Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. November 2009.

An altercation with a fan over a camera flash left a packed house briefly in fear that Hugh Cornwell would not return for the second of a set of two halves featuring songs from his latest offering Hooverdam and re-visiting The Stranglers’ 1977 debut album Rattus Norvegicus.

However, Hugh returned to bring the house down with the old favourites, kicking off with Sometimes, followed by the entire album including Goodbye Toulouse, Peaches, Hanging Around and Down in the Sewer.

The first half had opened with new songs including Wrong Side of the Tracks, Going to the City and the wonderful Philip K. Ridiculous,

Bassist Caroline Campbell’s reading of the Rattus Norvegicus tracks was nothing short of fantastic.

Hugh finished with songs from other albums, including Lay Back on Me Pal from Hi Fi and the fans’ favourite No More Heroes,

Ian D. Hall