Playing to an at-best half-full TLA, Irish punk legends STIFF LITTLE FINGERS still put on a blistering, high-energy show that galvanized the small but devoted crowd. Instead of just concentrating on their classic 1979 debut Inflammable Material, they made a case for their entire career.
Eary classics like set closer “Suspect Device” and the first encore “Alternative Ulster” (their very first single and the second single ever released on Rough Trade) were played alongside songs like the title track of 1988’s Tinderbox and several songs from their last album, 2004’s Guitar and Drum (including the title track and the JOE STRUMMER tribute “Strummerville”). The later material sounded much better live than it does on record, and it showed that Stiff Little Fingers are capable of making lesser material work well with the classics live.
And the classics were definitely played. After opening with a rousing “Tin Soldiers” and going into “Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae,” the band also played “Wasted Life,” “Nobody’s Hero,” “Bits of Kids” and their cover of THE SPECIALS classic “Doesn’t Make It Alright.” Although I’ve always preferred the original version of this song, they did a respectable job on it, and the crowd responded in kind with skanking, as opposed to the slam-dancing on display during the more high-energy numbers.
With original bassist ALI MCMORDIE back in the fold after a 15-year absence, the groove element that they lacked with former THE JAM bassist BRUCE FOXTON has been restored. Fittingly, they closed with their excellent cover of BOB MARLEY’s “Johnny Was.” And vocalist/guitarist JAKE BURNS sounded amazing. He must be pushing 50 now, but he hasn’t lost a step.
Discuss this review in The Big Takeover Forum
