Different class

Here's another gig review from City Fun, thanks to the wonderful City Fun Exhibition at the Manchester District Music Archive.  This one, from the Factory Club in Hulme in 1979, one sees The Distractions supporting and out-shining Any Trouble and a Scottish group at the top of the bill called Simple Minds. 

As Mick Middles said in Factory: The Story of the Record Label, "...The Distractions bopped along with unnerving ease, their support spots at the Factory attracting as many punters as, say, top-of-the-bill Simple Minds."  Dave McCullough in Sounds, June 1979, recalls: "That gig at The Factory was indeed arranged through Tony Wilson, Factory owner and local media personality star, for MY benefit, The Distractions being slotted in at the last moment between support bands and the headlining Simple Minds."

THE DISTRACTIONS:  At the Factory, an excellent set. Classic trash guitar sound and red and blue lights flashing from behind the band. Reminding me of early Velvet Underground, I'm just glad I'm at the gig and nowhere else. Looking ultra smart they have a cut only to be found in the best bands. This band gets better each time they play. Leaves me breathless.

ANY TROUBLE:  On after The Distractions, slow ponderous R'n'B influenced. Make no impression at all.

SIMPLE MINDS:  On after Any Trouble. It's a bad night for these two bands - The Distractions were in a different class - sounds like clever new music and that sounds stale. Not impressed.

Elsewhere in the City Fun Exhibition is this Acute Music flier which reads 'The Distractions supporting the Leveller at Mcr Poly' (the Leveller may have been Justin Sullivan, front man of New Model Army).  It's from the first issue of City Fun which was described as a Distractions special.