STIFF LITTLE FINGERS
THE CAMDEN ROUNDHOUSE
Original and premier Belfast Punks Stiff Little Fingers round off their now annual March tour with another superlative and genre-defining performance. Not many bands would open with their usual encore or entertain the crowd with Abba before the, here we go, ‘Go For It’ intro. However, the DJ played ‘Mama Mia’, and SLF kicked the night off with a biggie, ‘Suspect Device’. The galloping rush of ‘State Of Emergency’ and the anthemic punch of ‘Fly The Flag’ complete a surefire crowd-pleasing opening trio. The first of many electrifying surprises arrives with a brand-new cut, the tour naming, and the Chicago-based saying ‘Hate Has No Home Here’. The song’s message reveals that while time might speed ahead, the band’s bark ‘n bite political message remains ever-questioning, deeply heartfelt and undeniably catchy.
The Stiff Little faithful get the nostalgic sing-a-longs they crave as ‘At The Edge’, ‘Silver Lining’ and a strangely emotive ‘Love Of The Common People’ all swish past. The setlist curve balls continue as ‘Last Train From Wasteland’, ‘Empty (yes, it sounds like Motorhead) Sky’, and the criminally underrated ‘Get A Life’. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Jake Burns’s voice improves with each passing year, and while his and the entire band’s delivery might be hampered by a bout of the pesky tour lurgy, he and they never miss a beat. ‘Strummerville’, ‘Nobody’s Hero’ and the “go on yer fuckers” howled back ‘Gotta Getaway’ send the band backstage for a brief breather. The two-song encore is started with The Specials ‘Doesn’t Make It Alright’ before the only song that can ever really close an SLF gig. ‘Alternative Ulster’ is gifted to the celebratory crowd who so loyally follow Jake, Ali, Steve, and Ian from Belfast to Barrowlands and back again.
Stiff Little Fingers will play a huge hometown Belfast gig and headline the legendary Rebellion Festival in August.
For more Stiff Little Fingers info, including tour dates, merch and band news, head over to https://slf.rocks/home-base