Duncan Reid And The Big Heads - Singing with the Beach Boys

  

  I'm sure you're all familiar with Duncan Reid? After arriving in London back in 1976 as a 17 year old he was swallowed by the emerging punk scene and has been involved in it ever since. As an original member of The Boys he was partly responsible for some of the genres most beloved songs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WumQS4TKKcs) and for the last dozen or so years he's been pleasing crowds all over the world with his own band, Duncan Reid And The Big Heads (https://www.facebook.com/DuncanReidTheBigHeads).

  But change is in the air. After being asked by a friend if he might be autistic, he was assessed and found out that indeed he is. Things suddenly made sense. After a lifetime of asking why the world's so mad, he came to the realisation that maybe it's him that's different. After a lifetime of "singing the same words as everyone else but to a different tune" he realises he no longer needs to hide away from the real world in "the inner world of music." So he's decided to call it a day.

  There'll be a final gig on October 7th at London's Lexington and the band have just released a final album (their 5th). It's titled And It's Goodbye From Him and unsurprisingly it's a fitting farewell. 13 catchy tunes about the state of Duncan's mind, the state of the nation during lockdown and becoming a grandad... You can listen to it on Spotify :   https://open.spotify.com/album/23jKZaH6jeIxHmnH3R0crw or buy it here :   https://duncanreidandthebigheads.com/product-category/records/and-its-goodbye-from-him/

  This is the album's closing track, it's "a poignant ache of a father leaving his son following marital separation but celebrating a connection found that they both love to sing Beach Boys songs at full pelt in the car." It's called Singing With The Beach Boys...

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads - First time (Live at Akkurat)

    

  Something of a classic for you today... 

  Hopefully you all know Duncan Reid, he was determined to make it as a footballer until he reached the age of 13 and discovered an old bass guitar in his dad's cupboard. A sliding door moment that changed his life and enriched ours. In 1976 he joined up with (ex London SS singer/guitarist) Matt Dangerfield, (ex Hollywood Brats keyboard player) Casino Steel, (guitarist) Honest John Plain and (drummer) Jack Black to form one of the eras best power pop/pop punk bands. They were of course The Boys. 

  After 35 years (on and off) he left the band during a tour of Japan and after releasing a solo album (Little Big Head) started using the name Duncan Reid And The Big Heads (https://www.facebook.com/groups/182913282466616) and continued putting out catchy as hell songs (this being one of his best : https://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2020/05/duncan-reid-and-big-heads-to-live-or.html). 

  

  On April 23rd they'll be releasing a rather tasty live album. Recorded on 20 May 2018 at Restaurang Akkurat, Stockholm, by Jonathan Sandberg it'll serve as a reminder of what we've been missing during the last year in lockdown. Titled Live At Akkurat it's up for pre order here :  https://duncanreidandthebigheads.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-akkurat 

  The line up for the gig was Duncan Reid (Lead Vocals/Bass/Keys), Sophie Powers (Guitar/BVs/Keys), Nick Hughes (Guitar/BVs) & Karen Jones (Drums). On the evidence of the teaser track posted on Bandcamp and the video you'll find below, it's going to be just that little bit special so make sure you check it out. 

  Originally featuring on the 1977 debut album, The Boys and also released as a chart bothering single, this is the song that brings Live At Akkurat to a joyful climax (pretty apt given that it's about losing ones virginity!). It's called First Time... 

Duncan Reid And The Big Heads - To Live Or Live Not (Guest Review By Mike Patton)

  Vista Blue (https://www.facebook.com/wearevistablue/) frontman Mike Patton is certainly no stranger to this blog and if anyone should recognise a great power pop/pop punk tune when he hears it it's him so when I noticed him praising a new song he'd stumbled across I quickly pounced and asked him to share his thoughts with you guys.

  Cheers Mike...

  Duncan Reid is an original member of The Boys, so you'd expect to hear good songs from his current project, Duncan Reid and the Big Heads. But it goes even further than that. The band's new album, Don't Blame Yourself, is a collection of hooky songs that allows the pop in their pop punk to really shine.

https://duncanreidandthebigheads.bandcamp.com/album/dont-blame-yourself

The single "To Live or Live Not" is a power pop gem. It's starts simply enough, following a quick intro with a palm-muted verse and a catchy riff. But then some jangly guitars enter before the chorus explodes into wonderful three-part harmony. The middle of the song breaks down, as the band "oohs" over some synth and kick drum, but the chorus comes right back again, taking us to the end of the song. It's a fast 3:25, and you'll be playing it again as soon as it's over.

This is my introduction to this band, which has the two main ingredients that I look for in power pop and pop punk: melody and harmony. In this case, the production is slick, the melody is super catchy, and the harmonies are tight.

As a bonus, the video is very fun as well, showing the band members doing their best to have fun during the current quarantine we're all experiencing. There are shots on back patios, solo performances on park benches, and even toilet paper rolls transformed into drums. And if you weren't tapping your toes to the song already, you'll definitely be dancing along when you see the energy these guys and girls have, even while social distancing.

Thanks to Mick for allowing me to share my thoughts here, and thanks to Duncan Reid and the Big Heads for writing a killer song and album. You've got a new fan!

This is To Live Or Live Not...

Gonna rent my house out to a stranger
Gonna let them treat it like their own
Gonna move abroad and try some danger
Gonna try a taste of the unknown

I’ve spent my whole life being safe and steady
Now it's time to roll the dice

To live or live not
That is the question
To Love or love not
Before my times up
To lose the whole plot
Let's skip confession
To Sin or sin not
I've made my mind up

Gonna catch the first plane to Caracas
Why go somewhere that’s far too safe
Gonna find a girl who plays maracas
Gonna ask her out with all her mates

And we'll go dancing till the sun comes up
Sleep all day then start again

To live or live not
Start the ignition
To give all I've got
Let's seize the day
Let's stop the rot
C-carpe diem
To Dare or dare not
That's what I say