Photograph by Ian D. Hall.
Originally published by L.S. Media. March 7th 2010.
One of the early tracks released by The Stranglers sums up completely the lack of good post punk bands with any sort of longevity. A band who have been at the business end of rock music and who have let trends pass them by without kowtowing to anybody else’s rules. That song finished a set filled with classic hits, firm fan favourites and nods to every decade that the band has been active. After over thirty five years, The Men in Black prove time and time again, that they alone are the exception to the rule that there are “No More Heroes“.
Coming on stage to legendary Waltz in Black, the band took the sold out Academy audience on a trip down memory lane with tracks such as the fantastic Peaches, the wonderfully grubby Nice and Sleazy and the hard hitting Nuclear Device.
There was hardly any time for the band to catch their breath, let alone letting the pumped up crowd catch theirs as J.J. Burnell and the tremendous Baz Warne alternated vocals, each having songs that suited their own particular style. For Baz the highlight of the night was his rendition Spectre of Love from the album Suite XVI.
As ever Dave Greenfield never put a foot wrong on keyboards and seemed to be enjoying the crowds reaction to the musical banter sparking off between the two front men.
As for legendry drummer Jet Black, the man just never quits and the fans should be grateful for that, for without this quiet man, it might not be the same. For all his health issues in recent years, Jet Black is still one of the best drummers that this country has produced.
Other songs to be played on the night were the superb, Strange Little Girls, Golden Brown, the new single Retro Rockets and the jaw dropping Always the Sun. Not one bad tune was played all night and the crowd were left breathless at the spectacle that had taken place before them.
The band are famed for never giving anything than their best to the faithful fans and curious onlookers and as ever they stuck to the bands core principles and delivered, what should be, one of the gigs of the year.
Ian D. Hall