The Stranglers were always a problematic punk rock band - they were older and more musically proficient than the young, loud, and snotty crew, and their keyboard-driven sound had more to do with the Doors than the Damned. But as they prove here (in a Baz Warne-fronted incarnation, with Jet Black pushing 70 years old behind the drum kit) in 2007, that maturity of songwriting and musicianship in the composition still pays off 30 years after the 1977 show this commemorates at the Roundhouse. Burnel’s bass sounds as awesome as ever (playing a Shuker, I believe). Would love to know his secret. And Baz had me double-taking to make sure he wasn’t Hugh, his delivery was that spot-on to the original (not to mention the solo). I love old guys who don’t sound it.
