The Men They Couldn’t Hang / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham
This was a show I’d been looking forward to for some time. As a teen in the early/mid 1980’s I grew up and was shaped by the excellent punk-folk music of the times, with bands such as The Pogues, Runrig, The Alarm and Big Country around. For me, the pick of the crop were The Men They Couldn’t Hang who I was introduced to with the release of their forth album “Waiting for Bonaparte” released in 1988. I saw them live around 1989 and haven’t seen them since. That album was a milestone for me in my musical development and remains something I turn to now to play on a regular basis. We all have those bands that mean something extra special to us, and The Men They Couldn’t Hang are that kind of band for me, so when I saw they were touring, I just had to head to the Rescue Rooms !!!
Formed in 1984 to perform at the alternative music festival in Camden town alongside the legendary Pogues and the Boot Hill Foot-Tappers they went on to be championed by the late great John Peel and their first single, a cover of Eric Bogle's 'Green Fields of France' became a big hit on the UK Indie charts and a favourite in Peel’s festive 50. They released their first album "Night of a Thousand Candles" in 1985 and were signed to MCA the following year, with whom they released their second album "How Green Is the Valley". With the release in 1988 of their third album "Waiting for Bonaparte" the band started to attract recognition right across Europe for it’s political comment and their reputation for raucous live shows. Indeed in 1989 they played to over 250,000 people in Estonia and performed at the Reading Festival. Then in 1990 the band released the brilliant "Domino Club" and then in early 1991 following a farewell tour, they called it a day.
But by 1996 they had re-formed permanently and they continued to write and perform.
The real strength for me of The Men They Couldn’t Hang over other bands of the genre was the quality of their lyrics from primary songwriter Paul Simmonds who embraces a soulful poetic style, while delivering powerful political songs based firmly on a foundation of social justice and conscious.
They took to the stage to the cheers of the large crowd and jumped right in with a more recent track in Raising Hell from 2014’s album ”The Defiant” a great upbeat start to the set with a rousing sing along chorus.
After the first few songs, the mood changed as the band addressed the crowd. Early in 2021 the band were hit with tragedy with the sudden loss of founding member and vocalist Stefan Cush, clearly very emotional they announced that following talks with Stefan’s family, they had made the decision to continue together as a band, to honour Stefan. The announcement was met with rousing cries and cheers from the crowd. Phil Odgers went on to dedicate the next track The Green Fields of France to Stefan a track Stefan always delivered with such passion. And Phil did the song proud, a wonderful fiery delivery of a ballad about Willie McBride, who dies in battle in 1916. A song close to Stefan’s heart and a fitting tribute to the late great singer. Phil delivered the track perfectly, and full of emotion, capturing vividly all the rage, futility, and pity of war. Simply beautiful.
After such an emotional moment, the atmosphere lifted again with the start of Smugglers from “Waiting for Bonaparte”. A raucous tale of the life of smugglers, robbing the French of fine wine and avoiding the Excise Men. A dangerous and wild life. I always remember the lyrics and especially the lines And when at last the dawn comes up and the cargo safely stored. Like sinless saints to church we'll go. God's mercy to afford. And It's champagne fine for communion wine and the parson drinks it too. With a sly wink prays "forgive these men, for they know not what they do”
This is followed by a new track in Red Kite another emotional tribute to the late Stefan Cush. It has a wonderful melody and relates to his favourite bird. The emotion shown during this song was there for all to see, but in a beautiful way as we remember and celebrate, but also brought a smile to my heart as we celebrated Cush.
Following Gold Rush, guitarist Tom Spencer (and current singer/guitarist of The Professionals) took over and performed Salutations from the most recent album “Cock-A-Hoop” which I believe pays homage to Cush’s local pub !
Highlight of the night for me were the next three tracks. First up we had the excellent Islands in the Rain from “Waiting for Bonaparte” which tells the tale of leaving Southampton behind and sailing across the solent to the Isle of Wight, the island in the rain seeking out memories… “I'm searching for the ghosts that haunt this island view. One looks like me one has the face of you. I'll go to bars we used to go to every day”. It’s a stunning track and performed exceptionally well live.
Next we have the politically charged Ghosts Of Cable Street about the stand against the rise of fascism in 1930’s Britain as people came together to protest against Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists march. A huge favourite with the crowd.
This is followed by The Colours an incredible track about a naval mutiny as men, pressed into service from the streets of Bristol revolted against the inequality and conditions and “flew a Jacobean flag to give us heart. While Pitt stood helpless we were waiting for Bonaparte”. A group of young ideological men, seeking a fair and equal future but ending up facing the hangman’s noose. It’s this track that drew me to the album back in 1988 and it’s still incredibly emotive and powerful today.
We have a short two song encore as the band returned to deliver A Night to Remember and ended with Walkin’ Talkin’ both from their debut album ‘Night of a Thousand Candles’. A fitting end, to an excellent night.
It may be more than 30 years since I last saw The Men They Couldn’t Hang, but the quality of their music, and the musical skills remain as strong as ever, and indeed the more recent albums such as 2014’s ‘The Defiant’ and 2018’s ‘Cook-A-Hoop’ are just as good as their earlier popular releases. And live, they are one of those bands that sound just as good belted out loud as they do on record !!! I was so pleased to hear they will carry on. The best way to honour Stefan Cush is to continue to share their incredible music with as wide an audience as possible. If you get the chance to see The Men They Couldn’t Hang, grab it with both hands, you won’t be disappointed.
Set List:
Raising Hell (The Defiant 2014)
Night Bird (Smugglers and Bounty Hunters 2005)
The Eye (Never Born to Follow 1996)
Going Back to Coventry (How Green is the Valley 1986)
The Green Fields of France (Night of a Thousand Candles 1985)
Smugglers (Waiting for Bonaparte 1988)
Red Kite (new)
Gold Rush (How Green is the Valley 1986)
Salutation (Cock-A-Hoop 2018)
Blackfriars Bridge (Silver Town 1989)
Island in the Rain (Waiting for Bonaparte 1988)
Ghosts of Cable Street (How Green is the Valley 1986)
Colours (Waiting for Bonaparte 1988)
Iron Masters (Night of a Thousand Candles 1985)
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A Night to Remember (Night of a Thousand Candles 1985)
Walkin’ Talkin’ (Night of a Thousand Candles 1985)
Support was provided by the excellent The Newcranes, a folk punk band, formed in Derby. The became popular in the early 1990’s and were often talked about in the same conversations as bands such as The Levellers. Signed with Musidisc Records they released their debut album ‘Frontline’ to critical acclaim. They quickly became a live favourite and supported the likes of The Mission, Stiff Little Fingers, Bob Dylan and The Saw Doctors, and went on to release several more EPs.
Disbanding in 1996 the band got back together in 2018 following a fan campaign and it saw songwriter Mark Simpson, along with bass player Bob Rushton and drummer Marcus Carter reunited. Along came Jonny Wallis and Julian Butt and, in March 2019, they played their first reunion show at The Venue in Derby. Subsequently they have gone on to play a number of festivals.
With a similar style to The Men They Couldn’t Hang, they were the perfect accompaniment to the main set. The performance was excellent and delivered with real passion and feel for what they do. Highlight tracks for me were Turpentine, Box of Shadows and the brilliant Crown of Thorns.
Set List:
Nature’s Love
Turpentine
Box of Shadows
Man’s Inhumanity to Man
How Do You Sleep
Think It Over
Crown of Thorns
Don’t Drag My Body Down
Front Line
