Stranglers Yeovil Oct 2005

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With a new album currently being worked on and after their most successful and busiest year in 20 years the boys are playing only a handful of gigs to see out 2005. One of which is Yeovil Westlands, an unusual venue in a never before visited town. The boys are no strangers to the West Country though, as they are working on their new album here and some live fairly close by. Also, there's not a lot of gig venues round here. Most bands play either Bournemouth or Bristol and move on, so an interesting booking because its places like Yeovil and surrounding towns where The Stranglers grass roots following is.

There were some fears of the gig not selling well but on arrival at 7.30 the place was already pretty full. Yeovil Westlands holds 1500 and I reckon there was about 1100 there.  By word of mouth alone from me we accounted for 8 tickets and 6 of those hadn't heard the Stranglers for some 20 odd years! I suspect this pattern could be repeated around the country. Tickets were a steep £19.50 in advance and I think £24 on the night. People had come from all across the country which shows the band's fanbase loyalty. The support band were Chapter 13.  I doubt they'll see an audience of the size they did for some time. To be charitable lets leave it at that.

Anyway onto the gig itself. Excellent sound, moody lighting and the boys were on top form entering the stage and starting as usual with the floor vibrating bass rumble of Norfolk Coast.

One nasty shock though which was the caterpillar on Paul's lip and hairstyle. It seems petty for me to mention it but unless he's filming a part for TV or is earning extra cash moonlighting in porn movies then its a bad move. Dave Vanian grew one over a year back and thankfully he saw sense. Freddie Mercury also grew one and kept his. Make of that what you will!

Anyway the unthinkable happened and JJ sang Death & Night & Blood and I was in seventh heaven hearing that song again. That was it for me and it was off down the front to take a pummelling and give the youngsters a run for their money :) The Stranglers have a back catalogue to die for and they mixed in old and new songs (I say new as in Norfolk Coast) and delivered the goods to an appreciative audience.

Very little conversation between songs but the band, as expected, are a slick machine delivering the goods. Burnel as usual is the foundation of it all with his crouching style and barracuda bass but to be honest they all play a part.  Personal highlights were Death & Night & Blood and Goodbye Toulouse. As far as I'm concerned the band I saw IS now The Stranglers.

So all in all a great gig. Good natured at the front with everyone having a good time and a sing. Surprised that the Stranglers hadn't tried to fit in couple more new ones to gauge reactions and also surprised after what JJ said in the Punk77 interview about how they speed up live how slow some of the songs were - Goodbye Toulouse and No More Heroes particularly so. Speaking to people afterwards everyone thought it had been a great show. Roll on the new album!

Set List (Not in order)
Norfolk Coast
Skin Deep
Always The Sun
Big Thing Coming
Yukio (Death & Night & Blood)
All Day & All Of The Night
Walk On By
Mine All Mine
Five Minutes
Duchess
I've Been Wild
Long Black Veil
Golden Brown
Something About Nothing
Grip
Tank
Goodbye Toulouse
No More Heroes

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