Stiff Little Fingers, Waterfront // 20.03.2013
Old punks and folk rockers of the world unite, Ed Tudorpole and The Men Tey Couldn't Hang are back and supporting Stiff Little Fingers.
Much as I live discovering new music, sometimes you just can't beat a bunch of old guys hammering through hard 'n' heavy rock 'n' roll and that's what tonight is all about.
Punk icon Ed Tudorpole is best known for gurning his way through “Who Killed Bambi” in Sex Pistols film “The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle”, fronting Tenpole Tudor and presenting BBC TV’s “The Crystal Maze”. Thoroughly entertaining, albeit not great musically, it is always good to hear “Swords of a Thousand Men”.
I caught The Men They Couldn’t Hang back in the eighties and remember a competent, unspectacular folk-rock band similar to The Alarm. Years on, my recollection is called into doubt. Yes, this is folk-rock but with overtones of The Pogues, Clash and Springsteen, with “Ghosts of Cable Street” and “The Colours” being stand-outs.
Despite having released only nine albums since 1979, SLF have a great back-catalogue and the brace of new songs played tonight show Jake Burns remains a great song writer and age has not diminished his fire and fury.
The return of Ali McMordie on bass has reinvigorated the band. On drums, Steve Grantley is a force to be reckoned with. Ian McCallum plays mean guitar. Burns’ barking vocals are as powerful as they have ever been. After well over an hour and a half, “Harp”, “My Dark Places”, "Alternative Ulster” and “Straw Dogs” were just some of the many highlights.
9/10 Pavlis
Punk icon Ed Tudorpole is best known for gurning his way through “WhoKilled Bambi” in Sex Pistols film “The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle”, frontingTenpole Tudor and presenting BBC TV’s “The Crystal Maze”. Thoroughlyentertaining, albeit not great musically, it is always good to hear “Swords ofa Thousand Men”.
I caught The Men They Couldn’t Hang back in the eighties and remember acompetent, unspectacular folk-rock band similar to The Alarm. Years on, myrecollection is called into doubt. Yes, this is folk-rock but with overtones ofThe Pogues, Clash and Springsteen, with “Ghosts of Cable Street” and “TheColours” being stand-outs.
Despite having released only nine albums since 1979, SLF have a greatback-catalogue and the brace of new songs played tonight show Jake Burnsremains a great song writer and age has not diminished his fire and fury.
The return of Ali McMordie on bass has reinvigorated the band. On drums,Steve Grantley is a force to be reckoned with. Ian McCallum plays a meanguitar. Burns’ barking vocals are as powerful as they have ever been. Afterwell over an hour and a half, “Harp”, “My Dark Places”, “Alternative Ulster”and “Straw Dogs” were just some of the many highlights.
Pavlis,
9/10
