The Stranglers – On Stage On Screen

Are you a fan of The Stranglers? If you aren't you should be, and if you are, I've got some good news for you. Wienerworld Presentation has released The Stranglers On Stage, On Screen, an excellent DVD that contains not only their full 79 minute electric set at Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2005 as a five-piece, and a 30 minute acoustic set, but also the very strange (but award winning) short film Norfolk Coast starring bassist Jean Jacques Burnel, and featuring cameos by members of the band.

 

The title screen comes up with shots from both sets intercut with scenes from the film showing over a loop of the introduction to "Peaches". The electric set is first, and begins with shots of the crowd dancing and singing with the intro, and welcoming the band on stage. Both the audio and video quality are excellent as the band blazes through all your favorites, including "Skin Deep", "Lost Control", and "Time to Die", before ending with "No More Heroes". Stand-in frontman Paul Roberts is energetic and charismatic throughout the performance, though light on chatter between songs. The crowd is enthusiastic, singing along, even taking over the chorus on the cover of The Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night".

The acoustic set is also filmed at Shepherd's Bush Empire, during the same show, and introduces Roberts on some conga drums as the band comes back on stage. The acoustic set is more of an encore, with an additional 7 songs, including "Dutch Moon" and "Still Life". There's still plenty of power in the acoustic set, and the band are obviously enjoying themselves on stage almost as much as the crowd is, which makes this DVD fun to watch. Roberts at times sounds eerily like David Bowie, but it works well with this mature version of The Stranglers.

Norfolk Coast is a strange little film that will undoubtedly appeal to cinema buffs, and other fans of indy media. Even if you hate it, it's only about 15 minutes long, and packed with interesting imagery, so it won't eat up much of your life, and is worth watching at least once, but it's the concert footage here that's the real gem, and will put this DVD in regular rotation through your player. Copies are available HERE or on amazon.com

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff  Reporter
 

 

 

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