Punk’s not dead

Charlie Harper, lead singer of the UK Subs, enjoys a beer with a couple fans after performing. Monday's show marked the group's first appearance, along with The Vibrators, in Lithuania.

Charlie Harper, lead singer of the UK Subs, enjoys a beer with a couple fans after performing. Monday's show marked the group's first appearance, along with The Vibrators, in Lithuania.

VILNIUS — “I hope the floor is sticky and they serve the beer in plastic glasses,” my taxi companion uttered as we struggled through the snow on Monday evening on our way to the deliciously tacky vaudevillian atmosphere of Vilnius’ New York Club to witness and pay homage to two unlikely combos from our youth.

First up — the Ramonesesque melodies of The Vibrators, with Knox’s sneering vocals reminding us of adolescent romances. New songs mixed with the classics as “Whips and Furs” was belted out to an appreciative audience of young local punks and aging aficionados, both Brits and Lithuanian.

A surprise was an energetic, if workmanlike rendition of “Sounds of the Suburbs” handled by a portly and sweaty Nigel Bennett (ex-Members). Now they want anarchy, indeed….

The anthemic, sing-along “Baby Baby” produced hands in the air and whispers of “I didn’t know this was by The Vibrators,” and that was it.

The expectation reached a crescendo as we waited 20 minutes for the headliners, Charlie Harper storming on sporting a wiry peroxide hairdo (a wig?), spitting fiery lyrics into the mosh pit.

The opening bars of “Warhead” had this middle-aged reporter into the pit — and a minute later back to his beer, too old for this as the young ones threw each other around with gay abandon. Fears of gangs of Lithuanian skinheads were out of the window as the youthful punters, dressed appropriately, were determined to enjoy themselves.

“Stranglehold” completed a set which saw the Subs in top form and the crowd ending an energetic workout. No “Dirty Girls?” Never mind.

Punk is dead? Tell that to the brave punters smiling their way home through the blizzard on Monday night.

2 Responses for “Punk’s not dead”

  1. Mark says:

    “Fears of gangs of Lithuanian skinheads were out of the window as the youthful punters, dressed appropriately, were determined to enjoy themselves.”

    Yeah, they’re roaming up and down Kalvariu, and all around old town from McDonald’s to the train station.

    *VERY* cleverly disguised, though.

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