1,126 STIFF LITTLE FINGERS, Eddie and the Hot Rods, Bristol O2 Academy, Sunday 10 March 2019

From one tradition that's just starting, last time out with The Hold Steady, to one that's well established with original politico-protest punks Stiff Little Fingers! For the 14th time in 15 years - and 19th time overall – da Fingers appear on my "Spring Dance Card", their usual March tour making its traditional Bristol Academy stop, this time on a Sunday (sadly meaning junior punker Logan was left at home on a school night). Only one thing to say, as ever... Go For It!

Going For It with me was The Big Man (as usual) and Ady too, and I picked them both up from Rich's new place promptly, for an early drive down. The reason for this early arrival was that I wanted to catch support Eddie And The Hot Rods' set given that it was likely their last tour, having already played a farewell 100 Club gig under the banner of "Done Everything We Wanna Do". The Rods came on at 7.45 to the rockabilly bar-room blues of "Teenage Depression", thereafter rocking through a well-played set of their proto-punk New Wavey powerpop, with elements of that mid-70s Canvey Island pub rock Feelgood sound. The problem however tonight was vocalist Barrie Masters; apparently 62 but looking (and carrying himself) at least a decade older (particularly when his trademark sunglasses were discarded), his voice deteriorated badly after a decent mid-set "Quit This Town", and by the otherwise fine set closers, the ubiquitous and classic "Do Anything You Wanna Do" and cover of Them’s "Gloria", he was being propped up considerably by his excellent guitarist and the crowd singalongs. A bit of a shame, but glad I got to see this classic old band one last time.

A lot of shit 70's pre-punk records over the PA (which prompted me to remark to Rich, "this is why punk was so necessary!") were eventually – and thankfully – cut short by SLF's excellent, rousing  singalong "Go For It" entrance music, heralding the boys onstage at 9.10, and whilst unexpected opener "Law And Order" and a drum-propelled "At The Edge" felt like them gradually easing in, an early, incendiary "Suspect Device" really kicked the early gig into life. “We’re gonna blow up in your face…!” damn right!

"You may have noticed [from the opening numbers], that we're gonna wander off the beaten track a bit tonight!" announced Jake, and so it proved! So we had a higher proliferation of post-reunion numbers, thankfully mostly introduced with some of Jake's trademark scathing social commentary (a bit absent, sadly, in recent years); newie "16 Shots" dealt with the grim subject of a teen killed by the police and was delivered with suitably fitting anger and vitriol, "Don't Call Me Harp" attacked institutionalised racism ("since the rise of Kommandant Trump and his cronies, some people think racist behaviour has become normalised. It fucking hasn't!") and an equally Irish folk-tinged "Guilty As Sin" set its sights on abuse in the Catholic Church. A warm ovation also met Jake's referencing of the recent untimely loss of The Prodigy's Keith Flint, his comment of, "if you're suffering with depression, for fucks sake talk about it please, don't become a statistic!" leading into an entirely apposite, and rather superb, "My Dark Places".

This "off the beaten track" approach however meant the omission of the likes of "Barbed Wire Love", "Roots Radicals" and "Johnny Was" in favour of the above “newies”, plus a smattering of rarely-played oldies; "Law And Order" aside, "State Of Emergency" was introduced by Jake as "possibly the first song I wrote for the band," and, later, a solo Jake number, the almost Cochran-rockabilly feel of "Drinking Again", got an even rarer first encore outing. However, the old familiars still shone brightest; a triple threat set closer of "Just Fade Away", "Nobody's Hero" and a brilliant terrace chant-along closing "Gotta Getaway" (my highlight tonight by some distance), was a superb way to end the set, and encore "Tin Soldiers" was sprawling and epic, before the usual punctuation point of "Alternative Ulster" and fulsome thanks and bows from the band to end the night.

No list, though, the obstreperous head roadie haughtily ignoring requests, but a more helpful soundman declaring they're "not allowed" to hand them out tonight. Dunno why, it's not like someone's going to scan it and put it up on their blog... Oh...!

So we headed off after another wholly entertaining SLF "Mad March" gig. Kudos to the boys for shaking the set up and taking the path less trodden. Whatever, we'll no doubt be back for more – my 20th – in 2020!

905 EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS, Charred Hearts, Swindon Basement 73, Saturday 15 February 2014

Two consecutive gig nights out in Swindon – who’d have thunk it? Tonight it’s a return to my “spiritual home”, Level 3, now rebadged as Basement 73, to catch old 70’s rockers Eddie And The Hot Rods, one of the first “new wave” bands I’d encountered in my pre-teen formative years, thanks to the sight of shirtless vocalist Barrie Masters leaping all over my TV, rabble rousing and singing “Do Anything You Wanna Do”. They’d also played at this venue (then The Furnace) about 9 years ago, my remark at the time being, “The Rods are alright!” So, why the hell not?

