Stiff Little Fingers | The Ruts D.C. | Lemon Tree | Aberdeen | 19.03.18
The SLF “Bad to the Bone” Nationwide tour reaches Aberdeen on a Monday night. The third Scottish gig, after a wild weekend, where they had their annual St Patrick’s day gig in Glasgow, followed by a gig in Inverness at Ironworks. You’d think that anyone of these gig’s would merit a day off but this juggernaut tour of two of the biggest names in Punk is relentless. The sold out venue has hundreds of eager gig goer’s lined up awaiting the doors to open. The Lemon Tree capacity of 550 is the smallest of the Scottish dates but this does not deter either band from a full on performance.
The Ruts D.C.
The Ruts take the stage to a warm rousing applause from the crowd, after all, they are one of the most universally known bands from the Punk era and possibly, three of the genuinely nicest guys you’d ever meet. Segs Jennings (Bass), starts the introduction saying “Let’s do some songs about Revolution, Governments, Money, Rioting, Fighting and a bit of Love”. The first song is called “Surprise”, from their highly acclaimed “Music Must Destroy” album released in Sept 2016. Next up, “talking bout police” Segs belts out, the song “Suss”, one of the regular set favourites which has Dave Ruffy (Drums), upping the pace, matched by a great punchy bass with the wonderfull waves of Leigh Heggarty’s (Guitar) Black Gibson Les Paul. “Mighty Soldier”, the first of the reggae based songs demonstrates the diversity within the band. It’s hard to believe your listening to a three piece when The Ruts are in full flow. Definitely, the finest exponents of reggae within the Punk movement. Moving along at pace again, “West One – Shine On Me” is up next and again, the drums/bass drive the song along while Leigh’s guitar is masterful.
Segs now calls for the crowd to make a new anthem for the next song. “Music Must Destroy”. The title track from their last album. It definitely show’s where the band are now and they are just as relevant today as they were back in 1979, Segs sings “We are not your property” bringing the song to a close.
“Staring at The Rude Boys”, one of the big hit’s for The Rut’s, having reached #22 in the UK chart’s is next. The crowd are loving the faithful rendition of the song.
“Jah War” , the second reggae based song, another favourite of the band and crowd alike, is brought to an end with Segs clearing an issue with some stage hum in his monitors before he and Ruffy suggest they “Kill the Pain”, yet another song from the last album. New or old, the set is like a greatest hits which show’s the strength in depth they have having been formed for over 40yrs. To demonstrate this, “In a Rut” and “Babylon’s Burning” are hard to follow as they are the first two singles released by the band and most successful, but the last song “Psychic Attack”, the first single from “Music Must Destroy” ends the performance in energetic style.
Stiff Little Fingers
Formed at the same time as The Ruts D.C., SLF are still selling out venues every year when they play. There is a real hard-core following for SLF and their crowd is very faithful and relish every live gig. Jake Burns (Guitar/Vocals), Ali McMordie (Bass), Steve Grantley (Drums), Ian McCallum (Guitar) make up SLF and take to the stage in Aberdeen for the 9th date of the “Bad to the Bone” tour.
SLF
Jake Burns kicks off the set with an old favourite “Wait and See” from their second studio album “Nobody’s Hero’s. The crowd immediately relish seeing their heroes tonight. The title song from the album next, followed by “Gotta Gettaway”. Like the Ruts earlier, the set has a feel of a greatest hits show already. Mid set highlight see’s Jake Burns wax lyrical about the heydays of punk and how many great songs came out of this era and this leads into The Specials – “Doesn’t make it alright”. McMordie’s bass give the song the back bone as the crowd singalong.
So, it’s not all about politics with SLF, Burn’s blasts into “I could be happy yesterday” from the 1997 Tinderbox Album. The songs are timeless whether new or old. “I could be a soldier…..” the instantly recognisable start to “Wasted Life” has the crowd moshing along before Burn’s talks of his depression and how he wrote the next song as a self help guide to help anyone who identifies with how he felt. “My Dark Places” keeps the pace up with Burn’s singing he’s not going back to his dark places. The set is nearing the end but not before crowd favourite’s “At The Edge” and “Tin Soldiers” raise the energy in the room and have the crowd singing at the top of their voices. The false endings for “Tin Soldiers” keep the audience going until the seminal “Suspect Device” the highlight of the set so far before the band briefly take their leave of the stage. “Steve Grantley” starts off the drumming to “Johnny Was” which is a 10 minute epic again having the crowd singing.
There’s never any doubt what the final song would be and the chords of “Alternative Ulster” confirm the ultimate anthem for the SLF fans. I think there’s more for the kids in Belfast these days but for the next 3 minutes we’re taken back the bleak days of the late 70’s. The crowd in Aberdeen have seen SLF at the top of their game. Having just come back from Australia and New Zealand, they have a busy summer ahead with festivals.