Irish punk-pop trio, Ash, are venturing back to Australia for the Ash Australian Tour 2013 with a blast from their past’s past, performing their iconic debut album, 1977, in its entirety along with a second set of greatest hits and b-sides. Released in 1996, the album’s title is a nod to the era in which the band members were born and the year Star Wars arrived in cinemas.
Although 1977 has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and is included in the book 1001 Albums Yoy Must Hear Before You Die, it was written, recorded and released when most of the band were just 19. 1977 is a cinematic punk-pop soundtrack to binge drinking, chasing girls, youth and frustrated pubescent idealism moulding elements of power pop, glam rock, post-grunge and britpop into a loud, melodic and exuberant sound.
The album tapped into the hearts, minds and hormones of a generation of like-minded teens who lapped up the five hit singles from the record, “Kung Fu”, “Girl From Mars”, “Angel Interceptor”, “Gold finger” and “Oh Yeah” – each of them charting in the Top 20 and earning Ash a reputation as the ultimate singles band.
Ash previously performed 1977 in its entirety at the London Roundhouse in 2008, the show sold out in record time, leading to a second show being added to the famous, London Astoria, a venue the band held a five-night residency at when 1977 was first released.
A review of the Roundhouse show in The Guardian observed “Still supple and mad for it, singer Tim Wheeler asked: “Do you feel like you’ve changed much since 1996? Because I don’t.” He hadn’t played some of these songs in a decade, he added. That was hard to believe… After such a joyous visit to the past, nothing more was necessary, but we got it anyway: they encored with a dozen random tracks, from ancient B-sides to Motown covers. It was rather too much of a good thing, but who could have begrudged them?”
2013 be will Australia’s first chance to hear 1977 performed in its entirety. It’ll be a chance for punters to re-live alcopop soaked youths during a time when Britpop ruled the airwaves and 1977’s Star Wars was about to be re-released. Oh Yeah!
Ash Australian Tour 2013
Tickets for all shows from metropolistouring.com and the venues
Tuesday 20th August 2013
Sydney – Metro Theatre
Wednesday 21st August 2013
Brisbane – Hi Fi
Thursday 22nd August 2013
Melbourne – Corner Hotel
