TV Smith and The Bored Teenagers + Cyanide Pills at The Wurlitzer Ballroom, Madrid, Spain on 12 April 2024.
I first heard The Adverts back in 1976 or 1977, probably on the John Peel show on the radio in the U.K. It was most likely one of the early singles, either ‘Safety In Numbers’ or ‘No Time To Be 21’. I distinctly remember buying ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’ as a single when it first came out. Their first album, ‘Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts’ was one of my faves back in the day and still remains one of my all-time punk favourites today, getting regular spins on the turntable.
It’s not often that you get to hear these songs played by a full band nowadays, so I jumped at the opportunity to go for a short trip to Madrid to see TV Smith and the Bored Teenagers live for the second time in 2024.
I managed to catch up with Tim (TV) for a brief chat before he went on stage and to talk about his upcoming solo show at the Ancienne Fée Verte in Anlier, Belgium.
First band up were the Cyanide Pills who I had heard many good things about, and they did not disappoint. Their influences are pretty obvious, including the onstage mannerisms of the bass player (à la Sid Vicious), and their songs are very much in the style of the classic 70s punk bands. However, they do what they do very well and were great fun to watch. Would definitely see them again.
Once the Bored Teenagers hit the stage, it was a nonstop onslaught of classic song after classic song, as they raced through a set of both Adverts and TV Smith numbers, almost without stopping for breath. The guys from Spain who make up the Bored Teenagers were as tight as a duck’s arse. I’ve seen drummer Stefan many times live, as he also plays for the U.K. Subs. A great gig and definitely worth the trip to Madrid for.
