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A legendary export in Derry’s music history are The Undertones, a five-piece band that launched in 1976 when five mates (brothers John and Damian O’Neill, Feargal Sharkey, Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley) diligently practiced in their bedrooms until their first single, Teenage Kicks, was released in 1978 on Belfast label Good Vibrations.

The song got a big boost when legendary DJ John Peel played it on his BBC Radio One radio show twice in a row, declaring it a fast favourite. Peel was one of the few DJs to embrace punk rock in its early incarnation. I was lucky to have attended London Punk 40, a year-long celebration of London’s subversive music scene, in 2016, where Peel’s very own copy was on display at Punk 1976-78 at the British Library.

The Undertones soon signed with Sire Records and Teenage Kicks was re-released, resulting in the band’s first appearance on Top Of The Pops. Over the next five years, John O’Neill crafted further pop gems such as Here Comes The Summer, Jimmy Jimmy, You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It) and Wednesday Week (Damian O’Neill and Michael Bradley contributed My Perfect Cousin).

The band would go on to release 13 singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983.

[The band, (Paul McLoone in place of Feargal Sharkey) poses in front of their Derry mural]

Even though lead singer Feargal Sharkey left the band in 1983 to pursue a solo career, and the band folded, they re-emerged in 1999 with fellow Derryman Paul McLoone as lead vocalist (I saw them live in Utrecht, The Netherlands in February 2004 with the new line-up).

The Undertones released a new collection of songs on their 13-tune LP, Get What You Need, while Teenage Kicks celebrated 40 years in 2018.

Over the last 25 years since they reformed, The Undertones have toured around the world and are playing better than ever. This convinced the band that it was about time they record and release a first-ever live album.

The last time The Undertones performed in Canada was during a brief club tour in 1980 including June 27 at the El Mo in Toronto, followed by July 2 at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom, so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that they’d be playing on home turf on Valentine’s Day.

The Millennium Forum’s sold-out show included Scottish punk rockers The Rezillos (of Top of the Pops fame) and Bam Bam & The Calling.

[The Rezillos]

The Undertones’ infectious songs are filled with catchy hooks and feature recurring themes of adolescence, teenage angst, and heartbreak.

The setlist included many old classics; Jimmy Jimmy opened their one hour, 45-minute show, with a rousing encore set (ending with Get Over You) to cap an evening filled with loyal fans and great music brought to you by a still very relevant band with a 40-plus year history. (Their second studio album, Hypnotised, turns 45 this year).

Amongst the older fans in the house was a pair of teens dancing next to me, singing along to nearly every tune.

On a sad note, the band paid tribute to Derry filmmaker Vinny Cunningham, who’d produced a documentary on the legendary band, and had passed away that week.

A true champion of the band, according to The Undertones Facebook page, “Vinny made many films and documentaries for TV over the years including his dream project in 2001, co writing, filming and producing (along with Tommy Collins) Teenage Kicks: The Undertones documentary,” adding that his “charm and enthusiasm not only persuaded a sceptical Feargal Sharkey to take part but also he was pivotal in getting John Peel to participate.”

Teenage Kicks was the band’s fitting ode to their friend.