This live review from the Russell Club in Hulme - where Tony Wilson's Factory Club was held - by Steve Forster is rather more complimentary of The Distractions than Adam and the Ants. It appeared in the largely forgotten New Manchester Review.
The Distractions / Adam and the Ants
Russell Club
There are certainly no musical reasons for The Distractions distinct lack of success, they emerged when the new wave needed something newer to inject some life, and they provided it; they preceded power pop by several months, yet still don't even seem to enjoy cult status. This state of affairs surely must change soon as the band improve each time.
Fronted by the charismatic figure of Mike Finney, his distinctive vocals effectively typify the band, simple and direct with no unnecessary embellishments. They have influences, notably the Buzzcocks and even Dr Feelgood ("Sick 'n' Tired") but it becomes their own sound, and as such is one of the best.
Adam and the Ants however are strictly last year's thing. They play their punk songs well and are one of the few of their type that can play well but their material sounds very dated - a sad pointer to the way that the excitement of 1976/7 allowed itself to dissipate so quickly. The audience, made of the remnants of the leatherette P.V.C. punk nouveau, predictably lapped it up and sure the Ants played well but without the variation needed to succeed.
Steve Forster
(c) Cerysmatic Factory.
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