Carlswerk Victoria Cologne 22nd October 2024

 

Ok so technically, the band are still on tour, in that as I write this, they are onstage in Luxembourg on the last date of the European leg. This being the case, spoilers, if such a thing can exist by the last date, are off the table because the last punters are through the door and enjoying the gig. 

I did three dates, in deepest, darkest France, which was an absolute pleasure and no small feat given the situation that I found myself in the summer. I will say more about those dates in the coming days. These European dates were special for others too, especially our friends Paul Cooklin,Steve Chattaway and Graham Knapp, who celebrated their milestone sixtieth anniversaries in the company of the band that they have been following for more than two thirds of that time!

Forget what Chrissie Hynde has said recently about her dismay at seeing the same faces at Pretenders gigs. I think that it is a great thing and one that I am sure that The Stranglers acknowledge and appreciate. Let us also not forget that at this stage of the game, and for many years now, for those that have been going to gigs for upwards of forty years, seeing the band at the end of the day is only part of the occasion. There is the travel, the joy of experiencing new places and lest we forget the company we keep on these musical forays.

So here they are then on the first of two dates in Germany.

Many thanks as always to Peter for sharing the files! I'll let the set speak for itself.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-F3IQYVqsNj

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-nIcpBJdQv4