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!


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!