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Slow - Have Not Been The Same (1985)

So, one of my all time favourite bands is getting back together tonight for the first of several reunion shows... and I am left with mixed feelings. For a very brief stretch there, in the mid-80's, Slow was one of the greatest bands going. Some called them Rock 'N' Roll, some called them Punk, they called themselves Demolition Rock and the critics eventually called them one of the forefathers of Grunge.

What they were was hugely entertaining. And one of the cornerstones of that entertainment value was their unpredictability. When they were on, and all the pieces fell into place, they were a Juggernaut... a true sight to behold. The songs, the musicianship, the barely contained chaos, it was amazing and invigorating. When they were off, or unhappy it could be a total shit show. Just a godawful cacophony that would only end when the power was shut off and/or the police showed up. But in its own way, a still a true spectacle, almost bordering on performance art. In the long run, you can't contain that kind of energy and it was all over far too soon.

The amazing thing was that all this sturm and drang happened before anyone in the band had even reached their 21st birthday. And that's what made it possible, the complete lack of concern about "the future" or "consequences" or anything people older than 21 start deciding is important. Which is why, 30+ years later, I feel conflicted about any attempt to reanimate this monster.

Well, that's one major reason. The other is that nostalgia sucks. Maybe not all the time or for everything, but for music, especially music with one foot firmly on the punk rock side of the fence, abso-fucking-lutely. It has been said by some people in the know, there is nothing sadder than punk rock nostalgia. In my experience this is true. I discovered punk rock in reaction to the self satisfied boomers who were trying to sell me nostalgia for the 1960's, the 1970's or, god help them, the already chubby, old and Vegas-y, 1950's. Our generation could never create anything of any worth, but if we were good, we could come into the temple of Classic Rock and genuflect at the altar of someone else's heyday. No fucking thanks. That's what Punk was, a break from the past... a movement that looked forwards rather than backward. I certainly didn't want any handmedowns. I wanted my own sound... and Slow was it, and it was great and then it ended.

Now I don't want to do the opposite of the Boomers and just hoard the music of my past away... telling people they wouldn't understand, or "you had to be there". I'm for people of all ages discovering the music of the past and maybe even using that inspiration to create something new. So if you are interested, Slow's epic 1985 album, Against the Glass, has finally been re-issued (https://slow.bandcamp.com/releases) and if you are a fan of loud growly Punk Rock 'N' Roll, you should by all means buy yourself a copy. Someone stole my autographed record many years ago, so I'm going to have to get myself a new one.

I really don't want to come across as throwing shade at the guys for getting back together. Maybe someone drove a truck load of money up to their respective doors. Maybe they all found out that they really enjoyed playing music together again. Maybe they all felt they had some unfinished business. As far as I'm concerned these are all perfectly valid reasons for "getting the band back together". Regardless, it is not for me to judge. If I were in their place, I would probably jump at the chance to blow the doors off one more time.

On the other hand though, I'd have some reservations about attending a reunion show even if I were still living in Vancouver. I've seen them before and in general, they are pale imitations of the original thing. Who am I kidding though? I would love to see Slow play again. I'd love to bump elbows with all the friends I knew more than half a lifetime ago. I would revel in the sight of people who weren't even born when Slow last played a show, getting a chance to hear these guys rip through a set. But there would be one thing lurking in the back of my enjoyment, and that's the issue that the show will be, predictably, good. The Slow I remember would be just as likely to take an opportunity like this one and totally destroy it. There would be a very good possibility that things would get broken... that the band might not play a single recognizable song; or even anything recognizable as a song... that the club would get cleared and a crowd of unruly people would be unleashed onto the streets. But everyone will probably just get a nice night out, they'll hear some of their favourite old songs, get a medium buzz on, and reminisce about old times. That kind of pleasantness would never have stood back in the day.

That sounds an awful lot like nostalgia, huh? Well, fuck it... Slow was great and I'd totally go and see some or all of these reunion shows, if I had a chance. I guess, the main thing is that it's going to be different, maybe just a bit safer, and for some reason that makes me feel old.

Here’s what the local paper had to say.