Northside – in concert at Sheffield University – 1990 – BBC Radio 1 In Concert –
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Northside, in concert at Sheffield University and recorded in 1990 by BBC Radio 1 for their In Concert series. Formed in 1989, they released their only album Chicken Rhythms on Factory Records in 1991. The band became part of the 1990s Madchester/baggy/indie-rave scene.
Northside was formed by Warren “Dermo” Dermody (vocals/lyrics) and Cliff Ogier (bass). They were later joined by Michael Upton (guitar) and Paul Walsh (drums). Upton was replaced by Timmy Walsh prior to the release of their first single “Shall We Take A Trip”.
“Shall We Take A Trip” was banned by the BBC for its many references to drugs (specifically LSD), but despite the lack of airplay it eventually broke into the Top 50 in the UK Singles Chart.
In 2006, BBC 6 Music played the song in its entirety on the Marc Riley show, and again on the Steve Lamacq show in 2016 as part of the My Generation series on 1989. “Shall We Take A Trip” was also used as Granada’s Soccer Night theme tune throughout the 1990s.[3]
The next single from Chicken Rhythms, “My Rising Star”, was released in October 1990 and reached No. 32, staying on the chart for 7 weeks.
The album itself peaked at No. 19 in June 1991. It was produced by Ian Broudie.
In 1991, Northside scored a minor hit in the United States when their single “Take 5” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for the week of 5 October. It also reached No. 34 on the Dance/Club Play Songs charts that same month. The band performed “Take 5” on Top of the Pops on 6 June 1991, a rare occasion where a song that was not in the Top 40 was played on the show. That week the single was at No.41 and would peak at No.40. The band would break up in 1996, but go through periods of reforming off and on until 2019 when guitarist Tim Walsh died in August of that year.
Here is a concert from their formative period, less than a year old and smack in the middle of the Madchester scene. Crank it up and enjoy.
