The Undertones at Volksfest 2010

The Undertones were the big draw for me at Volksfest and were predictably brilliant. In the programme for the event they were modestly described as specialising in 3 chord songs lasting 3 minutes. Who could ask for more? Not when they're so beautifully crafted as this.

Paul McLoone electrified the audience but, in the course of leaping around to achieve this, pulled out the lead from Michael Bradley's bass. But that's pure rock'n'roll and nobody seemed to mind, least of Mr Bradley. In fact, The Undertones come over as a bunch of mates, out on the road, having a great time playing together and making each other laugh in between the songs.

They played all our old favourites plus some of the newer songs from Get what you need, which is a cracking album.

I'd like more of this please.

It was interesting that Teenage kicks was not the encore. This honour fell to Over you, which is probably my absolute fave because I can play it on my git-argh, although not as well as the boys from Derry.

The security was a bit heavy handed though. As the band played out, Paul McLoone was obviously concerned at the way the bouncers pounced on someone who tried to get on stage and bundled him out of the packed tent.

That was the only sour note. Everything from The Undertones themselves was really sweet and they thrill us everytime.

And then we had Neville Staples and his band afterwards who were actually headlining. Bonus!