Hugh Cornwell Fleece and Firkin Bristol 21st November 1998

 

I posted this originally back in 2012 on the long defunct Rapidshare platform. So here it is again on a reactivated link. This is quite a nice audience recording as I recall.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-lXOr85J5bf

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-NRFznyiBg4

01. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
02. All The Colours Of The Rainbow
03. Nerves Of Steel
04. Black Hair Black Eyes Black Suit
05. House Of Sorrow
06. Strange Little Girl
07. The Big Sleep
08. The Story Of He And She
09. Goodbye Toulouse
10. Lay Back On Me Pal
11. Decadence
12. Wired
13. Hanging Around
14. Who When And Where
15. Long Dead Train
16. Snapper
17. Always The Sun

Stiff Little Fingers Rock City Nottingham 11th March 2024

 

On the night that I was supposed to be seeing The Stranglers in Belfast, Belfast came to Nottingham in the form of SLF. I missed them on this tour, but here's a nice sounding recording from their 'Hate Has No Home Here' tour. A good solid sing-a-long set from the band! Listening to this makes me think that I may well make the trip over to Belfast in August for the now annual 'Putting The Fast In Belfast' mini-festival.

Thanks to the original Dime uploader (Darkorb).

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-yHcV0FYfMu

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-wipEG5SMYB

L'Olympia Paris 5th February 2009 and Manchester MEN Arena 13th December 2008 DVD

 

Apologies, I cannot recall where this DVD came from or who authored it. It features footage from two gigs, one certainly incomplete (Paris) and one incomplete in all probability (Manchester). As to the Manchester gig, on this night The Stranglers were support to The Pogues. The ticket I located on a New Model Army site, so it may be that if The Stranglers were first on it could have been the shortest set ever... any ideas?

DVD Image: https://we.tl/t-DzCN6TjPNb

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-JhPlxXGCyn

Ulster Hall Belfast 11th March 2024

 

OK then, as another tour comes to an end, in an almost time honoured tradition, here is the first recording that has gone into circulation. Thanks to several people who shared it with me. Much appreciated! I believe this first appeared on 101guitars, so thanks are due to the Historical Field Recording Unit!

I had tickets for this particular gig as I kind of missed out on getting RAH tickets and the only other tickets I have were for Cambridge. With regard to the latter, the band love it, as I recall Baz referred to Cambridge as their 'home gig'. The Dave and JJ connection. For my part I have never liked the venue, but on the other hand it is 30 minutes up the road. Logistical issues meant that I was left with little option other than to offload my Belfast tickets.... at least there is Europe later in the year.

So, I can only speak for Cambridge but I though the band were excellent (not that I was expecting a disappointment). The penny only dropped the other day when The Stranglers (Official) Facebook page posted something thanking 'The Meninblacksuits' for supporting on the tour. Then the structure of the night made sense. Devo once did something similar on their 'Duty Now For The Future' tour when 'Dove', a Christian rock band (whose members has a striking resemblance to the Devo boys) supported Devo. 

I did eventually see the set prior to the gig. I don't mind that so much and I find it stressful to go all out to avoid spoilers during a tour anyway. What did people make of the set? 'Hallow To Our Men' was certainly a nice surprise and always happy to have 'Sewer' in the set, but I dunno, perhaps I am being unreasonable... I would love to have seen something completely unexpected, a B-side perhaps (remember back in 1988 when 'Vietnamerica' cropped up briefly in the set?). And, I still maintain that 'Nuclear Power' would fit perfectly into a Stranglers' set... maybe next year.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-V87HbwwdzS

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-ny3gC7JuR5

Terry Hall Tribute Night (29th March 2024 BBC 4)

 

Last night BBC 4 ran a brilliant thread of music programming in an evening that celebrated the immense talent of Terry Hall, from The Specials, The Fun Boy 3, The Colourfield and back again. The evening started with a new compilation of 'Terry Hall at The BBC' covering his 40 plus years in music. All of the footage was familiar to me except for one show (the name of it escapes me now) where The Band were introduced by Toyah Willcox. Most of this material I have seen in the past, but it was brilliant to see it all brought together and to see it in such excellent quality.

Aside from the BBC music compilation, the highlight for me was the showing of the 'Arena' documentary which saw fanzine writer turned music journalist, Adrian Thrills, travel to Coventry see see what all the fuss, that had turned the UK monochrome, was all about. The scenes filmed in the 'office' of 2 Tone HQ in Albany Road are priceless. I pitied the neighbours! How great it was to find all of the band partying,  larking around and getting on with each other! Gunta loved it too as it showed Coventry city centre as she remembered in back in 1980.

Well done BBC 4 as they would say on 'Points Of View'.

Crass Art Exhibition London 12th to 27th April 2024

 Looking forward to getting down to see this one. Gee Vaucher's artwork was a crucial, striking element of the total Crass package. Brilliant!

Ombudsmen In Manchester Friday 22nd March 2024

 

Should you be at a loose end in Manchester on Friday (The Stranglers have a night off!) you could do worse than see Ombudsmen at The Old Abbey Taphouse in Manchester supporting VEE VV.