In 1972, as a 14 year old, my mind and musical 'taste' were sent into stella overdrive, some might say I was blown away, by an album that, to this day, is one of my all time favourite live albums. The album was Made In Japan, the band was Deep Purple and the opening track was Highway Star (recorded in Osaka on 16 August 1972).
Leap forward a mere a five years and a Northern Irish band, called Highway Star after the song, started to gain attention on the embryonic punk scene and by 1979, as an art student, I was swept down stream by the raucous cacophony that was the punk movement. So when I first heard the debut album "Inflammable Material" by Stiff Little Fingers (formerly Highway Star) I was hooked. When a new band appears the first song people hear is so important and SLF nailed me with track one, side one: Suspect Device. Not only did it have a pumping intro, but it also it starts with the powerful words "Inflammable material is planted in my head, It’s a suspect device that's left 2000 dead".
Now leap forward some 35 years and here I am again at a Stiff Little Fingers gig. What's more the gig is on a boat in a submarine basin in Bordeaux, France! C'eat la vie! Next up: 17 humdinger, foot stomping, pogo inducing, lyrically loaded, classic songs! First out the traps was Wasted Life, track number four from that debut album and a 3 minute burst of lyrical and sonic delight. I haven't heard the song in many years and yet I knew ever word and sang along with the best of them!
Still they come up to me
With a different name but same old face
I can see the connection
With another time and a different place
They ain't blonde-haired or blue-eyed
But they think that they're the master race
They're nothing but blind fascists
Brought up to hate and given lives to waste
Jake Burns |
Ali McMordie (bass / vocals), the only original band member along side Jake and who also runs a band management company, stood to Jake’s left and produced some great, deep throbbing bass lines especially on the reggae steeped Doesn't Make It Alright which Jake informed us was written by The Specials.
Ian McCallum (guitar/vocals) looking for all the world like Ian Rankin also added some mighty fine guitar work to keep the groove moving along and the song evolved into a grand finale of punk/rock/reggae. A stand out for me.
Ian McCallum |
This was followed by Strummerville, a song that Jake advised was written as a tribute to the late great Joe Strummer and in acknowledgment of the influence The Clash had on SLF. The song was tight and joyous and a fitting testament to a true legend which included some great drumming and guitar solos. The intro to Tin Soldiers continued the fine vein of interplay between drum and guitar and the lyrics are another acerbic look at the stark choices that faced young men in Belfast in recent times.
Ali McMordie |
So you studied hard and you got a good job
Cos you don’t want to be just another slob
And you put some money away for a rainy day
And the job goes well
And you like the work
And you think promotion is a cert
And you never see it ending any day
And you get a nice car
And you get a nice wife
And you think to yourself: “Man it’s a wonderful life!”
But you don’t see the trouble headed right your way
On the financial page
Steve Grantley |
The venue was tight and the gig well attended, although the low ceiling in the depths of the iBoat impeded the sound and made it difficult for the more energetic fans to pogo with any real zest! However, this did not hinder us from letting loose and grooving along to some damned fine music performed by four middle aged lads with a grand pedigree.
Thanks for a great night and here’s to a few more in the years to come! Sláinte
SET LIST
Wasted Life
Just Fade Away
When We Were Young
Nobody's Hero
Silver Lining
My Dark Places
Doesn't Make It Alright
Throwing It All Away
Roots
Full Steam Backwards
Barbed Wire Love
Strummerville
Tin Soldiers
Suspect Device
Encore
Johnny Was
At The Edge
Alternative Ulster