The Courettes Ratinger Hof Dusseldorf 23rd October 2025

 

The Courettes have got into my head since seeing them with Hugh last Thursday. I guess that there are two things going on here. One, it is great to see a woman commanding a stage and an audience in the way that Flávia does, especially in the capacity as a support band. Two, and more importantly/impressively, I have always admired any group of less than a four piece that can make a considerable noise! It's a feat enough for a three piece, but to pull it off with just two band members (with guitar and drums) is something else.

The coming together of musical styles and the whole visual element of the band works so well too, the melding together of The Shangri-La-esque vocals with the dirty garage band twang of The Count Five.

Thanks to the Dime uploader (minimax) for this recording from Dusseldorf's Ratinger Hof last month. The vocals are a bit low, but it serves as a good introduction to the noise that The Courettes make. Thanks also to David Devant for photographs from the night.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-G5T5V1NMFS

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-DfJuLccj9i

I have kindly been sent an alternative source of this gig, one with more clarity in Flávia's vocal. Thanks Peter!

Alternative source.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-VRvpDF6jSD

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-ynP1xfyrvB

Spending the Night With Nosferatu - Hugh Cornwell At The Islington Assembly Hall 13th November 2025

 

'The one you've all been waiting for! I'm gaspin' now'. For one night only in London.... 'Nosferatu'! My favourite solo effort for the band and some 45 years on from its release Hugh Cornwell finally took the plunge and announced that he would tour the album.

On this occasion he has taken flavour of the month Danish/Brazilian duo. 'The Courettes' on the road with him as support. Looking them up today, I can see that they have been described as making the sound that you would get if the Ronettes met the Ramones (they kind of did actually). For me they came across as the bastard offspring of The Revillos and The Cramps, yes with Phil Spector sitting behind the desk. They were great fun actually, great to watch with some good songs. 

In the wake of The Courettes, Hugh and his band were wasting no time in taking to the stage to fine tune their instruments with 'Nosferatu' played on a backing track. 

Hearing the album played live in its entirity with the same running order as the original LP really brought it home to me just how experimental the album was/is... brave you could say. Whilst I think that the material advertising the tour was quite clear that something a little out of the ordinary was on the cards for this tour, there must be a proportion of the audience that would still be turning up for the big hits. What they would have made of their subjugation to 40 minutes worth of avant garde, rather dischordant music about as far removed from 'Golden Brown' and 'Always The Sun' that you could possibly get! Even I, who has loved the album for many years, had a few flashbacks to The Fast Show's 'Jazz Club'! But of course there was a sizable contingent of the crowd who were very familiar with Hugh and Robert's dark masterpiece and loved every minute of it. 

I don't know whether Hugh has any further 'Nosferatu' plans in store, a recording of the album set would be wonderful. A final acknowledgement of the part that this most quirky of album's has had in Hugh's and The Stranglers' history and the high regard in which fans hold the album.

? And The Mysterians Mid-City Lanes Rock 'N' Bowl New Orleans 1st October 2004

 

Here's something a little left field, but no prizes for knowing why I chose to post this gig. I like many others have never heard the enigmatic '? And The Mysterians' before now (with the exception of that song). In all honesty, whilst I like some of this type of '60's garage psychedilia, I have never really gone out of my way to go beyond '96 Tears'. So this I post as a curiosity as much as anything else. Theirs is a set of covers and originals. The big hit gets played twice, three times almost, as 'Can't Get Enough of You Baby' is pretty close.

To listen to them, ? And The Mysterians could pass off as Naz Nomad & The Nightmares!!

It is clear that The Stranglers cover was very faithful to the original in the same way that 'All Day And All Of The Night' deviated very little from The Kinks' version. Herein lies the problem with cover versions, they are only meaningful if they take a song in new direction... a 'Walk On By' or an 'Eloise' for example.

Thanks to the original Dime uploader.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-D5GDGgumVM

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-TqQvmE3kDh

Does anyone have a Dominion Theatre London 25th February 1985 lossless recording to share?

 

Looking for a lossless version of the above to replace a damaged CD. Can anyone assist?

Cheers,

Adrian.

Soft Cell The Palace Los Angeles 17th November 1983 - Speed Corrected Version

 

A speed correted version of this recording can be found here. many thanks to Mark for correcting the spped and sending on the upgraded files!

Edinburgh Corn Exchange 23rd October 2025

 

So, from the recent tour, here's the band's performance from Edinburgh. Many thanks as always to Chatts and DomP for their combined efforts on this one. This time around the band did indeed change things around a bit.... right from the first note of the intro tape with Edith Piaf's 'Non, je ne regrette rien' replacing 'Waltzinblack'. 'Dead Ringer', 'Tramp' and 'Pin Up' all in there. Who thought that they'd ever hear '15 Steps' or 'Mercury Rising' played live again? And I never expected to hear 'Mean To Me'... the highlight of my night in London. I may get 'Fools Rush Out' next time. What was it that Malcolm and Vivienne Westwood said? 'Be reasonable, demand the impossible'. Its not impossible, surely, it's just a short song... please, pretty please!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-wsdLRLEFNh

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-Vcm1k1fWE8

Debbie Harry (Blondie) Inked

Another side of New York here, one perhaps a little easier on the eye and era than old Lou.

'All I want is a photo in my wallet

A small remembrance of something more solid

All I want is a picture of you.'

Debbie Harry

21cm x 30 cm linoprint

Black ink on cream card.