Aural Sculptors - The Stranglers Live 1976 to the Present
Welcome to Aural Sculptors, a blog aimed at bringing the music of The Stranglers to as wide an audience as possible. Whilst all of the various members of the band that have passed through the ranks since 1974 are accomplished studio musicians, it is on stage where the band have for me had their biggest impact.
As a collector of their live recordings for many years I want to share some of the better quality material with other fans. By selecting the higher quality recordings I hope to present The Stranglers in the best possible light for the benefit of those less familiar with their material than the hardcore fan.
Needless to say, this site will steer well clear of any officially released material. As well as live gigs, I will post demos, radio interviews and anything else that I feel may be of interest.
In addition, occasionally I will post material by other bands, related or otherwise, that mean a lot to me.
In the last couple of years, 999 have been very active on the gigging front which is great to see. Last weekend was especially busy for them with three gigs in 24 hours.
Water Rats, Kings Cross, London
19th October 2024.
The fun was due to start on Friday night with a gig at The Water Rats in Kings Cross, in fact it was a close run think thanks to my complacency. I didn't try to book tickets until a couple of nights before the gig and was mortified to see that the gig had sold out! That had not happened to me before, so I was most miffed. Very kindly, a friend had a word with the promotor and we managed to get a couple of tickets put by. We were in (thanks Lou!).
As the Witchdoktors were supporting it was no surprise to see Peej there and it was great to catch up after some months. As for the Anoraks, I believe that they succumbed to Covid, so at the 11th hour Spizz stepped in and did something instead.
After a short delay 999 took to the stage at about 10.15 and played a blistering set in stiffling temperatures. Basically, the venue was overfull and the heat was not good for band nor audience alike. They opened with 'The Biggest Prize In Sport', which made a nice change from the albeit brilliant 'Black Flowers For The Bride' which has been the opener for the majority of times that I have seem them for a number of years. I have to applaud the fact that 48 years on, 999 are still playing new material (new in terms of material from their last album ('Bish Bash Bosh', 2020)), with 'Shoot' and 'My Dad Trashed My Submarine' in the set. Of course, the 999 standards were also present and correct on the night, 'Energency', 'Feeling Alright With The Crew', 'Nasyt Nasty' and 'Homicide'. It's fair to say that these days there are rarely big surprises in a 999 set, but that's just fine 'cos what they do play works perfectly.
The Prince Albert, Brighton
20th October 2024.
Tickets for this one were bought way back when. The idea of a matinee performance appeals increasingly these days. A gig late afternoon and back in time for 'Antiques Roadshow'!! In the event the matinee also sold out prompting a later evening gig.
This was my first gig at The Prince Albert. As I recall, back in my teens when I lived near Brighton, it was a biker pub and one that I avoided. In recent years it has become one of Brighton's principle small venues, playing host to most of the bands that make up my record collection. The upstairs venue space is pretty tiny (all the better to see a band in in my opinion) but dispite its size it was far more comfortable than the Water Rats sauna that the band had played the previous night.
Gunta and I were in time to see the support, a band going by the name of 'Sinful Maggie'. They were interesting by virtue of the fact that they were made up of bass, guitar, drums and accordion with which they made a great noise. Take a look at them on Youtube.
999 were again in great form. On taking the stage, Nick pointed three guys out in the audience who were original members of the 'Southall Crew' who were to 999 what the 'Finchley Boys' were to The Stranglers (whether with similar levels of aggression I don't know!). I recall meeting Billy Bollocks at a 999 gig in Fulham in the early 1990s.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the set was the same. I missed 'Don't You Know I Need You' which appeared on the set list but was skipped. Gunta and I got a name check, which always makes me smile.
We were unable to stay for the evening set but I have no doubt that it will have been great in front of another receptive and highly appreciative Brighton audience.
We're very much looking forward to seeing them again in Cambridge in early December.
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