This Modern love
‘MUSIC IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THE SCENE'
As scooters descend on Glasgow David Pollock checks out this year's Mod Weekender
‘ verybody has this stereotypical idea of what music a Mod has to like.. says Mikey
Collins. who runs (ilasgow clubs Friday Street and Afterglow. and is one of the driving forces behind the city‘s Mod Weekender. ‘People think you just like The Who. The Small l‘aces and The Jam. I’m not down on those hands in any way. I listen to them all and l was a massive Jam fan when I was a teenager. but I think where their musical influences came from are just as interesting. The Who were listening to John Lee Hooker and BB King when they were young. Mods see these connections. and that’s the music they buy too.
‘Then you‘ve got Tamla Motown artists like Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye. whose rarer releases we make a point of trying to track down. There‘s an element of exclusivity about music for Mods. It‘s not just about buying (‘Ds out of a shop. it‘s about working hard to try and track down the original vinyl.‘
These are the philosophies. more or less. which have defined the Mod scene since it emerged in London in the late l‘)5()s. Then. as documented by Colin Maclnnes in Absolute Beginners and noted by Collins. the Mods were 'modernists‘. modern jazz and rhytlun’n‘blues who dressed in bespoke Italian tailoring. The scene surged on through the ()(ls. spreading across the country and being adopted by the mainstream. while the Mod sound opened up to include transatlantic soul and psychedelia.
The late 70s and early 80s saw the success of
Qumlmpheniu. Northern Soul. 2-Tone and The Jam
or fans of
fuel a revival of the Mod scene. and the mid-90s popularity of bands like ()asis. ()cean (‘olour Scene and Patti Weller ensured Mod culture remained ever visible. Now. however. the style perhaps more singularly timeless than any other youth culture of recent decades. is in a state of hibernation whilst the less cultured likes of ‘new rave~ hold sway.
IIere. (‘ollins is conscious of the irony in using the word 'modernist' to refer to a follower of what is essentially a retro movement. However. he points out that (ilasgow has a particularly healthy Mod scene by the UK‘s standards. and that plenty of young blood is getting involved. In particular. Glasgow band I‘igure 5 and monthly club Iiyes Wide Open are natned as new faces to watch.
‘The music is the most important thing about the scene.’ (‘ollins says. 'and it's quite unique that you can belong to the same movement but also like wildly different types of music. but you have to have style too. The tailored suit and shirt look is much more classically Mod than a parka and a pork—pie hat. but there are no set rules. How you dress and what you listen to doesn't make you more or less of a Mod than the next person..
This diversity will be celebrated once more at the city‘s Mod Weekender. and (‘ollins expects a thousand visitors from across the country at the four- day series of DJ events. gigs and clothing and record sales. There will also be a mass ride-out of over a hundred scooters on Sunday afternoon.
Nisted Wheel and Winchester Club, Glasgow, Thu 26—Sun 29 Jun, see listings for details
LIST
Mil—ii ‘sts‘rmcrrroor ACTION
www.list.co.uklclubs
>i<
=i< After Dark Norwegian disco re-editor Todd Terje makes a guest appearance at this still-young night. Stereo, Glasgow, Sat 27 Jun.
* Subculture Boat Party From Jamaica Street to Loch Fyne and then back for Honey Dijon’s (pictured) set at the Subbie, this is all the reason you need to pray for good weather. Leaving from MacSor/ey's, Glasgow, Sat 27 Jun.
>i< Optima A top recommendation every week, made absolutely unmissable with the addition of live guests Padded Cell (22 Jun) and Cut Copy (29 Jun). The Sub Club, Glasgow, Sun 22 8. 29 Jun.
s We Are . . . Electric Gary Mac might not be around this fortnight but he’s secured some of the best stand ins around. First WAE co-founder Flix returns (22 Jun) then Druzzie (The Rapture, 2 Jul). Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Wed 25 Jun 8. 2 Jul.
* Curious Curious Another brand new night of adventure at the ever-more-credible Stereo, brought to you by the people behind Huntley and Palmer’s Audio Club and Glasgow School of Art’s Divine! Sereo, Glasgow, Fri 27 Jun.
>§= Elevation A shameless celebration of old skool raving from the Nuklear Puppy crew and friends. ‘Whistle posse in the house’ etc. etc. Ego, Edinburgh, Fri 27 Jun.
>i= Glasgow Mod Weekender Record stalls, clothes sales, a mass scooter ride-out on Sunday, and some classic soul, psych and R&B over four nights. Twisted Wheel, Glasgow, Thu 26 & Sun 29 Jun; The Winchester Club, Glasgow, Fri 27 & Sat 28 Jun. 3*: Taste Once again we revel in the fact that Taste is back for another one-off birthday celebration as the club reaches the grand old age of 14. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sun 29 Jun.
19 Jun—(3 Jul 2008 THE LIST 39