With a roster that includes such Boston street punk bands as The Dropkick Murphys and Streetdogs, it only seems fitting that Taang! should have The Business kicking around their digs also. So as we wind up our weeklong look into the depths of the Taang! roster, it's time to feed Saturdays Heroes into the player, grab a pint, round up the mates, and head out looking for trouble.
For those who don't know, The Business first raised hell on the streets of South London way back in 1979. With a career that has gone on to span 30 years, these streetwise punkers never slowed down and this 1996 release finds the blokes in fine form. Sweat-soaked, beer stained, pint-in-the-air scream-along anthems is what The Business specializes in and you'll find more than your requisite handful here. And just as importantly, the band show no signs of slowing down as they moved from young upstarts to elder statemens of working-class punk. It's no wonder bands like The Dropkick Murphys look toward The Business as inspiration.
One look at the photos and you'd be hard pressed to predict what mayhem is to follow in the grooves of the disc. Singer Mickey Fitz possesses a truly guttural set of vocal chords that spits out socially conscious rebellions with a heavy-handed cockney accent. And all that venom is lost behind the more-than-boyish cherub of a face, polo shirt, and arms that look like they couldn't threaten a girl scout. Likewise, Guitarist Steve whale, bassist/chief songwriter Mark Brennan, and drummer Mick Fairbarn each play with spit-soaked abandon but look like they're crawling off the cover of preppie Gentlemen's Quarterly not ready for a hardcore frenzy.
Don't let looks deceive you.
Like that kid in school who looked so calm and shy but really ran a meth lab in his basement, the gents of The Business may not focus so much on their image. But they sure do on their music. "Spanish Jails" kicks this frenzy off in high-tension velocity. A true fist-pounder in the classic style of some of the best of the Clash's early punk. Guitars buzz and chug and churn. The bass thuds and punishes and the skins get pounded harder than a pool hustler trying to cheat the Hell's Angels. You gotta visualize a pub for this one. Full of working class stiffs, rowdy-ing up for a football match or a gang fight. Fists are pumping. Ale is sailing through the air. Testosterone is rising. It's good. It's all good.
But the fist-pumping street punk doesn't stop there. "All Out Tonight" "Never Be Taken" and Shout it Out" are all rousing anthems of working class discontent and fury. Rocking, riffing hardcore with sneer, anger, and cynicism. Again, forget the boys appearance. One listen to the soaring chorus of "All Out Tonight" and I know I wouldn't ever want to get on these cats bad side. "You're all just hypocrites/got money on your minds/I know your name and I know your game." This is a call to class warfare of the nth degree and you better believe that each of the Oi! punks listening will be packing brass knuckles, chains, and tire irons. Stay off the streets when the Business comes to town.
"Never Be Taken" is chugging, hardcore riffery at its finest, motoring along like some cockey Ramones outtake and Sham 69 venom. "Hold your heads up high" Fitz wails above the dissonant buzzsaw guitar riffs. With it's message of pride it's clear that with The Business, the working class battles on with dignity, intelligence, anger and wit. Inspirational in it's intent and execution. If I'd been a working class yob in London, this song would've rallied me to storm the palace.
In addition to the original album, licensed from Link Music, Taang! throws 5 bonus cuts into the mix including the revved up cockney gang fight "Hurry Up Harry", the moderately sedate, melodic neighborhood observation of "Get Out of My House", the gunfight in a bottle "Outlaw" and the original version of "All Out Tonight." Plenty of Oi! for your money.
While never as popular as the Sex Pistols, the Clash, or Sham 69, The Business do what they do amazingly well and just may be one of the most overlooked punk bands of the Oi! movement.
--Racer
Buy here: Saturday's Heroes
Buy here live: Saturdays Heroes (Live And Loud)
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