Sort it Out Tour

Sounds Weekly UK Music paper 25 November 1978

The Clash

Middlesborough

PERSPECTIVE. THE Clash are heroes (but not mine).

They are the market leaders (see album chart). They are sorely harassed people (whose dealings with big business have been as unhappy as their political stance must have led them to expect). Unlike most bands they mean a lot more than any review of a gig is about to relate —for instance the fact that they pull out date at a students-only college venue is more important than if they did it and played the most-storming set of their lives. So in a certain sense this proficient night of Clash-rocking in Middlesbrough felt a bit anti-climactic.

They began with 'Safe European Home' and with a sound almost perfectly clear (bass and drums for structure, vocals for lead line, rough edge of guitars mixed very low) they proceeded to drive hard through 'I Fought The Law', 'Jail Guitar Doors', 'Drug Stabbing Time' and 'CityOfTheDead'.

Momentum was high but the landscape rather featureless and I find myself seeking the something extra they had to have by watching Joe Strummer:

shoulders hunched like Rocky Marciano's as he clasped the mike in both hands, a remarkable man all right among the punk archetypes.

Oddly enough l would say this first third of the set was excellent but not satisfying. It was only with 'English Civil War' and 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' that they began to get to grips with the songs and the crowd and make the evening something more than an event.

Jones did another of his enjoyable Cockney-charm vocals on 'Stay Free', the lightest piece they played, and the closing minutes were studded with their best numbers and most powerful communications. 'Police And Thieves' always was different, but now it's been given startling acres of space in which there is both a threatening tension and the freedom for Mick to play a solo combines his usual restraint with some impact (it's one thing not being self-indulgent and another being so minimal you say nothing). 'Capital Radio' blasted out that old-time punk energy in the set's most vigorous and fitting moments.

It was a good concert. Very. nice in fact and I'm not grinding about that. Middlesborough Town Hall is the best medium sized rock venue I've seen and everything was thoughtfully handled. There was no punk paranoia from the stewards and it was pleasant to see a good time being allowed to happen.

If this sounds tepid I can only suggest that perhaps there was no way the electrifying presence of The Clash in their first year could be sustained, simply because they are no longer a surprise. The band and the movement couldn't keep on running trailers for the revolution without ever being able to show the film.

But I'm sure their progress as charted by 'Give 'Em Enough Rope' and their present tour is based on some cool and constructed self-assessment. More content. More music. A communication less wild but hopefully deeper. They are shit kickers. And there are plenty of shits around to kick.

Power to them.

Phil Sutcliffe

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Safe European Home I Fought the Law Jail Guitar Doors Drug Stabbing Time City of the Dead Clash City Rockers Julies in Drug Squad Cheapskates English Civil War White Man Stay Free Guns on the Roof Police and Thieves Tommy Gun Capital Radio Janie Jones Garageland 1-2 Got a Crush on You Complete Control White Riot

