Some may argue that their arrival coincided with Rave’s debut on our doorsteps, which seemed unfortunate. However, I believe it was quite beneficial.
During that era, white men were experimenting with Ecstasy, convinced of their dancing abilities. These Ecstasy enthusiasts were also under the impression that they had a deep understanding of music. Thus, The Primitives being at the center of it all was not so unlucky; in fact, it made them stand out even more.
Had they emerged during the Britpop wave, they might have been lost among countless bands aiming to blend the sounds of Blur, Oasis, and Supergrass.
However, in the heart of the 80s, they produced an indie classic titled Crash.
Returning after an 18-year hiatus, the balding crowd predominantly consists of men escaping family responsibilities, creating the oldest mosh-pit in town for Crash. Many of them wished they could partake in ‘wrecking’ for at least half of the concert, but most only managed to enjoy two or three songs in the mosh-pit… bless them.
Singer Tracy Tracy remains sultry in a sparkly catsuit, still sensuously leaning on the microphone stand and teasingly rubbing her fingers over the mic… indeed, she retains her sex appeal. To be honest, not all of their songs have withstood the test of time, but there are still plenty of catchy pop gems, including their comeback single Rattle My Cage.
While it’s unlikely they will attract a new audience beyond their original fans, this nostalgic experience is far more energetic than many other reunions.
by Wallace McTavish