A family day out saw us getting home late so I arrived at the venue at 9, having missed opening act The Hamsters From Hell. I dunno, I’ve been going to gigs for over 30 odd years now, and I’ve still yet to see the force of nature that is Ian Doeser play “live”, what’s up with me? However, I got in out of the cold in time to grab a balcony view for main support Charred Hearts. I subsequently gathered that Charred Hearts frontman Dermot Fuller had sorted this gig out as well, as he’d likewise done for last year’s XSLF gig (No. 889), so he was perfectly entitled to put himself and his 80’s local punk outfit on the support bill to pound us into submission. A noisy and strident set of edgy, occasionally shambolic yet sincere street punk, delivered with intensity, clear-eyed conviction and a fair bit of wit; “this one was written in 1981; obviously by my dad…” was one such Fuller intro. A cover of The Damned classic “New Rose (“who knows what’s going to happen?”) was a highlight, as was closer “Fucked In The Head”, which saw Fuller, not for the first time, abandon the stage and wander  through the crowd, passing the mic around for punters to bellow the song’s hook. Good stuff – again.

Bumped into some old friends before taking a position, stage right by the stairs, as Fuller introduced Eddie And The Hot Rods onstage. It’d been 9 years since I last saw them and honestly they were creaking a little then, so I wasn’t expecting too much tonight. However from the outset they were tighter, more powerful and harder rocking than I’d remembered, with the skinny Masters, years on the road of rock’n’roll etched clearly on his features, nevertheless prowling the stage and rabble rousing from the off. “I Might Be Lying” was a swaggering bluesy rock wig-out almost approaching Gentlemen territory, before an excellent early “Quit This Town”, a Jam mod-ish number featuring some fine call and response choral harmonies, proving an early highlight.

The Rods, back in those formative mid 70’s punk years, bridged the gap between street punk and it’s more radio-palatable offshoot “New Wave”, and the Canvey Island bluesy bar-room pub rock of the likes of Dr. Feelgood. All elements of this sonic template were evident tonight, with Masters an affable Cockney wideboy stage presence. “Why Should I Care Anymore” was an impressive soaring anthem with a tumbling drum climax, but this was all setting the scene for the inevitable…

“If it don’t move, paint it; if it moves, fuck it; if you don’t want to do either, well then… do anything you wanna do!” remarked Masters by way of intro to this classic punk anthem. “Do Anything You Wanna Do” was excellently delivered, with Charred Hearts’ vocalist Fuller forming a vocal duet with Masters (“sorry, I couldn’t help myself”) for this self-empowering manifesto. A hard rocking version of the old pub rock staple “Gloria” concluded a surprisingly fine set, after which I grabbed the setlist, bumped into old buddy Doug McGuire outside afterwards for a chat about comics, then wearily headed home. Not used to gig double-headers these days, local or not… However this was entirely worthwhile; I’d not expected much of this one, believing The Rods to be 9 years older and thus 9 years worse than last time out. I was wrong, they were 9 years better!

658 EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS, Chokeslam, Swindon Furnace, Friday 13 May 2005

First time at the Furnace for a gig, but this of course is the site of Solitaire and Level 3, scene of many hometown gigs of yore. Adding to the feeling of nostalgia is tonight's headliners, one of the first New Wave bands I saw on telly back in the 1970's, now doing the old boy's pub and club circuit. Still, it's only up the road, so why not?

Got in at 9 after a drink in the Rolly, which meant enduring half a set from local support Chokeslam. Pitching up midway between Nu Metal and hardcore punk, they weren't my cup of tea at all, with a vocalist who only knew how to scream, not sing. Oh dear.

The Rods took the stage at 9.30 to a sparse crowd of old punks, lead singer Barrie Masters gaunt in pub rock waistcoat attire and looking all his 50+ years. Their set was as expected - down and dirty good time drinking man's rock'n'roll, with a strut and a swagger. "Quit This Town" was cool (and reminded Rach of the Jam's "Going Underground" - which came first, I wonder?), the anthemic "Do Anything You Wanna Do", their one true moment of inspiration, was mid-set, yet predictably received the best reaction, and a cover of Van Morrison's "Gloria", like the earlier cover of the Who's "The Kids Are Alright", was well-chosen and played with respect. I could've done without the drum solos, but overall a good solid pub level gig. The Rods are alright!