me' featured, while Volume 3 boasted 'Something For The Weekend'. Here's more history from the gig webpage:

“One of the great lost bands of the New Wave era” (Blurt magazine, USA)

The Distractions in the late '70s and early '80s were very well known on the post-punk music scene. They released records on the TJM, Factory, Island and Rough Trade labels to excellent reviews, as well as sharing bills with Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Fall, The Members, Squeeze and many others.

They played all corners of the UK, Ireland as well as doing gigs in New York before splitting up. The present group has two of the original members: Mike Finney on vocals and Alex on drums as well as ex-members of The Things and The Blue Orchids, all steeped in the Manchester music tradition. The Distractions (Live) have been gigging regularly since the start of the year and are building up a new generation of fans who appreciate classic songs and storming live sets!


Buy your tickets here: https://therubylounge.com/event/flamin-groovies 

https://agmp.ticketabc.com/events/flamin-groovies-1909/ 

and enter the promo code: DISTRACTIONS01

Glaston-BURY

9 July 2017

After yesterday's #MancsGiving festival in Whalley Range (more photos and videos of that later), here's confirmation of the next festival appearance by The Distractions Live. While they never got round to performing in a farmer's field in Somerset, the next best thing is surely Bury's Glaston-BURY festival on August Bank Holiday Monday (28th). This huge festival is also in a great cause - Bury Hospice, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and other local charities. Just £7 in gets you 130 acts over 13 stages. Further details soon.

Return to Stockport

24 June 2017

Flier for the Stockport gig on Saturday 29th July.

Spinning Top, Stockport gig

24 June 2017

Here's another Distractions Live date for your diaries. On Saturday 29th July The Distractions and support will be playing at The Spinning Top, 20 Wellington Road South, Stockport SK4 1AA. 

This is a cracking venue on the main A6 through the town and is just a few minutes walk from Stockport train and bus stations. They offer a decent selection of ale and some of Stockport's finest pubs are just down up the road and around the corner.

Tickets are priced just £5 in advance from venue, or £6 on the door on the night.

Manchester punk/new wave legends who first influenced bands like The Buzzcocks before adapting to ‘power pop’ with the release of their first album in 1980. An original Factory Records band before signing with Island Records. Shared stages with Buzzcocks, Magazine & Joy Division.

Manchester North of England - Maybe It's Love

23 June 2017

Next month sees the release of Manchester North of England: A Story Of Independent Music Greater Manchester 1977-1993 on Cherry Red. Naturally, The Distractions feature, with a first ever CD release of Maybe It's Love, from the TJM2 debut EP, 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That'. Lucky for some, it's track 13 on the first disc, 'Cranked Up Really High', and at least half of the bands and artists on there are linked to The Distractions. Friend of the band, Mr Antony H Wilson, and Factory colleagues adorn disc 2. Meanwhile sleeve notes come from that big Distractions fan, Mick Middles, and Mark Radcliffe who also speaks well of the band on the radio.

Keep an eye on the release on Facebook, at Cherry Red, and buy from the usual physical and online outlets. Around £40 for 146 tracks on 7 discs seems decent value. Maybe It's Love will also be making several appearances on 'Age+Geography', the slightly-delayed but worth-the-wait Distractions bookset, on HiddenMasters. In fact, HM have just announced ordering for their latest release, Chris Wood's 'Moon Child Vulcan', at Pledge Music, which means 'Age+Geography' is next! Of course, you can hear Maybe It's Love for yourself at one of the many Distractions Live gigs...

Released 28 July 2017.

From Buzzcocks to Britpop, Manchester North Of England is the ultimate tribute to the independent output of that most important and iconic of musical cities, with 146 tracks across seven CDs in a deluxe box set.

Compiled by the team behind other Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream, Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision, etc.), this tells the story of how indie music exploded in Manchester after the rush of Punk and the seminal release of the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch EP.

From Buzzcocks to Britpop, Manchester North Of England is the ultimate tribute to the independent output of that most important and iconic of musical cities, with 146 tracks across seven CDs in a deluxe box set.

Compiled by the team behind other Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream, Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision, etc.), this tells the story of how indie music exploded in Manchester after the rush of Punk and the seminal release of the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch EP.

With exhaustive sleeve-notes by the city’s leading music journalist of the era, Mick Middles, and a foreword by Mark Radcliffe, Manchester North Of England includes many of the key bands from the late 70s to the early 90s – Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, James, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Morrissey, John Cooper Clarke, 808 State, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, The Charlatans and last but not least, Oasis.

