The Stranglers @ Northcote Theatre
Criminally underrated British punk.
Photos & review by Brittney McCarthy
Melbourne psych rock trio Heavy Amber opened their set with punchy drums, their track Puddles taking you back with their 60s inspired guitar riffs. Currently, Heavy Amber’s music can be listened to on SoundCloud, though I am hoping some more releases are on the horizon.
In the middle of their set smooth vocalist and guitarist Kasinda Faase let rip with a wild flute solo. Is there anything else a psych show needs? Maybe some impressive, tripped out pants, which Samuel Drew-Rumoro brought to the stage. I know this is not a fashion blog but I need to know more about these pants.
Finishing their set with Maximum Impetus the crowd at this point were in a meditative state unable to stop moving to Sienna Laycock’s hypnotic bass. The trio delivered a soulful, joyful and eclectic set, leaving me eagerly anticipating their future work.
This was a special show for me, The Stranglers were the soundtrack to my move to Melbourne in my early 20s. I had La Folie on repeat that first month I made one of the biggest changes in my life. No matter what mood you’re in, or what you’re going through, this album is a perfect soundtrack. It’s energetic but not overwhelming. It’s dark, but not depressing. If you’re new to 80s punk and new wave they are one of my first recommendations, with their chaotic dance keys, smooth bass riffs and dynamic vocals all blending together seamlessly.
Before I fangirl over The Stranglers I just wanted to share a venue tip for my fellow short humans. As soon as I left the front of the stage I couldn’t see anything at all, as a visual person I’ve found that Northcote Theatre is best if you arrive early enough for a balcony spot or manage to snag a spot right at the barrier. If you’re someone who is happy just to be absorbed in the acoustics, don’t worry about where you end up because sound at Northcote Theatre is wonderful from just about anywhere in the venue including in the foyer.
Opening the show with Relentless we were treated to a taste of everything that makes The Stranglers sound so distinctively them. Ominous guitar leading into swirling keys from Toby Hounsham and JJ Burnel’s distinctive bass, Jim MacAulay’s shimmering and powerful drums and then Baz Warnes gravelly voice begins delivering lyrics with intensity and passion.
Nice ‘N’ Sleazy followed with the classic British punk sound entwined with keys and a driving constant beat. It would be remiss of me not to mention Golden Brown, so popular that I was lucky to hear it at all over the crowd’s admiration. Every song felt nostalgic, both the classics and new tracks from their most recent album Dark Matters released in 2021.
My personal favourite Stranglers song is Hanging Around and I was stoked to finally hear it in person. I am not one to sing or dance at a show; you’ll usually catch me at the back, arms folded, with a slight head bop. But I had to belt this one out with the crowd.
The defining sound of The Stranglers is their use of harpsichord and keys, with their original keyboardist Dave Greenfield sadly passing in 2020. Towards the end of the show Baz Warne and Jean-Jacques Burnel took a seat and the lights dimmed for an emotional acoustic version of And If You Should See Dave… I spied a few tears and people with arms around each other. Even as I write this, I’m getting goosebumps thinking about how it was such a special and intimate moment despite being shared with 1500 of us.
Capping their 1.5-hour-long set that felt barely 30 minutes long with No More Heros. The Stranglers have a diverse back catalogue and can do no wrong with everything they release. After attending this show there is no question in my mind that they are criminally underrated.
