THE CARDIACS / KING PRAWN
Highbury Garage, London Friday, March 19, 1999
James Sherry, Kerrang Magazine issue 745
THE CARDIACS have been playing their oddball punk pop music in and around the UK since 1978 and have, unsurprisingly, picked up a devoted following. It’s like a secret club: you’ll very rarely see The Cardiacs mentioned in the media, but you can guarantee that their gigs will be crammed to the hilt and met with a rabid audience reaction.
So, in all, a weird one for King Prawn – although if there was ever an audience that would appreciate the psychotic blend of ska, funk and punk that spills from the speaker cones every time they pick up their instruments, it’s this one. And sure enough, old favourites like ‘Poison In The Air’ and ‘Not Your Punk’ sit side by side with new songs ‘Someone To Hate’ and ‘No Peace’ and are lapped up willingly by the secret Cardiacs club.
Maybe it’s the insane look in Babar Luck’s eyes as he hammers the message home with his bass, or the way singer Al Farabi Rumjen spits fire into his mike. Either way, King Prawn have found a few new fans for their mixed up punk brew with this showing.
Tonight, though, belongs to brothers Tim and Jim Smith, better known as The Cardiacs. While undoubtedly an aquired taste, The Cardiacs in 1999 are almost like an English version of Canadian hardcore weirdos NoMeansNo – all off-beat rhythms and power-punk choruses that, by rights, should be appreciated by more than this exclusive club. Spread the word.
JAMES SHERRY