The Troggs are crudity incarnate. With Reg Presley's Carry On line of humour to the fore (they'd just driven through a place called Feckenham, apparently) and riffs so dumb a caveman could have written them, this is not a group for rock sophisticates, especially Radiohead fans.
But therein, frankly, lies their appeal.
With a West Country accent thicker than clotted cream, Reg's appalling humour entertains while the self-penned Love Is All Around is a stirring and beautiful love song. Thankfully the music retains its primal, unadorned nature throughout.
Powerful early rock songs like I Can't Control Myself and With A Girl Like You frame beat with melody, and instant memorable lyrics, offering a lesson in songwriting to the handful of dapper young mod musicians present.
As foremost purveyors of the virtually peerless Chip Taylor songbook, the Troggs played a poignant Any Way That You Want Me and a tight, hard hitting Wild Thing.
Looking stylish in black, they got the guitar sound right too, by turning the amp right up so the sound distorts naturally. Indeed, primal garage thrasher Louie Louie is a mainstay of their set.
As a young builder, lead singer Presley heard his record Wild Thing on the radio, downed tools and never returned. Wet Wet Wet's cheesy cover of Love Is All Around ensured a comfortable dotage, and so the Troggs must be touring for the love of music and playing live. A noble reason indeed.
Marcus Face
