Late replacements after the Primitives were struck down with the lurgy, Ex Tc frontman Steve Hampton reckons they got the call because they’re cheap. Whilst I can’t comment on their price, I can also say that they deserve to be right here.
It’s a case of “what’s in a name” for the guys, too, as they’re keeping the flame of XTC alive. Featuring their old drummer Terry Chambers and with the blessing of Andy Partridge (who apparently came up with the band moniker) they are a mighty proposition.
It helps, of course, that they have a load of great songs to play. “Senses Working Overtime” and later material like “The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead” (made famous by Crash Test Dummies) are all delivered with both a class and a cheeky smile.
More than that though, it’s noticeable that the guitar lines of Hampton and the bass of Terry Lines are both more prominent than you’d imagine – particularly on work like “Generals And Majors”.
The big hit “Making Plans For Nigel” is tossed out before the end – and proves my theory yet again that the best things don’t ever date to be true.
The same can be said for the last one too. “Life Begins At The Hop” ends set that might have been a last-minute scramble but felt like a celebration of excellent songs.
Hugh Cornwell has just played “Skin Deep” when he addresses the crowd. “That’s the way it is going to go,” he says. “The bedrock will be my stuff, with the odd Stranglers diamond thrown in”.
The solo ones that he’d played were from last year’s “Moments Of Madness” record “Iwannahideinsideaya” is typical too of its darkly beguiling charms.
He’s right as well about the pattern. Every third song, give or take, is a Stranglers tune, and the way they fit together is interesting. “Beautiful Nightmare” is appropriately ominous, and the following revisit of “Strange Little Girl” likewise.
“……Moments” title cut is tinged with regaee but the next one “When I Was Young Man” is built around the drums of the absolutely superb Windsor McGilvray as if to showcase the depth here.
Side 2 (if you will) is ushered in by the punk stylings of “Pure Evel” and there’s an obvious highlight in the shape of “Mr Leather” (his homage to Lou Reed).
The Stranglers songs here are given a retouch, and the take on “Always The Sun” is particularly impressive,
There are touches of punk throughout and the undercurrent is there on the strident “Goodbye Toulouse” and the garage stylings of “Live It And Breathe It”
The encore starts similarly, “First Bus To Babylon” (“I am fond of this one”) from his debut solo record mixes with the Stranglers’ “Nice And Sleazy” and “(Get A) Grip (On Yourself”) and in so doing that would be that.
An odd show in some ways given that it had none of the usual trappings of clapping along, bullshit audience participation, or anything other than songs to carry it for almost two hours.
That said, maybe the clue is in the last song itself: “The worst crime that I ever did was playing rock n roll” it goes – and when everything is analysed, there ain’t nothing wrong with that.
