Secret
2011
The Buzzcocks were formed back in 1976. The band went through several line-up changes in their early years, but they still managed to make an impact during the first round of the UK punk explosion. By 1981 they called it quits and would not reform until the end of the decade. Since then they have been back and forth with reunions and various line-ups. The particular set finds the Buzzcocks playing live at the Shepherds Bush Empire in 2003. They crank out two dozen songs on the CD and even more on the companion DVD. Just a few of the songs include "Times up", "Ever fallen in love (with someone you shouldn't have?), "She's a girl from the chainstore" and "What do I get?". Punk rock is one of those genres where I think it's frequently difficult for a band to sound as good when they got older. I am certainly saying that as a put down, but rather that punk rock frequently relies on energy and spirit that comes with youth and not every band can replicate that when they get older. Although it is immediately clear that the Buzzcocks have managed to retain much of that charge in their live. They rip out track after track with blasts of energy and keep the songs sounding fresh rather than just going through the motions. The are a bit subdued on the DVD just because they don't move around much, but they still look and sound very much like they are into giving the best show they can. Definitely a solid set.
I saw the Buzzcocks last year and Steve Diggle was still like a little kid. Pete Shelley seemed kind of grandfatherly in a way, but they fed well off of each other.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about it if you want to check it out.