Cruel World 2024 Brookside At The Rose Bowl Pasadena CA 11th May 2024

Here are the band playing a short festival set at the popular Cruel World Festival in California. Many thanks to loughney for the upload (as posted on Dime). Appreciate it!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-LxjmDsMRUu

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-f2bJOjVLZ1

01. Intro
02. Toiler On The Sea
03. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
04. This Song
05. Peaches
06. Always The Sun
07. Golden Brown
08. White Stallion
09. Hanging Around
10. No More Heroes

JJ Burnel Interview (Smash Hits 3rd May 1979)

 

Buzzcocks Musiktheater Piano Dortmund 11th April 2024

 

Ok, let's try this on for size. Dispatches from the Stone Valley South front last night were less than complementary about Buzzcocks' performance. This is a difficult one, running this predominantly Stranglers related site it would be a bit rich for me to disparage any band for the reason of only having one original member in the line up! And yet The Stranglers situation sits easier with me than it does for Buzzcocks. I guess it is something to do with the stage chemistry that JJ enjoys with Baz, something that I do not see or hear with the post-Pete Buzzcocks. In fairness to Diggle and Co, they have released new material so the charge of resting on the band's laurels doesn't stand. Its just that....

... I have taken issue with the band in the past (the Fred Perry sponsored appearance at the garage in London being a case in point) where Steve's champagne shenanigans rock star pose grated, as did a 10 minute plus wig-out that 'Harmony In My Head' has become.

I have nothing against a band continuing under such circumstances and indeed I wish them well, long may they continue to entertain their audience. For me however, I will stick with the memories of some great gigs that (unknown at the time) culminated in the last Buzzcocks gig that Pete played in Belfast.

But don't let this old cynic dictate to you good people. Give it a listen and make up your own mind.

My thanks as ever go to Peter in Dusseldorf for sharing this file with me and the Aural Sculptors site. As ever, much appreciated.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-kY8jVzocba

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-7YZB80oPd3

 

Xmal Deutschland Lyceum London 3rd May 1985

 

Talk about missing the boat. Here's a band that I have been getting into recently, albeit 40 odd years after the boat has sailed. I did see them once, supporting The Stranglers, but to my regret I didn't pay them a great deal of attention. It was singer Anja Huwe's recent solo album, 'Codes' that gave me reason to go band and start listening to Xmal Deutschland. 

Here's a headline gig from the Lyceum on London's Strand. Many thanks to the original Dime uploader.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-1jmj7gJtw3

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-B1rmTmD8Rt

Philippshalle Dusseldorf 28th May 1990

Here's an anniversary gig (as of tomorrow) from the '10 Tour' in Dusseldorf. These 10 gigs were great. Hugh's last hurrah, marred only by the unnecessary guitar noodlings from John Ellis. I never really understood the rationale of bringing in a second guitarist when the bands sound was never about fancy fretwork and solos.

MP3 (as received): https://we.tl/t-6GNrHv5Dby

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-tbx4z5nqqI

01. Intro
02. Shah Shah A Go Go
03. I Feel Like A Wog
04. Straighten Out
05. Shakin’ Like A Leaf
06. 96 Tears
07. Someone Like You
08. Sweet Smell Of Success
09. Always The Sun
10. Strange Little Girl
11. Peaches
12. Where I Live

01. School Mam
02. Let’s Celebrate
03. Uptown
04. Tank
05. Was It You?
06. Down In The Sewer
07. Golden Brown
08. Nuclear Device
09. All Day And All Of The Night
10. Punch And Judy
11. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
12. Duchess
13. Audience

Ist Ist Doornroosje Nijmegen 26th March 2024

Visitors to this site will be well aware that I am not one for seeking out new music. It is labour intensive and I just don't seem to have the time like I once did. However, occasionally something is presented to me on a plate, thereby taking the leg work out of the whole process! Thanks to our friend Peter in Dusseldorf for this one. Manchester outfit Ist Ist live from over the border (for Peter) in Nijmegen.

I did consult with the wee rock 'n' roller, Mo, on them and she is aware of them. Recently they supported The Chameleons (although she was there she missed them!). Ist Ist to my ears epitomize that post punk sound. There is more than a nod to Joy Division in there and there is another similarity in the vocal that I cannot pin down, but it is very familiar!

I like this, this is good.

Thanks once again Peter!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-TxG9QpQpNk

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-7aeo9rG1Y1

01. Wolves
02. Stamp You Out
03. Fat Cats Drown In Milk
04. Repercussions
05. Night’s Arm
06. Black
07. Something Has To Give
08. I Can’t Wait For You
09. Mary In The Black And White Room
10. The Waves
11. Watching You Watching Me

01. Fool’s Paradise
02. Nothing More Nothing Less
03. Heads On
04. Lost My Shadow
05. The Kiss
06. Trap Doors
07. Encore Break
08. Emily
09. You’re Mine
10. Slowly We Escape

Stadt Jubilaum Linz 18th May 1990

 

Correction: It has been brought to my attention that this gig is in fact from Linz, Austria from the night before (thanks Malcolm). Hugh mentions Linz in 'Peaches'.

Apologies for the brief intermission... now returned from holiday.

Here are The Stranglers on the '10 Tour' in the Austrian capital on this day back in 1990. Reasonably sounding audience recording in what sounds to be something of an aircraft hanger.

MP3 (as received): https://we.tl/t-xfd0jYH9Cw

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-SJJNebo2cr

01. Shah Shah A Go Go
02. I Feel Like A Wog
03. Straighten Out
04. Shakin’ Like A Leaf
05. 96 Tears
06. Someone Like You
07. Sweet Smell Of Success
08. Always The Sun
09. Strange Little Girl
10. Peaches
11. Where I Live

01. School Mam
02. School Mam (Cont)
03. Let’s Celebrate
04. Uptown
05. Tank
06. Was It You?
07. Down In The Sewer
08. Golden Brown
09. Nuclear Device
10. All Day And All Of The Night
11. Punch And Judy

Big In Falkirk Festival 3rd May 2003

 

Back in 2003 The Stranglers played the 'Big In Falkirk' Festival. Many thanks to Malcolm 769, the file has been replaced by a lossless version!

WAV: https://we.tl/t-9GDtRODVyB

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-NaoIhaqWr0

01. Intro
02. 5 Minutes
03. Coup De Grace
04. All Day And All Of The Night
05. Skin Deep
06. Peaches
07. Always The Sun
08. Golden Brown
09. Walk On By
10. Mine All Mine
11. Never To Look Back
12. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
13. Curfew
14. Duchess
15. Tank
16. Encore Break
17. Hanging Around
18. No More Heroes