Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. October 2008.

Twenty two fantastic songs played at breakneck speed in a head-turning 90 minutes.  If there is any other band which can do this and do it superbly well then I have yet to see them.

The Stranglers are one of the great survivors of the British music scene and even with drummer Jet Black recovering from a heart attack, which has limited his appearances this year, the band still give some of the best live performances to ever appreciative audiences.

They opened with (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) and the excellent 5 Minutes.  By playing Spectre Of Love from their last studio album, Suite 16 and the much underrated Always The Sun the band gave most fans something to remember the night by.

They finished with two encores, including the song that has spanned the generations and yet its meaning is still clear, Something Better Change and the classic No More Heroes.

Ian D. Hall