Stiff Little Fingers at the Gramercy Theatre

Jake Burns & Ali McMordie

As a schoolboy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Jake Burns sang and played guitar in a cover band called Highway Star, named after the Deep Purple song. In 1977, at the height of the violent ethno-nationalist "Troubles" conflict in Northern Ireland, the band discovered punk and became Stiff Little Fingers, named after the Vibrators song. Upon achieving success on British radio, Stiff Little Fingers were at the forefront of the punk movement. Stiff Little Fingers relocated in 1979 to London, England, but then split in 1983. Burns reformed the band in 1987 with the idea of a short reunion, but although personnel changes continued, the band has continued touring and occasionally recording. Stiff Little Fingers presently consists of Burns, guitarist Ian McCallum, bassist Ali McMordie, and drummer Steve Grantley. Stiff Little Fingers' 10th and most recent album is 2014's No Going Back.

Stiff Little Fingers' 40th anniversary tour brought the band to a headlining date at the Gramercy Theatre tonight. The band's music was spit-shined compared to its earliest and grittiest days, and a careful listen suggested that much of this music could no longer be classified as punk by today's standards. The backbone of many of the songs were pop and quite a number of the melodies had what could be branded as an American country music slant. The band was tight, roaring with blazing energy, with clear vocals and rocking backup. The band opened with one of its earliest songs, "Wasted Life," which was about youth not having anything to do during the Troubles era in Northern Ireland. "My Dark Places" chronicled Burns' personal struggle with depression. "Guilty as Sin" was about sexual abuse. Many other songs featured political or social commentary. In the end, Stiff Little Fingers' old songs preserved a vital kick and the band's performance registered as solid and as strong as in the band's heyday. One can only hope that the band will continue to write and record new material.

Visit Stiff Little Fingers at www.slf.rocks.

Setlist:

1. Wasted Life
2. Just Fade Away
3. Straw Dogs
4. My Dark Places
5. Safe as Houses
6. Breakout
7. At the Edge
8. Barbed Wire Love
9. Guilty as Sin
10. Roots, Radicals, Rockers & Reggae
11. When We Were Young
12. Nobody's Hero
13. Tin Soldiers
14. Suspect Device

Encore:

1. Johnny Was (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
2. Gotta Gettaway
3. Alternative Ulster