Live Review: Stiff Little Fingers - Manchester Academy
25th March 2022
Support: TV Smith, The Professionals
Words: Dan Barnes
Photos: Rich Price
Almost two years to the night from the original date on my ticket and the Fingers finally make it back to the Academy for what is now called the Sure Wish We had 20/20 Vision Tour. Luckily, the originally advertised bill has managed to remain intact so the evening’s entertainment begins with former The Adverts frontman, TV Smith, who brings his own brand of acoustic anarchy to the stage. Songs about social disparities and impeding war with Russia should be anachronisms in the twenty-first century but they are as relevant now as they were when they were written in the 1970s. Gary Gilmore’s Eyes gets a huge reception and One Chord Wonder ends the set.
The Professionals smash out a bunch of good, solid punk anthems from across their long career. Just Another Dream and Kick Down the Doors come from the debut, while 2017’s What in the World? sees Going, Going, Gone, Monkeys and Rewind aired. Would have been good to hear some material from last years’ excellent SNAFU album but it wasn’t to be. Tom Spencer attempts an unusual method of enticing punters to their merch stall by inviting anyone “who wants to sniff a Sex Pistol” to come along. History will one day reveal how sniffed Paul Cook was this Manchester night while, in the meantime, the first singalong of the evening is curated by The Professionals’ cover of the Pistols’ Silly Thing.
Just as in Blackburn back in October, Stiff Little Fingers show a clear understanding of their audience demographics by piping a medley of 70s and 80s TV theme songs over the PA. Thunderbirds, Captain Pugwash, The Sweeney and Steptoe & Son, while a near sell-out punk crowd look to revisit their youth and sing along to The Wombles, It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum and Minder.
Nostalgia aside, the roar that goes up as the stage lights dim and the first strains of the Go For It intro pour from the speakers is deafening. It’s a bold statement when SLF open with Suspect Devise and, for a band notorious for delivering consistently high energy performances, tonight sees them upping the ante even further.
Playing in front of the 20/20 Vision artwork, Jake thanks those fans who kept the faith – and their tickets – for the past couple of years. At the Edge and Fly the Flag are usual Fingers live fodder, but the inclusion of Hope Street into the set is something of a curve ball. A wee while later and Bits of Kids also gets a rare live outing
“I didn’t spend lockdown eating pies and shaving my head.” comments Jake in reference to his new do, as he introduces a new track, Last Protest Song – a reaction to all those bands who have a platform but don’t have anything useful to say.
When We Were Young is dedicated to Phil Lynott and features a few bars of a reprise of At the Edge, while the odd timings of Safe as Houses lands with the capacity crowd. And who says the punks are too old to rock? The crowd suddenly parts as an attendee – looking slightly worse for wear – bolts through but, alas, fails to make it, vomiting on the floor not four feet away. Could be Covid-related, could be something else; probably the sauce but without further investigation I would not like make a definitive statement.
Bass maestro Ali McMordie steps forward to leads Barbed Wire Love as the set reaches a crescendo through Strummerville, State of Emergency, Wasted Life and Gotta Getaway. There’s a brief absence from the stage before SLF return for Tin Soldiers and the obligatory Alternative Ulster. No matter how many times I hear that closing track it aways gives me goose-bumps and fills me with an overwhelming urge to sing at the top of my voice; which is unfortunate for any in the near vicinity as I good singer I am certainly not.
Walking away from the venue I realised the Fingers hadn’t played previous set mainstays like their covers of Bob Marley’s Johnny Was… or The Specials’ Doesn’t Make it Alright. Similarly, since 2014, a SLF set is unthinkable without My Dark Places or Guilty as Sin. But, when you have a history and discography as extensive as Stiff Little Fingers there can only be so many songs can be crammed into the show. However, should Jake and co decide to dust off Last Train from the Wasteland for the Rebellion show in August I would be eternally grateful
All photo credits: Rich Price Photography
