Fellowship of the SkinheadsAdolescent angst and groupthink fuel England’s gripping tale by Phillip Valys, Entertainment Writer
As a coming-of-age autobiography set in a dreary, bucolic North England town circa 1983, British director Shane Meadows could’ve stomped down that well-traveled road of highfalutin political commentary about the poor and huddled masses and the ennui of misguided youth. We know that story already.
Thankfully, Meadows gives us something better: the skinhead subculture.
This is England centers on a loose-cannon boy, Shaun, (Thomas Turgoose) still anguished by his father’s death in the Falklands War. Shaun meets a ragtag gang of teens led by gangly Woody (Joseph Gilgun). The unsupervised youth’s eclectic fashion (sheepskin hats, floral nightgowns and swimming goggles) varies, but their political predispositions are the same: a mutual hatred of Pakistani immigrants cornering the job market. They’ll plow through deserted ghost towns armed with tire irons and hammers, vandalizing abandoned homes – they just won’t attack anyone.
Shaun’s desperate yearning for a close-knit family and camaraderie among the Skins make it easy to forget the trappings of peer pressure and groupthink, especially when he’s whisked to National Front meetings by ex-con Combo (eerily-acted by Stephen Graham). It’s no wonder Shaun needs guidance; otherwise, he’s liable to entangle himself with the racial-fueled rages of his scrappy mentors.
England brutally captures the reeds swaying lazily, the perpetually gray overcast skies, cracked rubble along the beach, the abandoned homes sprayed with graffiti and other milieu characteristic of a despairing working-class town.
England rounds out its powerful and compelling commentary on the dangers of influence with excellent performances by all.
England screens all next week beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Cinema Paradiso (503 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale).
Respectable Street 20th Anniversary Review Local rift-raft and roustabouts gather for drinks and musicby Karsten Anderson. Staff Writer
A Hundred punk rockers of all shapes and sizes converged on Clematis Street Saturday night to celebrate 20 years of West Palm Beach’s longest running Alternative rock venue: Respectable Street Cafí©.
To be able to cover all the bands performing proved to be a logistical nightmare, there were 20 bands and 4 venues. Here are some of the highlights and more importantly the lowlights of the bands I did catch.
I arrived just as local emo-core favorites Upper Class Trash were finishing their set on the main stage. I’ll be honest, the ‘Trash played a very tight set considering they were performing outside on a flat bed truck. The up tempo catchy songs were a perfect soundtrack to wait in line for free pizza.
After hearing so much about the Respectables, I had to see what all the hub-bub was about. I finally got to the entrance and realized why there was such a long line to get in the place: free drinks till 10.
Indie rock quartet Summer Blanket started jamming. It was my first time seeing this band and I was pleasantly surprised. Mid tempo rhythms and soft melodies made way for dense post rock buildups and breakdowns. The band created a soothing, chill atmosphere for those fighting each other for bartender attention. Thanks, Summer Blanket!
I made sure to catch Pots n Pans. As I was watching them set up, I was trying to guess what genre of music they played. Then, once they plugged in, it hit me like a ton of bricks: Retro rockabilly with a hint of surf rock, whodathunkit?
I thought the band was great, even though their performance was a little sloppy. But being crammed in the corner of the Lounge, squeezed on top of 50 other sweaty people, it was just natural. Now, if they would only change their name.
After freeing myself from the human sardine package, AKA the Lounge, and wandered over to O’Shea’s Irish Pub. They had what seemed to be a Pearl Jam/ Stone Temple Pilots cover band playing inside all night. I had one foot out the door when a friend of mine told me that bands were playing on the patio and informed they had the cheapest drinks on the strip.
The Creepy T’s were setting up for what seemed like an eternity out on the patio. I got the feeling somebody was taking advantage of the cheap drinks O’Shea’s had to offer. Finally they started their set, I know punk rock is supposed to be raw, but they weren’t even getting into it. The band’s picnic blanket patterned pants and cheesy 80’s sunglasses were the best they had to offer.
Thankfully, out on the main stage, Orlando indie/folk rock up and comers Band Marino were rocking out. Keep your eyes peeled for these guys in the future because I have a feeling they could easily be the next Decemberists.
Back at Respectable Street, Zombies! Organize!! easily put on the most entertaining set of the evening. The electro/pop/rap trio put on an amazing show with their catchy keyboard arrangements and quirky lyrics. Zombies! had an impeccable stage presence and awesome crowd control; Hands down the best band of the night. I would highly advise catching these guys live the next time they play.
Another unfortunate circumstance was Big Bang Radio, who played at the patio around 12 pm. I wasn’t impressed. They played a tight set, but the music was just your run-of-the-mill predictable alternative rock.