Julies Been working for the Drug Squad

Tour Notes & Clippings

Sounds Review Phil Sutcliffe

Any further info / reviews appreciated

These dates have changed and reflect A Riot of Our Own, the NME and tape details. Belfast was the first night, Dublin the day after, a day off in London before Paris. The remaining dates fit around the Belgium tape and A Riot of Our Own. Several French dates are missing after Paris
Oct 13		Belfast, University SU, Queens Hall
		Johnny Green (A Riot of Our Own p106) states this was the opening of the tour. Date from NME gig review.
Oct 14		Top Hat, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
		with Berlin
Oct 16		Le Stadium, Paris
		Johnny Greens book states this was Le Palace (Le Palace is the promotion company for many French gigs). As the poster says, its the 16th October at Le Stadium.
Oct 20		The Stokvishal, Arnhem, Holland
		I went a concert of The Clash at the Stokvishal in Arnhem (Holland) on friday, October 20 1978. I don't know for sure if my agenda is completely right, but it seems right. The Stokvishal was a great place at this time, it was an old factory hall based on the, during the Arnhem battle of 1945, completely distroyed  area close to the Arhem bridge. Other concerts I visited at that time at the Stokvishal: Iggy Pop, Cure, Only Ones, Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Specials, Madness, Theatre of Hate...
Oct 21		"Le Home" Cinema, Lewen, Nr Liege, Belgium
		Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests a Belgium gig at Leuven just outside Brussels, following a drive up from Paris. Some suggestion that this gig followed the Brussels gig. 400 people there.
Oct 22		Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
		some tapes have this labeled the 30th. The recording (Joe) I.D.'s the venue as Brussels but Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests the Begium date of the 22nd was Leuven just outside Brussels. Around 1500 people at the gig.
Oct 23		The Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland.
		both these last two gig are noted on p110 of A Riot of Our Own.
Oct 25		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
		Postponed on the 9th September, resheduled date of September 25th postponed and also further resheduled date of 14th October postponed. New GLC restrictions limited tickets to 900, so a second night scheduled for the other 700. Whirlwind supported. I do not know about the 26.10.78. Free t-shirts (Tommy Gun) given to audience for being messed around previously. I have two. Colin
Oct 26		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
Nov 9		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
		cancelled? (NME 7 Oct 78)
Nov 10		Winter Gardens, Malvern
		cancelled?
Nov 12?		Canterbury Odeon
		A Riot of Our Own pg124
Nov 14		Locarno, Coventry
		cancelled?
Nov 15		Belle Vue, Manchester
Nov 16		Odeon, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov 17		Town Hall, Middlesborough
Nov 18		Leeds University
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 19		Top Rank, Sheffield
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 20		De Montfort, Leicester
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 21		Locarno, Bristol
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 22		Birmingham Odeon
		cancelled?
Nov 22		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
Nov 23		Ipswich Gaumont
		cancelled?
Nov 23		Apollo, Manchester
Nov 24		Kings Hall, Derby
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 26		Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
Nov 27		University, Exeter
Nov 28		Tiffany’s, Coventry
		Melody Maker lists this as the Locarno at Coventry? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Tiffany's Gig
Nov 29		Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke
		the 29th November '78 wasn't the Stoke Mandeville concert. '78 was with the Slits, was more rock, less anarchic, better musically, but I was a bit disappointed all the same (that isn't to say it was a bad concert, but compared to the first..). We weren't allowed backstage after the concert. Joe insisted that everyone got in for £2,25 whether they were advance sales or not, threatening not to play otherwise. (1) the gig line up was the clash slits and the innocents, viv and the rest of the slits came into the crowd to watch the clash autographs were given, when the clash arrived for the sound check, they also signed loads of stuff for the group of fans at the back door, which included me 14 years old and a clash fan then (2 nacro_killer) "During the drum intro for Tommy Gun, Topper hit himself in the eye with a drumstick, so joe shouted "tommy gun!, with one eye!" (Tim) I was at the same gig, had an amazing night, fist of all Topper was playing so maically his drum stick snapped in half and I managed to get the top half that flew off...and then after the gig me and my mates managed to get in the dressing room, sitting on the floor with the band talking, they all signed my Sort It Out Tour poster, unbelievable! (Shaun)
Nov 30		Wirrina Stadium, Peterborough
Dec 2		Polytechnic, Newcastle
		last night of the tour according to A Riot of Our Own pg 125 and it definately took place. It is listed on adverts in the music press as a late date for the Tour.
Dec 4		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too. A Riot of Our Own pg123
Dec 5		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too
Dec 6		University, Liverpool
??????		Brighton Top Rank
		I saw the Clash at the Brighton top Rank in '78 or possibly the first half of '79, can't see it listed anywhere, anyone else remember it? It was well before London Calling, they opened with English Civil War, I remember it cos Topper let me and some other kids in the side door as you were sposed to be 21 to get in and the bouncers weren't having any of it! I was 16 at the time I'm pretty sure, still at school anyway and i left in '79. I'd love to know the date of the gig.
Dec 12		Pavillion Bath
		This gig definately took place. Thx for info.
Dec 17		Portsmouth Locarno
Dec 18		Tiffany’s, Purley
		[originally anounced as Purley Locarno] supported by the Slits - snowed heavily. A large cheesy nightclub in South London. Supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Dec 19		Music Machine, London
		...Sid Vicious Defence Fund benefit. Also supported by Phil Rambow and Friends.
Dec 20		Civic Hall Wolverhampton?
Dec 21		Hastings Pier Pavillion
Dec 22		Friars, Aylesbury
		On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Friars Xmas Party featuring The Clash
Dec 28		Lyceum, London
Dec 29		Lyceum, London
Jan 3		Lyceum, London
		This gig may have been the 31 December? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes this Lyceum gig