From the Combat Room at Leith Community Centre (see above) to Leeds Futurama in 1980, the Hammersmith Palais and Clouds, via the Nite Club.

Boots for Dancing cut a swathe through the post punk scene like nobody else with their unique sound of punk funk. “One of the few bands that can make me dance” John Peel said and they did 3 more sessions at his request.

Until fairly recently they were a footnote, but not forgotten. Lost in the focus on Scotland’s Fast v Postcard. With only 3 vinyl singles to speak of their contribution was largely forgotten too with the exception of those prescient enough to retain copies in their vinyl collection. Along the way there were cherished memories of gigs where they challenged the audience to dance, succeeding too everywhere they went. Aye a fond memory of fun times.

When they played the Futurama Festival in Leeds their impact was such that Sheffield band Vice Versa went home changed their musical direction and name going on to become ABC. Lead singer Martin Fry even nicked ‘Dancing’ Dave Carson’s sharp look of Gold Sequin jacket for their Lexicon of Love album cover. Footage of a song by Boots at Futurama can be found somewhere on Yo utube with Dave shimmering in gold lame.

Supporting Talking Heads along with U2 at Hammersmith ‘Dancing’ Dave Carson’s on stage white suit look was noted by David Byrne for future use. This stage style was an integral part of the band’s approach which acknowledged the crowd and saw them as part of their live act.

This is why the call and response of the band’s name at gigs worked. This band wanted you to enjoy yourself. They wanted you to dance. They left nothing behind in the energy they brought to the stage. They played youth clubs so that ‘the youth’ could see what live music could do in direct contrast to the pampered preening of Top of the Pops.

Meantime in Pathhead the youth responded by rioting. They played benefit gigs. They burned brightly and, then after 2 years, they were gone.

All of this remained a distant memory, even for some former band members, until Euan Fryer of local hip record label Athens of the North heard a ‘Boots’ track, and found himself astonished that this was a local band new to him. And he determined to find tracks by the band.

The sleeve notes proclaimed ‘Athens of the North is proud to present the album-that-never-was, that surely would have made them as thrilling and kinetic as the day it was recorded’. The proof of that claim is the limited run album is sold out, only available now on download. In support of the album, Boots for Dancing Redux reformed and played some gigs.

Once again this was on their terms. They covered Slade and Alex Harvey brilliantly along with original band material including crowd pleaser the eponymous ‘Boots for Dancing’ a stick on in every set. Community commitment saw them play on stage at Leith Gala Day and they played a fundraiser for Citadel Youth Centre at the Voodoo Rooms.

They managed to get the hipsters along with a Twinset and a Rezillo dancing in St Marks Church at Pilrig when asked to play at Neu Reekie. They played at Newport and a few select other dates including a memorable night on 21st May 2016 where bassist Colin (Coco) Whitson wore his Hibs top to celebrate Hibs winning the Scottish Cup that day flouting club rules of ‘no football colours’.

And then they were gone.

The impact this revived line up had, saw Dave Carson and guitarist Mike Barclay asked to perform with the Hungry Beat band in support of the book ‘Hungry Beat’ which told the story of independent labels Fast Records and Postcard Records made in music when the doors to making music and making it on your own terms not the music industry’s terms got blown wide open by Punk.

Footage of them performing Gang of Four’s ‘Damaged Goods’ and ‘Contort Yourself’ by James White and the Blacks as part of these events has recently surfaced on Youtube. The full Glasgow gig is there online to be enjoyed. Check it out, you’ll love it.

So the news that this May Athens of the North Records will release a second album by Boots. Dance and Resist is welcome news.

Once again label supremo Euan Fryer has performed a bit of magic. Recently discovered cassette tapes of out-takes from 1980-82 supplemented by a live recording of a track played in the Combat Room at Leith Community Centre in 1980, have been engineered to create an album of 10 tracks. 8 of these tracks have not been heard before and the other 2 (Hesitate and Rain Song) are at the original recorded speed. The sound is crystal clear and show Boots for Dancing more than holding their own with any of their contemporaries whether here in the UK or the No Wave scene in New York.

Interviewed about the label by Vinyl Factory website Euan Fryer said that Undisco Kidds was the first local LP by the label.

“It’s everything I love about music, energy, This holds true for Dance and Resist as well.

Songs cover a range of topics from those supportive of Rock Against Racism. Different from You? To calling out sexism on Hold up Half the Sky, with its chorus of ‘this body is not for youth and the charming perfection of imperfect music being more than the sum of its parts’. To a percussion “rammy” version of Boots for Dancing.

Boots Redux were a tight unit but as Dance and Resist shows they were a tight unit back in the day. Dave Carson is rightly proud of the work heard here but I think that those that have only heard him recently will be surprised at how soulful he sounds here.

The album is a real revelation and cements the reputation of the band. Hopes of a live rendition are not entirely extinguished as Dave Carson and guitarist Michael Barclay have both said ‘never say never to a re-Boot’ which would be a treat for fans both old and new.

If this is the last we hear of Boots for Dancing then they can leave the stage with their heads held high and their Boots on the dance floor.

Dave reflects on his legacy: “We did something considering that we’d be releasing material 30+ years later in a very different context. I’ve joked a few times with Euan that I feel like some old blues cat sitting on my porch, and then Euan comes along like Alan Lomax and gives the music another shot late in life. I’m immensely proud that this album is finally seeing the light of day.”

Gordon Munro

Dance and Resist can be obtained on download and vinyl from Athens of the North in late June. Also available at: Good Vibes record shop 153 Constitution Street and other discerning record stores