The Jaguar Coventry 24th May 2008.

Another Saturday night, and another strange venue, in Coventry, for a band to play. This time it’s punk band Betty Swollocks, playing at the Jaguar pub, renown in the past for a venue to hit, before moving on to a night club. Tonight was no exception, with the pub filling up with clubbers and a group of girls dressed as Bunnies. The DJ pumped out all the old classic cheesy tunes which everyone seemed to revel in.
So onto the band, and they were a little unsure what they had booked them selves into play. They decided to try and get what they termed as ‘the commercial songs in first’, kicking off with a Clash ditty, Should I Stay Or Should I Go…..An obvious choice, as it hit the mark and most people stayed for the 1st set at least. The band play all punk covers with the odd song thrown in that had the punk stamp added. Gangsters (the old Specials tune), was one that got the audience on their feet. Incidentally the bunny girls loved dancing to this one. A great cover tune as was another more recent cover, Chelsea Dagger (The Fratellis).
The band worked from a list of songs rather than a set list and played them in their own order, with banter between songs from front man Troy. Some may know him from the Jolly Dwarfs days (and being banned in Punk style from every M and B pub in the midlands) and then the Shady Deal more blues orientated rock, which went on to become The Betty Swollocks Blues Band. But after various line-ups they have now arrived at this Punk band which are well worth checking out.
It’s worth pointing out too, that the pub had a great lighting system and added to the atmosphere when the band played. The stage seemed very colourful with Union jacks draped over amps and a backdrop with the bands logo on. The band seemed quite colourful too with the various band t-shirts they wore and the bassist’s green Mohawk.
So if you like your old Punk tunes Clash, Pistols, Sham 69, and a few more modern ones, Green Day, Rancid, go check them out, ya won’t be disappointed….I left half way through the second set but could hear’ If The Kids Are United’ blaring out from the pub half way down the road…..

Backseat Angel.....A track from this old local Coventry band which you can read about in the photo section.