I was only nine when The Ruts singer Malcolm Owen tragically overdosed in 1980 aged 26. As such I was far too young to see the original band in their heyday. Ruts DC formed in the aftermath of Owen’s death would also split up before I was of gig going age. However, as my own musical odyssey started, I became aware of The Ruts through their touring connection to my (still) favourite band, The Damned. ‘Babylon’s Burning’ soon became a frequent choice on my pre going out setlist with its police siren intro signaling the start of many a boisterous night out.

Since Dave Ruffy and Segs reformed Ruts DC, I’ve been fortunate to catch the band a good number of times and each time has been a treat. With a new album in tow, would the band match the energy of those previous shows?

Starting the night is TV Smith, another alumni of The Damned support brigade from his days in The Adverts. In recent times, I’ve seen TV Smith both solo and with a full band, most recently at The Damned reunion shows where he performed all of the first Adverts album. That was a stunning run through a classic album although the inter song chat was kept to a minimum. Tonight, TV is in a more talkative mood introducing a variety of songs from across his career. The lack of a backing band does not change the performance in the slightest as he moves across the stage kicking his feet in the air as if still in his twenties.

TV Smith - May 23 Staples such as ‘Expensive Being Poor’ and ‘Immortal Rich’ are interspersed with brand new songs ‘Blank Screens’ and ‘One Minute to Midnight’ which retain TV’s gift for lyrical content. Finishing with the always welcome ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’ and ‘One Chord Wonders’, TV demonstrates why he has remained so popular on the scene with his consummate performances.

TV Smith - May 23

By the time Ruts DC arrive on the stage the venue is reaching capacity, such is the draw of the band and their live reputation. Leigh on guitar is now an integral part of the band more than complimenting the original members. He is clearly still having too much fun in the band as he takes centre stage with his rumbustious guitar licks. Ruffy and Segs have been playing together for other 40 years and the respect is clear to see as their muscular rhythm section rumbles through the room. Equally when Segs and Leigh swap instruments for one song, you can tell how much this band enjoy playing with each other.

Ruts DC - May 23 Starting with ‘Faces in the Sky’ from the latest album, the band show that they have not lost their ability to write a cracking song. Going back to The Ruts catalogue, the band play a storming ‘SUS’, ‘You’re Just A…’ (appropriately dedicated to any politician you can think off)  and ‘It Was Cold’. The first Ruts DC album ‘Animal Now’ is often overlooked in comparison to their post reformation material, but tonight we get good renditions of ‘No Time to Kill’ and ‘Despondency’.

Ruts DC - May 23 There is a good splattering of tracks from the new album ‘Counterculture’ in the set tonight with the title track, ‘Born innocent’ and ‘Poison Games’ being highlights. The latter song could be a soundtrack to one of those 1960’s spy shows in the vain of The Persuaders or Department S, and is fast becoming an earworm. ‘Jah War’ reminds you of the band’s reggae influences although sadly there is nothing from the excellent ‘Rhythm Collision’ albums tonight.

Ruts DC - May 23 The intro to ‘Something That I Said’ starts up and we back into The Ruts territory. The crowd has been enjoying themselves up to this point, but this is where the middle of the room erupts. Followed by an excellent extended version of ‘In A Rut’ with its massive chugging bass line and ‘Babylon’s Burning’ the band finish on a high.

Returning to the stage the band run through the more laid back and almost psychedelic (echoing the lights that have covered Leigh in colourful polka dots all evening) ‘Pretty Lunatics’. ‘Staring at the Rude Boys’ has the crowd bouncing around again and is urgent as ever with its cry of ‘Never surrender’ and ‘Psychic Attack’ is a fitting end to a decent length set that covered a good part of both bands’ careers.

Ruts DC - May 23

In an age where a number of the original punk bands are close to hanging up their instruments for good, it is still inspiring to see some of the old guard continue to produce and perform exciting new material that is appreciated by the fanbase. Both TV Smith and Ruts DC fall into this bracket and long may they continue to do so.

Ruts DC - May 23