Ruts D.C – Academy, Liverpool – live review

Ruts D.C
Academy, Liverpool
Saturday 26th November 2022

Ruts DC brought their new Counterculture? album to Liverpool; Phil was there to witness one of the most powerful bands currently touring; forging ahead with new material, yet still able to invigorate the classic tracks.

It is clear that history is crucial to Ruts DC, their equipment is adorned with both a Ruts banner and a Ruts DC banner; this serves to remind you of the importance of this band, from those incendiary late 79’ and 1980 singles including Babylon’s Burning, Staring At The Rude Boys and the classic In A Rut through to the brand new Counterculture? album. The Academy 2 was the perfect setting for Ruts DC, the low ceiling, and shallow stage induces a feeling of intimacy that suits a three-piece band. At the rear of set hangs a large Ruts DC back-drop, the familiar triangle containing images from the brand-new Counterculture? album, neatly bringing everything up to date.

And that is the starting point, semi-industrial pulses shudder through the PA as Faces In The Sky erupts, Segs bass at once immediately recognisable, to his left Leigh Heggarty ramps up the tension thrashing his trust black Les Paul, whilst Ruffy maintains a propulsive beat, before with barely a moment to pause they launch into the iconic S.U.S which sends the eager crowd into early mosh pit action. Segs, as ever smartly presented in a casual dark suit topped with a trilby has to be one of the finest bass players around, match this with Ruffy’s precision drumming and you surely have one of the most effective rhythm sections, this then allows the equally smartly presented (and near local born, well Birkenhead) Heggarty to provide the visceral energy that signifies Ruts DC. They continue with You’re Just A, and It Was Cold, both from the The Crack album, despite being released way back in 1979 these songs retain an urgency, the crowd are slamming into each other, punching the air, Segs and Leigh pinball the stage, clearly enjoying every moment, before ever so slightly reducing the pace with superb new track X-Ray Joy which is laced with a gorgeous melody and harmonised vocals.

Personal favourite Kill The Pain precedes West One (Shine On Me), Ruts DC are fully in their stride, decades separate these tracks, yet they perfectly compliment each other, this due to the level of musical dexterity of the band, they easily transcend the casual ‘punk band’ tag – there is way too much going on in these songs to be so easily dismissed. Counterculture? is taut, a tight, solid beat drives it forward, the crowd again respond as Segs clipped questioning vocal demands “What happened to the Counterculture? The dreams they sold yer, the lies they told yer?” Segs took the opportunity to remind us of the UKs current bleak outlook then instructed that Music Must Destroy before pouring petrol on the flames with Something That I Said.
The classic In A Rut was segued with Hawkwind’s Silver Machine, PIL’s Public Image and Dr. Feelgood’s Roxette as Segs took the opportunity to bid fond farewells to the recently passed Nik Turner, Keith Levene and Wilko Johnson, ahead of set closer Babylon’s Burning.

We all know there is more to come, and as Ruffy leads his friends and band mates onto stage he takes time to thank everyone for coming, wisely opening with the mid-paced Pretty Lunatics which is drenched in an almost West Coast psychedelic vibe and has some of the bands finest vocal harmonies, ahead of the full on assault that is Staring At The Rude Boys and the nagging Psychic Attack.

I have seen both The Ruts and Ruts DC many times, I doubt they’ve ever sounded better and on the evidence of Counterculture hopefully there is yet more to come in the next few years.

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Ruts D.C – Academy, Liverpool – live review
Pics: Phil Newall

Source: louderthanwar.com