Live Review: The Stranglers

An older crowd than the Metropolis is used to descended upon Fremantle to see journeyman punk legends The Stranglers. Age proved no barrier to the crowd's enthusiasm, as anticipation gave way to raw delight at seeing their heroes in the flesh. Although only two members of the original quartet from the mid-'70s remain, the punters seemed unperturbed and the atmosphere was unrelentingly electric.

Frontman Baz Warne was particularly good as he swaggered across the stage while belting out some sturdy vocals pausing between songs occasionally to cheekily accost drunk fans with his distinctive Wearside accent. Despite the band's often changing line-up they looked cohesive and composed, a trait which likely comes from performing together regularly for the best part of 15 years. What was particularly impressive was how they could navigate the band's musically varied catalogue with such ease; Warne seemed to easily be able to go from smashing out punky pub-rock to the waltz-like Golden Brown: a crowd favourite and perhaps their best known hit.

Something Better Change got the punters further hyped up as Warne and founding bassist JJ Burnel barked the chorus down the mics. The highlight of the night came with swinging Peaches, an innuendo-laden romp which was dedicated to a particularly raucous woman in the front row.

By the end of the set hype from the crowd had reached fever pitch and the chants of 'One more song' had started before the band had even left the stage. Returning predictably for the encore with Walk On By with its long instrumental sections and jangly harpsicord keyboard — a near constant feature of the Stranglers' catalogue. However the punters weren't satisfied with such a melancholic end and the band were forced back for a second encore with a lusty singalong of No More Heroes.