Buzzcocks
I last saw Buzzcocks in concert way back in 1990, making this the longest gap I’ve ever had between seeing the same band. I’m not sure you should read too much into that stat, but it suggests I’m not a rabid fan, but have certainly liked their music for a very long time. It had proved impossible to glean any information about the support act, so when I arrived to discover it was Alan Hiom, you could colour me underwhelmed. Local lad Alan, formerly of Darwin & The Dinosaur wasn’t bad actually – an engaging and confident singer songwriter, but despite throwing in a Billy Bragg cover it was all a bit one paced and mostly provided the background music to the early evening chat as the venue filled up.
Buzzcocks are one of the finest pop groups this country has ever produced. Brilliant, witty, succinct pop nuggets scattered throughout their career, especially those classic early years. Their Singles Going Steady album is perfect, their first three studio albums equally so. With Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle still flying the flag, the packed Waterfront was all set when the band took the stage just after 9pm. You can’t go far wrong with an opening salvo of Boredom & Fast Cars, the latter being one of my absolute favourite songs…and yet somehow it wasn’t catching. A spark seemed to be missing. The sound mix wasn’t great and although Pete’s voice sounded like it was in good shape, it wasn’t loud enough in the mix. Listen to those studio recordings, Pete’s voice is absolutely key to the sound of the band, that high pitched, nasally sneer is what gives the band their edge. I actually can barely remember the 1990 gig, so perhaps Pete’s stage persona has always been like this, but here he gave practically nothing. There was no sense that I was seeing The Man, The Legend, Mr. Pete Shelley. He seemed disinterested, barely spoke to the crowd and hung at the back when he wasn’t singing. The Bloke on drums, and The Other Guy on bass were proficient obviously, but they could have been anybody, so the whole show was carried by The Man, The Legend Mr. Steve Diggle. Now we’re talking. Steve preened and posed all night, playing his battered Telecaster like a man possessed, clearly wearing his Mod influences on his sleeve. He carried the show and was easily the best thing about the whole night.
I realize this is all very negative, and there were numerous great songs played throughout the 21 song set, I also understand that the band wanted to represent their whole career, but hands up how many of the audience have heard 2014’s The Way album? No, me neither. I enjoyed myself, but this could and should have been so much better. I’ve been to roughly 45 gigs that have been superior to this in 2016. The crowd mostly observed, rather than involved themselves. This was a band celebrating their 40th anniversary and we deserved better. I’ve seen Stiff Little Fingers and the Damned live this year and Buzzcocks are not in the same league as those still vital and alive contemporaries. Despite the amount of songs played the gig was done by 10.20. 1 hour & 15 minutes at £25 a ticket? Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
I’ll let you into a secret. After Alan Hiom I nipped upstairs to catch some of Oz metallers King Parrot, and returned after Buzzcocks to get the last 40 minutes in of Prong’s headline set. What a difference. Despite the small crowd the atmosphere was electric, the music animated, the band giving their all and even though I don’t know a single song by Prong they were by far the best band I saw all night.
