Thee Headcoats Sect
 

Deerstalking Men – DAMGOOD265CD
Strychnine – My Dear Watson – Fog-Bound Pinhead – Troubled Times – Cowboys Are Square – Baby What’s Wrong – Why Don’t Toy Smile Now – The Witch – Squaresville – Lie Detector – Deerstalking Man – I’m A Gamekeeper

Ready Sect Go!- DAMGOOD266CD
Ain’t That Just Like Me – Down In The Bottom – I’m A King Be – Take Out Some Insurance On Me – Knight Of The Baskervilles – I’m A Lover Not A Fighte – Mean Red Spider – A Certain Girl – She’s Fine She’s Mine – I Got Love If You Want It – Ready Sect Go – I’m Ready

A recent discussion with a friend about the Rolling Stones and Sir Jagger’s birthday brought the name of  the Downliners Sect back to the map and after that it wasn’t long before we named the Headcoat Sect.
It seemed inevitable that sooner than later Billy Childish (and his band of the time thee Headcoats) would meet 60′s rhythm’n'blues misfits, Keith Grant and Don Craine of the Downliners Sect. Back in the sixties, The Downliners Sect were raw, and next to them the Rolling Stones and the Pretty Things sounded almost suave (needless to say that no one ever thought of ennobling Craine nor Grant). And though there was a generation between them they were clearly reading along the same page, like fathers and sons in a way. It was not just the hat, it was the music, the sense of humour and the attitude, both bands sharing te same agressive, rough and no-compromise approach. Together they recorded two albums in the second half of the 90′s. Each band benefited of this fruitful collaboration. Childish, Johnson and Brand brought the freshness of their youth, the right backing band (with a special nod to Johnny Johnson on harp) and a bunch of Childish originals that seemed tailored fit for the two veterans while Craine and Grant brought a touch of professionalism to the project. Thee Headcoats records often sound as if they were recorded in the kitchen on a mono/two track cheap recorder. Nothing like that here with Liam Watson’s recording who managed to capture the vibe without altering the spontaneity of the performance. Musically both act melt perfectly, Craine’s rhythm guitar and Grant’s superb fuzzy bass perfectly complementing thee Headcoats. Worth mentionning is the musical dialog on « I’m A Dearstalking Man » and « Ready Sect Go ».
The first album relies more on Childish’s classics with some covers thrown in for good measure (including two Sonics tunes) while « Ready Sect Go » contains classic blues/rhythm’n'blues covers with two Childish originals (Knight of the Baskervilles and Ready Sect Go!). Both are excellent and complimentary.

Find them on Damaged Good website.


Fred "Virgil" Turgis