Buzzcocks, The Fall, John Cooper Clarke
London Kentish Town Forum
10th June, 2009

View: standing

Opening this triple-bill punk retrospective, Clarke enacted the role of 70s comedian rather than ‘punk poet’. Curiously leaving his poetry notebooks unopened, he instead consulted his one-liner book. Though the audience responded enthusiastically to his call for poetry requests, he only reverted to type late on, closing with a brilliant rendition of Evidently Chickentown. A fantastic backing band allowed The Fall’s Mark E. Smith to stagger, stare, wander on and off, and to use their microphones when his got in a tangle. Is he a man shouting unintelligible, nonsensical lyrics, or an innovator redefining the possibilities of the pop vocal? The question remains, but the performance was captivating. Recent track, 50 Year Old Man, was a particular standout. A bundle of energy still, Buzzcocks rattled through their greatest hits, from Orgasm Addict to Ever Fallen In Love, prompting a mosh fit for ’77. Dynamic live performers, they capped off an excellent evening.

Reviewed by Simon Riches
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