Reviews

Stiff Little Fingers at Bristol O2 Academy - Live Music Review

Posted on: 2017-03-14

Its hard to believe that Stiff Little Fingers are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. It seems like only yesterday that these Irish punks had burst on to the scene with a powerful angry début album and a live show to match.

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For the ageing punk rockers this was a dream trip to their younger years with the support act being Theatre of Hate, another hugely popular band from back in the day.

 

Kirk Brandon swaggers on to the stage like a character from a Spaghetti Western with a group of outlaws in tow. They hold their instruments like wild west gun slingers as the blast into classic TOH songs. The distinct tone of the saxophone produces the unique sound that made them stand out from other groups of that era. 

The driving bass played by a very animated Stan Stammers drives the songs along with the almost military sounding drumbeat. Big tracks included, Nero, The Original Sin, Rebel Without A Brain and the infamous West World get the crowd going. Brandon bows out with "See you soon Bristol" before him and his cowboys ride of into the sunset.

 

Lights go down and the speakers explode with the "Go For It " instrumental that has been the intro for SLF since 1982. The crowd start bouncing and shout back "La la la" every time the guitar riff sounds. Jake Burns and his merry men take to the stage in the dark and burst into "Breakout" from the first album 'Inflammable Material', straight into "Straw Dogs" and "Just Fade Away" before shouting 'Hello Bristol' for the 40th year. 

 

Jake explains to the hardcore, dedicated followers in a packed O2 academy that the band are going to play some surprises in this anniversary set to satisfy the die hards that have followed SLF through the forty years  rain or shine. "Safe as houses" is the first song to surprise being a B side along with "Each Dollar A Bullet" from the relativity unknown album "Flags and Emblems ". 

The thing I love about Jake Burns is he takes times between songs to tell the story behind them. As the band crank up the volume and pace, the passionate crowd are being hit with classics such as " Nobody's Hero", " Tin Soldiers" and "Wasted Life". The crowd reach a climax when they sign off with " Suspect Device",  possibly the best track of the night and shout 'Goodnight Bristol'. 

 

With the chants of "Fingers, Fingers", SLF return to the stage to play an emotionally charged "Johnny Was" adapted from a Bob Marley number before saying 'Goodnight' once again to Bristol. 

 

With relentless shouts again, the boys return thanking the crowd for there support before playing " Gotta Get Away" and "Alternative Ulster" before leaving for the last time. 

 

I can see this happening all again for years to come while the demand for this highly charged , nostalgic  music is wanted by the old school music lovers that still come in their droves.  

 

5/5

Reviewed by Mike Headington for 365Bristol.com - The leading events and entertainment website in Bristol

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