If It Bleeds... - 'Anarchy in the UK'

If It Bleeds...
The self proclaimed, 'band that takes the tree out of country'.
If It Bleeds... were a London-based, thrash-country duo (briefly a trio later on). They existed from 1989 to 1991 and have no connection with the noughties US metal band of the same name.
Colette Kase (vocals and occasional trumpet) and Steve North (guitar, Powered Ukulele - or PUKE - and vocals). They were sometimes known as Col Slaw and Steve Salad.
In many way, If It Bleeds were Anti-Folk. Think of the Mouldy Peaches: 'Downloading Porn with Davo' and 'Who's got the crack?' and even the White Stripes (Led Zeppelin delta blues duo, with a punk/DIY attitude and no bass!).
After their early confidence, they band eventually struggled with a sense of identify and purpose. Their country version of 'Anarchy in the UK' is a good example. The band's spoken intention was perhaps to show how quickly radical statements (such as this song) are reabsorbed into the cultural mainstream, becoming meaningless anthems. However, this backfired on the band when thirty something punk couples enthusiastically pogoed and sang along to 'Anarchy', seemingly unaware of Colette's ironic, eye-rolling 'yehas!' and mock serious-face singing.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• If it Bleeds
• 1980s
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• Steve North
• Colette Kase
• David Dressing
• post-punk
• British
• English London
• indie rock
• the tofu twins
• jane tapes
• Steve and Juice
• Lethal Poor
• Star search
• antifolk