Although the scene was dominated by blokes with guitars, which is reflected here, Manchester North Of England also doffs its cap to reggae, soul, singer-songwriters, hip-hop, avant garde, techno/industrial and dance music.

Inspired by Bop Cassettes’ 1988 compilation (name + cover image), the box set is being presented in conjunction with MDMA (Manchester District Music Archive).

Many of the tracks appear on CD for the first time, from the Punk explosion through Factory Records, post-punk, the jangly C86 period, Madchester, Indie-Dance and the early 90s transition into what would become Britpop.

TRACK LIST - CD ONE:

1. BREAKDOWN (Demo) – Buzzcocks

2. CRANKED UP REALLY HIGH – Slaughter And The Dogs

3. AIN’T BIN TO NO MUSIC SCHOOL – The Nosebleeds

4. JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF (LP Version) – The Drones

5. PSYCLE SLUTS Pts. 1 & 2 – John Cooper Clarke

6. GOING STEADY – Jilted John

7. LOUIE LOUIE (Edit) – John The Postman

8. HEADS DOWN NO NONSENSE MINDLESS BOOGIE – Albertos Y Lost Trios Paranoias

9. THE LIGHT POURS OUT OF ME – Magazine

10. THE KILL – Spherical Objects

11. UP AND ABOUT – Steve Miro

12. MAN IN THE BOX – V2

13. MAYBE IT’S LOVE – The Distractions

14. STAY AWAKE – Grow-Up

15. VOICE IN THE DARK – Frantic Elevators

16. SHE’S LOST CONTROL – Joy Division

17. BAISER – Chris Sievey

18. TO YOU – The Smirks

19. MANCHESTER BOYS – Salford Jets

20. SNAP IT AROUND – 48 Chairs

21. DOWNPOUR – Foreign Press

22. WARREN ROW – She Cracked

23. ENGLISH BLACK BOYS (Edit) – X-O-Dus

24. DEM A SUS (IN THE MOSS) – Harlem Spirit

See the rest of the tracklists at Cherry Red...

#MancsGiving gig - Sat 8th July, Whalley Range

17 June 2017

We're pleased to confirm that the free #MancsGiving charity day at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range has indeed been rescheduled. It will now take place on Saturday 8th July from 13:00-23:00.

The Distractions Live should be on stage at 19:15. If you've not been to the Carlton Club before, it's a cracking old venue, run by locals, with large indoor and outdoor spaces. Cash bar and food will be available, and of course any further generosity for such a worthy cause will be welcomed. See you there...

Nothing Lasts

12 June 2017

...Except it does when it comes to The Distractions. It's now 40 years since the first gigs played by Mike, Steve, Alex, Pip and Adrian, at those legendary lost Manchester music venues, the Electric Circus, Rafters, and The Ranch. 

Mike and Alex are still at it, with the new Distractions Live band, and again they were on top form at the recent gig at The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. An undoubted highlight was a terrific version of the lost track 'Nothing Lasts', Adrian's classic slow-burner that has recently been re-recorded and released on the 10" mini-album, The Distractions Go Dark, on Occultation Recordings.

As Steve explains: "Adrian Wright wrote this song in the final days of the first Distractions line-up and the band split before there was chance to record it. Our friend David Quantick reminded us of its existence and it seemed too good not to revise. It would have made a good 'b' side to Time Goes By So Slow."

Catch The Distractions Live soon, at the MancsGiving charity gig day now rearranged for Saturday 8th July, and at Glaston-BURY Festival in Bury on August Bank Holiday Monday. Rumour has it, that the band have been rehearing even more classics from the back catalogue, which have yet to be played live this year...

MancsGiving event postponed

2 June 2017

Friday 2nd June, 5pm.

Due to circumstances beyond our control , we have just been requested by the council to postpone our #MANCSGIVING event this Sunday, 4th June.

This will be rescheduled shortly and the date will be announced within days

Regrettably

The team

#gutted

Carlton Club, Whalley Range, Sunday 4th June

28 May 2017

MancsGiving is a charity event in aid of the victims of the tragic events of the 22nd May at the Manchester Area. 

MancsGiving is from 2pm to 11pm and is being held at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range, Manchester on Sunday 4th June.  

