Still Kicking Up a Racket
2007 marks Stiff Little Fingers 30th anniversary, a fact they celebrated earlier this year with a virtually sold out tour. Crowd numbers are significantly down tonight but still number several hundred and maybe they don't get out much in Preston or perhaps they're all just nutters but tonight the assembled faithful give it their all!
There's no repeat of the first album run through tonight although most of the usual classics are in place but it's good to hear the set mixed up a little and also refreshing that Jake Burns refrains from telling the same story by way of introduction to 'Strummerville'. Everyone knows exactly who & what it's about & it receives no less of an ovation. The sound is brilliant tonight, as is the view & that's testament to what a great venue 53 Degrees is, this is only my second visit but it has impressed on both occasions. What's not so impressive is the occasional heavy handed tactics of the security who manhandle anyone coming over the barrier at the front, particularly during the excellent 'Bits of Kids'.
The crowd down at the front are the liveliest I've seen at a SLF gig for years, they just never stop bouncing and on occasion just go plain crazy! It's a great site to see a punk crowd in full flow and they get plenty of opportunities tonight from the rousing 'At the Edge' to the anthemic 'Listen'. I've said it before but the key to SLF's apparent rejuvenation is quite simply the return of original bassist Ali McMordie; his energy and enthusiasm is fantastic and he continually goads the crowd as he flies around the stage much the same as he did 30 years ago. It's clear early on that the band is in fine form tonight and they clearly enjoy seeing such an animated crowd. 2003's Guitar & Drum album was a real return to form for the band and as usual a few songs from that album get aired but unfortunately they often seem to play the worst one! Why they persist in playing the rather weak 'Can't Get Away with That' when they could have picked the storming 'Best of Fools' is beyond me but really that's the only weak spot and in fairness 'Still Burning' from the same album really hits the spot.
As you'd expect the most rapturous applause are reserved for the old favourites and there are plenty of them, 'Wasted Life', 'Fly the Flag', 'Roots Radicals Rockers & Reggae', an awesome version of 'Tin Soldier', 'Suspect Device' and the finale of 'Alternative Ulster' all see the crowd go into overdrive. Once again though it's the old Bob Marley track 'Johnny Was' that steals the show, the SLF version just has something about it that draws you in, it still sounds as raw and powerful as it did first time around and tonight it's just brilliant. Burns informs us that they've made little progress on the new album but there is the chance to hear the as yet unrecorded 'Liars Club' once again and it's already starting to sound familiar, no mean feat & something Burns & SLF have been adept at since day one.
When the band can still put this much energy into a performance after all this time and whilst they are still writing and releasing new material then there's no reason for SLF to stop. Unlike many of their contemporaries they remain a potent and relevant force and long may they continue.