Everything’s golden for 50th anniversary tour
Two ageing rock/blues fans (me and my friend) ventured to watch punk grandees The Stranglers at the Portsmouth Guildhall.
The verdict? Four thumbs up.
Onstage came four musicians dressed smartly in black, reminding me of an animated Kraftwerk.
Then into a first half of, to the non-aficionado, some lesser-known songs, some of the vocals seeming to get lost as the music was very loud.
The highlight of the first half was Princess of the Streets and Breathe, both surprisingly bluesy songs, sung very well by “new boy” of 25 years Baz Warne – a singer who definitely has not tried to copy original frontman Hugh Cornwell. He is so much better for making the songs his own.
The ever-smiling JJ Burnel showed a virtuosity on the bass. A gentler singer of the two, he is moving all the time in a prowling, line dance/kick-ball-change style around the stage.
More familiar songs end the first half (Hanging Around) to a great reaction from the audience. Then it’s into what we all wanted – a second half full of gems, each lovingly received by the sometimes pogoing audience, often looking like the spirit was more willing than the limbs.
Who Wants the World, Duchess, Peaches, my favourite of the evening Skin Deep (brilliant drumming by the excellent Jim Macauley), Always the Sun, Golden Brown, 5 Minutes, to finish on Something Better Change, to then conclude the two hours, which seemed to whizz by, with the oldest ever song by the band, Go Buddy Go, before, finally, No More Heroes.
Shout out also to keyboardist Toby Hounsham, driving the sound along with the drummer.
I wonder what the 1980s Stranglers would have made of the 2020s version? It is what happens when punk grows up and becomes an excellent band with its own style.
With ears ringing a little, two very happy ageing rock/ blues fans left the building hoping for another chance to see mature punk by four excellent musicians.
KEN EBBENS - The Flash (on DAB and theflashonair. co.uk) radio presenter for the Portsmouth Guildhall