{"id":619,"date":"2015-04-23T12:20:42","date_gmt":"2015-04-23T12:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/?p=619"},"modified":"2015-08-18T16:39:02","modified_gmt":"2015-08-18T16:39:02","slug":"roll-up-stranglers-gig-reviews-two-for-the-price-of-one-glasgow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/roll-up-stranglers-gig-reviews-two-for-the-price-of-one-glasgow\/","title":{"rendered":"Roll up! Stranglers Gig Reviews – Two for the price of one – Glasgow . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

As you may or may not be aware, The Stranglers partook of a sellout tour across the UK during March of 2015 winding up in Glasgow for the finale on 28th March.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here for your delectaton, entertainment and delight is a brace of reviews . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

First up – Maria Meli gives her account of the tour closer . . .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Strangled Weegie Night Out<\/h1>\n

Rituals give people stability and comfort and can be cleansing. They also offer a sense of community. Such was the case with March On, The Stranglers\u2019 2015 UK tour. The band tours the United Kingdom each March, this year culminating in Glasgow, home to lively audiences. The initiated flocked to partake of the final rite, and as with all pilgrimages, many of the faithful came from other cities.<\/p>\n

The preamble was delivered by The Rezillos and it was a full body assault. Two mountains of speakers dominated each side of the stage, like sound canons that blasted waves into the audience. This was not for the faint of ear drum. The Rezillos kicked off with \u201cDestination Venus\u201d with an escape velocity to match. Singers, Fay Fife and Eugene Reynolds, along with guitarist, Jim Brady, provided visual interest as they danced, scaled the amps and interacted with each other. Brady, in his cobalt helmet, was particularly animated in his guitar wielding, lifting and multi-positioning. He is a rubber action figure!\u00a0They played old and new songs like \u201c(Take Me to the) Groovy Room,\u201d \u201dNearly Human\u201d and the classic \u201cTop of the Pops.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Rez\"<\/a><\/p>\n

During their penultimate number, \u201cRiver Deep, Mountain High\u201d the stage was invaded by some background singers and dancers \u2013 The Stranglers in drag – all in mini-dresses, garish lipstick and blonde wigs to the amusement of the audience. Fay tried to pull guitarist, Baz Warne, to sing with her, but he slipped away and she was more successful at nabbing bassist, JJ Burnel, who was relishing his alter ego. Keyboardist, Dave Greenfield, had the biggest grin (obviously enjoying himself), and drummer, Jim Macaulay, tried to hide his shapely legs in the background.<\/p>\n

\"Stranglers<\/a><\/p>\n

The Stranglers were soon on, all cleaned up and dressed as their MeninBlack personas, while sporting a new light show with a shimmering, almost serpentine screen behind them. The audience greeted them joyfully as they took the stage to the strains of the now familiar March On version of \u201cWaltzinBlack.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd was wild, but now gone dead.
\nThey wait to hear what comes instead.
\nThe lights are up, the notes they tread,
\nunseen through fingers that pound, pluck, shred.<\/p>\n

They unleashed a string of older and newer songs \u2013 a mix of upbeat, anvil-pounding and slower-paced tunes. The Stranglers\u2019 sound is unmistakeable, yet it\u2019s still as hard to define today as it was when Greenfield\u2019s keyboard flourishes and Burnel\u2019s bass growl made them stand out from punk and new wave\u2019s more lumpen efforts.<\/p>\n

\"Jim<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFour Horsemen\u201d was dusted off and played much more compellingly than the original recording. During \u201cBaroque Bordello,\u201d a song Burnel considers a masterpiece, among the layerings and ripples, he lifted his heels and tapped them on the stage to punctuate the beat and pivoted on them as he slinked with his bass. A good segue into \u201cGolden Brown\u201d\u2019 with Greenfield\u2019s baroque accents, in which Warne sang, played his guitar solo, and then pulled back and crossed his arms as he made faces while the others played \u2013 his mark on the band\u2019s hugely popular ode to heroin and possibly, a golden-skinned girlfriend. \u201cFreedom is Insane\u201d saw Burnel belt out the chorus like a battle cry. It\u2019s his mantra on how Western democracy doesn\u2019t gel with older, tribal societies. Warne smilingly announced that it was time for a pop song that went \u201csomething like this\u201d as they launched into the cheerful strains of \u201cNice in Nice\u201d about a pampered rich girl in the South of France.<\/p>\n

\"Baz\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At the end of the song, came a launch from female fans in the centre front, of women\u2019s panties, followed by an answering catapult of men\u2019s extra-large Y-front shorts. Warne and Burnel examined the offerings and read out the message written on the men\u2019s shorts: From all the FatArsesinBlack \u2013 AKA HareminBlack. This was the answering volley\u2019s reference to the lyrics in \u201cPeaches\u201d about \u201cfat arses,\u201d but also a reality check that middle-aged or older women are throwing panties (young groupie behaviour) that are much smaller sizes than they actually wear. It was basically, a \u201cWho do you think you\u2019re fooling?\u201d statement.<\/p>\n

