Another Forgotten Band

Following yesterday's post I remembered another band that impressed me much in the early 80's. Nyah Fearties were a Scottish music band from East Ayrshire who created a unique brand of anarchic folk music in the early 80's. Wikipedia tells:

Combining the rich traditional music and storytelling culture of its native Ayrshire, with a jarring punk ethos, madcap humour and improvised acoustic instrumentation (though usually amplified), the band made a significant contribution to the British folk-punk scene of the 1980s and 1990s.

It often tested live audiences with a feedback-laced aural assault, more akin to experimental rock groups like Velvet Underground or The Jesus and Mary Chain, than an acoustic folk act. In addition, Nyah Fearties were known for utilising all manner of improvised and imaginative musical paraphernalia.

They were not another folk-punk band like The Pogues or The Men They Couldn't Hang. Their music was more raw and grounded than the other ones I named. A perfect mixture of classic folk ingredients added with heavy influences of northern industrial sound. I once saw them live in a very small venue close to my place and it was one of those concerts you went to expecting nothing and you get recompensed with an unforgettable gig. 

As far as I know Nyah Fearties means not afraid of anything - if I am wrong please correct me.

Nyah Fearties - Radiation Reign

Nyah Fearties - Flight o' the country boy

Nyah Fearties - Hills of New Galloway

Ironmasters

My oldest brother is a huge fan of folk based punk-rock. Compiling a CD for his travel into holidays I remembered a band from the early 80's we both went for a concert. The Men They Couldn't Hang were new to us like The Pogues but in a different way. When The Pogues played their Irish style the Men They Couldn't Hang played traditional folk music in a very fast way. They also picked up political grievances from the last centuries and played it to us. It is amazing how good these songs work after many decades.

Indie Scene 1985

Another fine year for independent music. Old heroes like The Fall, The Cure and Johnny Thunders showed up with good records, traditional (Irish) music taken roots in music and some artist appeared to stay like Billy Bragg or to fade away too soon like the Woodentops. There was no direct movement in action but the indie sector was, as usual, throwing up quirky three minute slices that embraced politics, guitars and sheer madness. So enjoy a trip to music we've listened to 30 years ago.

Icicle Works - When it all comes down
Johnny Thunders and Patti Paladin - Crawfish
Love & Rockets - Ball of Confusion
Milkshakes - Ambassadors of love
Rain Parade - You are my friend
Robert Wyatt - The Wind of Change
Sonic Youth - Death Valley 69
That Petrol Emotion - VP
Rain Parade - Action Paintings
The Fall - Cruisers Creek
The Men They Couldn't Hang - Ironmasters
The Woodentops - It will come

Nyah Fearties

Like Adam I cleaned up my hard drive and found a file that I've forgotten over years. I still remember this record but I couldn't find in my collection any more. Maybe I borrowed it to my brother years ago and didn't got it back again. Anyway, this post is about a band most of my friends could agree with years ago. Nyah Fearties were one more band from Scotland that were great long time ago but had like many others no commercial success. They were not another folk-punk band like The Pogues or The Men They Couldn't Hang. Their music was more raw and grounded than the ones I named. It was a perfect mixture of classic folk ingredients added with heavy influences of northern industrial sound. I once saw them once live in a small club close to my place. It was one of these concerts you went to and expected nothing and you get recompensed with an unforgettable gig. Davy and Stephen Wiseman have played as if it was to her the last time. Seldom saw two guys on the stage playing with this enthusiasm. If you are a little bit of low-fi folk-punk give them a listen.