Snobs
your uncle
24 Jul 2000
The Regulars took an alarming step towards mainstream respectability on Saturday night as the first ever nightclub playing of Lie down and fight failed miserably to clear the dancefloor.
With a little help from their friends, the band's debut single was given a spin by DJ Dave Southam during his 'Melt' slot at the popular Birmingham club Snobs - prompting Pete to describe the evening as "the weirdest night of my entire life".
This unlikely airing for the Regs' magnum opus came about from the friendship between Dave and Pete's mates Kerrie O'Shea and Liz Thompson. Liz explained: "The thought occurred that Dave would probably play the single when it came out. So I asked him if he'd mind maybe playing it at the start or end of the night and he was like, 'If you bring it in I'll play it whenever you like - I don't care if it clears the floor.'"
Anticipating precisely this effect, four members of the band proceeded to Snobs on Saturday (Pete and Stu having first watched fellow Bearos Records band Baxxter at the Jug of Ale, followed by a spectacular, Spiritualized-esque set from the indie-delic Cumulus). The result, however, was quite the opposite.
Kerrie described it thus: "It was such a pleasant surprise when the single kicked in and indie kids, students and townies alike decided to stay and groove along. From the dancefloor we could see The Regulars, Pete in particular, looking on, bewildered and incredulous while the crowd danced away."
As Chopper's guitar solo kicked in, two townie blokes with tucked-in shirts were moved to groove in the style of Bez out of The Happy Mondays, only on a surfboard, and Pete's jaw slackened still further.
Kerrie continued: "It was heartening to see that an indie pop song with ace guitar playing and meaningful lyrics didn’t scare ‘em all off.
"Hearing the lyrical pop anthem that is Lie down and fight in Snobs was surreal and memorable. It sounded really good at that extra-loud volume and I found it was a fantastic track to dance to - I can see how Pete can get so into it on stage."
Dave followed up his courageous blow for slack-arse guitar pop music with The Smiths' 'This charming man' - "an inspired choice", as Kerrie put it, but surely not one that implies similarities between the two bands.
Liz described Lie down's appearance at Snobs as "unbelievable", adding: "When it was over I wanted to (a) hug everyone; (b) batter my liver into extinction. I didn't quite manage the former but I excelled at the latter."
Lie down and fight is out now on Bearos Records. To get hold of a copy see our buyer's guide
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