\"jj2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After that comedic interlude, The Stranglers shot into \u201cNorfolk Coast\u201d for which Warne crooned, snarled and shred his guitar while a smiling Burnel karate kicked his way through the song. \u201cI Feel Like a Wog<\/a>\u201d followed it continuing the sound onslaught, in the course of which Burnel executed two mid-air jumps! The regular set was capped off with \u201cLost Control,\u201d \u201cCurfew,\u201d and the seven-minute \u201cDown in the Sewer\u201d about the cesspool that was London in the 1970s. \u201cSewer\u201d won a fan poll last year as the most popular song out of forty Stranglers tunes they had to choose and rank for the Ruby anniversary. Amidst these songs, Burnel executed his lithe feline moves, Warne was spread-eagled, anchored and rocking, or doing his stamping walk. They got down for \u201cDown in the Sewer\u201d doing a crouching dual guitar advance, like brothers in arms. During \u201cCurfew\u201d they seemed to do a box step in tandem, and many times, they punctuated final notes on their instruments in the same up or down swing of their arms, like the string section in an orchestra. The two seem to exist on the same wavelength, unconsciously moving in synch – not the case with the two previous frontmen.<\/p>\n

The cherry topping the performance was four encores including, \u201cGo Buddy Go\u201d a 1950s-inspired ditty Burnel wrote in his teens. Both the band and audience were sweating even before the end of the concert; a sure sign of a fun evening. As always, the band was prepared and well-rehearsed, conscientious of giving a good performance. Warne bantered with the audience and both he and Burnel bestowed smiles and nods to various audience members they recognized, giving them an extra thrill. Greenfield seemed surprisingly dry, focusing on his keyboards and saving his dexterity for arpeggios than brandy. Macaulay pounded all night with a precision and intensity that may explain his slimmer physique. Either that, or he needs to fit into a suit for his impending nuptials in September. The evening was a rousing success, full of sound and fury, signifying the gold standard for concert experience.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

Elvis was there too, he had this to say . . .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Gig Review \u2013 The Stranglers \u2013 Glasgow O2 Academy 28th March 2015.<\/h1>\n

The City Slumbers . . .
\nUp before the dawn chorus . . .
\nA cab ride from South to North offers a timely reminder of her beauty.<\/p>\n

Gliding across Waterloo Bridge,
\nThe myriad lights from the various bridges and assorted buildings
\nContrast with the still dark of the dying night and reflections from the cold, cold Thames
\nProviding a real treat for senses still coming to terms with being up at this ungodly hour . . .<\/p>\n

Arriving at Euston Station in a blink,
\nMeeting a fellow traveller and then aboard the early train to another bejewelled city \u2013
\nGlasgow, the destination for the finale of The Stranglers March On tour.<\/p>\n

Off to a smooth start until . . .
\nDelays at Wigan allowing for a little more shut eye . . .
\nAnd, before not too long, crossing The Clyde into Glasgow Central Station.<\/p>\n

Settling into a room with a view to shake off the journey
\nThen heading out as hunger makes its presence felt.<\/p>\n

Sustenance in the form of Deep Fried Potatoes
\nAccompany the short ramble to the Thirteenth Note
\nTo take in a pre-gig from local band The Vex.
\nMany familiar (in Black) faces, dotted here and there, some far from home . . .
\nA warm welcome, a convivial atmosphere and a fine performance.<\/p>\n

Back to the Crystal Palace,
\nMore friendly faces and the excitement is building,
\nBecoming almost tangible in anticipation of the main event!<\/p>\n

Dusk gives way to night\u2019s darkness . . .<\/p>\n

Gliding across the Clyde Bridge,
\nThe lights, while not as busy as those witnessed this morning,
\nAre equal in their beauty and effect.<\/p>\n

On to the O2 Academy,
\nInside where a capacity crowd buzz in anticipation of the Men in Black!
\nAnticipation becomes realisation;<\/p>\n

The masses collide as one,
\nIn a sweaty, writhing ball of worshipful adoration.
\nCheering they leap,
\nWord-perfect they sing,
\nIn awe of The Stranglers,
\nWho once more deliver the goods,
\nWith unerring precision.<\/p>\n

Perfect!<\/p>\n

Over . . .<\/p>\n

First Review: Words, images and video – Courtesy of Maria Meli.<\/p>\n

Second Review: EiTC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As you may or may not be aware, The Stranglers partook of a sellout tour across the UK during March of 2015 winding up in Glasgow for the finale on 28th March. Here for your delectaton, entertainment and delight is a brace of reviews . . . First up – Maria Meli gives her account … Continue reading Roll up! Stranglers Gig Reviews – Two for the price of one – Glasgow . . .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,15,4,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2015-archive","category-guest-reviews","category-eitcs-views-and-reviews-on-music-and-maybe-life-in-general-from-time-to-time","category-fansinblack","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=619"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619\/revisions\/635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eitc.elvisintheclouds.co.uk\/eitc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}