The Distractions have just been added to the line-up and possibly with Dr John Cooper Clarke who is on the awaiting confirmation list. It's expected that The Distractions will be on at around 7.15pm.

"After the tragic few days, the Carlton Club wishes to do something to return some love into the people of Manchester. We open our doors and our hearts to our community with MancsGiving. We urge you to come down and celebrate the Mancunian spirit. Artists and helpers near and far have donated their time to this cause and we humbly thank them."

Line-up

Stella - Intastella

Dust Junky Collective feat Mc Tunes and Vince Vega

Ruff Trade 

The Brakes

Rubber Duck Orchestra

Vieka Plays

The Exceptional Remarkables

Extra Love

Tim Wright

Thin Men

Oak

Ash Mouintain

Midden

The Distractions - expected 7.15pm 

Artful Artur and Will from NOD

Kit B

Fable

Open Community Voice Choir

Awaiting confirmation

Ken from the Step

Peter G

Fiddle Steve

Fable

Shunya

John Cooper Clarke

Wyatt and the Amigos

Tuesday Tony 

Melanie Williams - Sub Sub

Paul Gleave

+ Special Guests

"Acoustic or lightly amplified music outside and inside amplified music to your heart's content. The Buckateers will be at the club so please give to our lovely Buckateers."

--

The Carlton Club

Rowan Lodge

113 Carlton Road
Whalley Range

Manchester M16 8BE 

The Witchwood, Ashton

12 May 2017

 

Forthcoming Distractions Live gigs

14 April 2017

After the storming Distractions Live sets at Dulcimer and Gullivers in Manchester, we have more gigs around the North West coming up. The Distractions Live are playing further afield in Greater Manchester - The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne in May and Glaston-BURY in August. Then we're heading over to The Continental in Preston later in the year. Of course we're aiming to add more gigs, so watch this space!

Buy tickets for The Witchwood, Ashton-under-Lyne, gig on Saturday 27th May here:  www.thewitchwood.net.

Mancsgiving Charity day in aid of the Manchester bombing fund at the Carlton Club, Whalley Range on Sunday 4th June.

Details of the Glaston-BURY Festival in Bury (also featuring The Drones), on August Bank Holiday Monday 28th August, will be revealed soon.

Buy tickets for The Continental, Preston gig on Friday 10th November, with The Penetration, here:  www.wegottickets.com.

Gullivers review

24 March 2017

The Distractions Live played their latest gig at Gullivers on Oldham Street in central Manchester (or the Northern Quarter to use modern parlance). Nicely supported by Salford duo, Factory Acts, and their dark electronic ambience, The Distractions Live went down a storm, as the Manchester rain beat down outside.

Jonny Poole (left) and Mike Finney.

The set list was the same as at Dulcimer a few weeks earlier - the whole of the 'You're Not Going Out Dressed Like That' EP (TJM) was played, plus most of the classic Island Records LP 'Nobody's Perfect'. A Distractions gig wouldn't be the same without the Factory Records single 'Time Goes By So Slow', and to finish off, a spectacular version of the Velvet Underground's 'Sweet Jane'. Future gigs will see some more of The Distractions' original repertoire dusted off.

Alex Sidebottom.

Set list:

1. Maybe It's Love
2. Too Young
3. Nothing
4. Louise
5. Leave You To Dream
6. Boys Cry
7. Looking For A Ghost
8. Still It Doesn't Ring
9. Something For The Weekend
10. Waiting For Lorraine
11. (Untitled)
12. Stuck In A Fantasy
13. It Doesn't Bother Me
14. Time Goes By So Slow
15. Valerie
16. Sweet Jane

Chris Dutton (guitar).

Among many highlights was an extraordinary and moving rendition of 'Looking For A Ghost' - this remarkable track has rarely been played live - ever - and this version must be heard to be believed! There were some terrific solos from Jonny, and perfect harmonies from both him and bassist Joe. The band, led by original drummer Alex and with Chris on rhythm guitar, were incredibly tight and energetic. The many rehearsals paid off! And last but never least, Mike has simply never sounded as good as he does today - both in this Live band and on the new Distractions albums. 

Joe Brehony (bass).

There are more Distractions gigs coming up in Ashton-under-Lyne, Whalley Range, Bury and Preston, and the plan is to do many more. Watch this space. The superb photos shown here are courtesy of Susan Ni Sheaghdha of Factory Acts (see their Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Facebook and Twitter pages for details of their new releases).