Review: Stiff Little Fingers, O2 Academy

Stiff Little Fingers are unlikely to have their name dropped as an inspiration by the latest rock sensations, and it’s unlikely that desperate celebrities will be wearing their shirts to try and establish some street cred (unless there’s a sudden shortage of Misfits and Ramones merch): but they will always have a loyal audience willing to support their gigs and new music. And so, a year after their last visit, the band was back in town with a set that reshuffled their catalogue to good effect.

A breathless, breakneck opening saw the beer flying, the crowd singing and several hundredweight of middle aged fans testing the strength of the Academy floor as they pogoed like it was 1979. The set drew from the early days – plenty of fan favourites and the welcome return of Just Fade Away – with material from the later years (Harp received a humongous response) and the splendid new recording No Going Back.

It’s refreshing to see that SLF remain angry about the wrongs that surround us all. Guilty As Sin originally tackled child abuse back home, but it’s bang on again with the current revelations about establishment cover-ups of abuse of youngsters. And is it too much of a stretch to suggest that the lyrics of Wasted Life could just as easily apply to the radicalisation of young Muslims in Western Europe?

Elsewhere, My Dark Places (a standout cut on No Going Back) is a heartfelt tune about main Finger Jake Burns’ struggle with depression, and both the track and his comments about the condition clearly hit a note with the crowd.

But don’t be thinking that SLF are just about the heavy issues. They delivered these lyrics with high-octane rock’n’roll, passion and, invariably, a chorus that will stick in your head for weeks.

The only misfire in the show was arguably choosing (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding as an encore. While other covers fit seamlessly with the band’s own material (The Specials praised SLF’s Doesn’t Make it Alright as better than their original), the Lowe tune failed to fit. It certainly makes sense lyrically, but they somehow failed to convert it to fit their sound – with a noticeable dip in audience energy.

Closing their third encore with Alternative Ulster, however, gave the crowd the chance to spend the last of their energy in a mental culmination of a set.

It’s been thirty-odd years since the guys started out covering Deep Purple tunes, but they remain a credible recording act – and one of the finest live bands you’ll see this year or next.

And the most ‘punk’ moment of the night? Rhythm guitar man Ian McCallum’s Bad Co. tee shirt. Respect.

Stiff Little Fingers played the O2 Academy, Bristol on Saturday, March 7. For more O2 Academy lineups, visit www.o2academybristol.co.uk/