# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z




Stranglers - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 16/10/2004

  by Denzil Watson

published: 16 / 10 / 2004



Stranglers - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 16/10/2004

intro

It's been fourteen years since Hugh Cornwell walked out on the Stranglers. Denzil Watson finds time to be the greatest mellower, and Cornwell, with a new autobiography out, paying greater tribute to his former band than in his previous live shows

Wednesday nights have never been the best night of the week for gigs in the Steel city but a pretty decent crowd is starting to build up in Sheffield's delightfully proportioned Boardwalk venue to see ex-Strangler Hugh Cornwell and his current live incarnation, Three Piece Suite. It's hard to believe it but it's now fourteen years since Cornwell walked out of The Stranglers back in the depths of 1990. Cornwell's been round the block a time or two both during and since his infamous Stranglers days and, for the first time, is just about starting to look his fifty-five years of age. His passion for playing live hasn't waned in the slightest. His recently published auto-biography, 'A Multitude of Sins', seems to have mellowed him slightly but at the same time brought home the significance of his Stranglers years. Tonight's set list pays testament to this. While past solo sets have included a smattering of carefully chosen Stranglers' numbers, tonight it's one solo song/one Stranglers song. His solo career has had its moments. Tracks from the newly released 'Beyond Elysian Fields' combine edgy folk with the old Cornwell song writing of yore. Pick of the bunch from the new LP are the moody 'Land of a Thousand Kisses' and the Lennon-influenced 'I Don't Mind'. 'Black Hair, Black Eyes, Black Suit' from 1997's 'Guilty' LP and 'Leave Me Alone' from the more recent 'Hi Fi' album stand out as beacons of his previous solo achievements. But it's the classics from his Stranglers days that really get the crowd going. A muscular 'Nice'n' Sleazy', a melodic 'Always the Sun', the epic guitar solo from 'Hanging Around' and the anthemic 'Duchess' are all high points. Nothing though can top the rendition of all time punk classic 'No More Heroes'. And while at times there appears to be gaping holes left where Dave Greenfield's arpeggio keyboard fills would normally be, it's a welcome chance to appreciate just how fine a deep and resonant voice Cornwell is blessed with. He had made a good choice in his musicians. Bassist Steve Lawrence, ex- of LA punkers the Deadbeats, more than does justice to Burnel's bass riffs while 19-year-old drummer Windsor McGilvray, a mere 45 years the junior of Jet Black, belies his meek years with a mature and faultless performance on the skins. Finishing with a brutal version of 'I Feel Like A Wog' there's still time for 'Peaches' as a dessert. And as the crowd begins to file out Cornwell appears stage front by the merchandise stall to chat affably with admirers and sign copies of his autobiography. Time, indeed, is the greatest mellower. The photographs that accompany this article were originally published on www.virtual-festivals.com



Band Links:-
http://www.thestranglers.net
https://www.facebook.com/thestranglers
https://twitter.com/stranglerssite
http://www.stranglers.org.uk/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stranglers
http://downinthesewer.com/


Picture Gallery:-
Stranglers - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 16/10/2004


Stranglers - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 16/10/2004


Stranglers - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 16/10/2004



Post A Comment


your name
ie London, UK
Check box to submit

interviews


Interview with Jean-Jacques Burnel (2019)
Stranglers - Interview with Jean-Jacques Burnel
Denzil Watson caught up with legendary bassist and founder member of The Stranglers, Jean-Jacques Burnel, to chat about their current tour, the increasing possibility of a new Stranglers album and the invention of a new word.
Interview (2018)
Interview (2017)
Interview (2016)
Interview with Jean-Jacques Burnel (2015)
Interview with JJ Burnel (2015)
Interview with Baz Warne (2013)

live reviews


Rock City, Nottingham, 23/3/2022
Stranglers - Rock City, Nottingham, 23/3/2022
Following the loss of founder member, keyboardist Dave Greenfield and Covid related rescheduling, punk legends The Stranglers make a blazing return to the stage in Nottingham. Denzil Watson reviews.
02 Apollo, Manchester, 30/3/2019
(With Therapy?), 02 Academy, Liverpool, 6/3/2018
Rock City, Nottingham, 13/3/2017
Leadmill, Sheffield, 7/3/2004

favourite album


Black and White (2011)
Stranglers - Black and White
In our 'Re: View' series, in which our writers examine albums from the past,Denzil Watson reflects upon the Stranglers' 1978 third album, 'Black and White'

photography


Photoscapes (2016)
Stranglers - Photoscapes
Denzil Watson photographs the Stranglers at a show at the Sheffield Academy on their latest tour in which they performed their seminal 'Black and White' album in its entirety



reviews


Giants (2012)
Faltering seventeenth album from the Stranglers, which, after an excellent opening, starts to stagnate badly


most viewed articles






most viewed reviews






related articles


: Interview (2023
Wingmen - Interview
Bringing together members of The Stranglers, The Damned, Ruts DC and Johnny Moped, Wingmen recently completed their debut tour showcasing their acclaimed debut album. Lead singer, guitarist and Stranglers’ frontman Baz Warne chatted to Denzil Watson about the group’s progress
Hugh Cornwell: Interview (2015)







Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors