[kj] OT: Hugh Cornwell

[Bill Meissner]

   I saw that same show here in Hollywood CA. at La Cita a while ago
except we had the great Clem Burke on drums here. The show was excellent
as you said and Fish (bass player) was incredible - he totally nailed
"Goodbye Toulouse". 

 

                   Billy

 

From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net]
On Behalf Of Geoffrey ODonoghue
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 7:15 PM
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: [kj] OT: Hugh Cornwell

 

I saw ex-Strangler Hugh Cornwell here in Brisbane last Friday night. His


Australian shows have been in two parts with the first being a mix of
solo and 

Stranglers songs (probably more of the latter) and the second part being
the 

Rattus Norvegicus album in its entirety. I'm a big Stranglers fan (in
all their 

incarnations) but I don't have any of Cornwell's solo material apart
from his 

latest, Hooverdam, which is a free download at his website.
Despite a low audience turn-out (making for a bit of a subdued
atmosphere) I 

really enjoyed the show. The band consists of just Cornwell, bass player
Steve 

(Fish) Fishman and drummer Chris Bell. No keyboard player (and no
backing tapes 

or sequencers)! Despite this they pull off the Stranglers songs very
well with 

clever arrangements that allow the guitar, bass and even drums (I'm
thinking 

Golden Brown here) to cover for the integral parts normally handled by
the 

keyboards. There wasn't a dud song in the whole gig and it was quite
amazing to 

hear some keyboard-heavy Stranglers songs like Duchess and Down In The
Sewer 

played by the trio.
Cornwell (turning 62 in August and looking very fit and healthy) still
seems to 

have his dry sense of humour and, again despite the smallish audience,
he gave a 

strong, professional performance. He came over to the merch stand after
the show 

so I bought a 2009 2CD live show (the whole of Hooverdam and Rattus)
which he 

signed.
I think he's been doing similar shows (all of Rattus and other
Stranglers plus 

solo) over the last few years so if you're interested I urge you to have
a look 

on Youtube (search for Hugh Cornwell Brisbane for example) and if you
like what 

you see/hear then go and see him.
I don't know if this claiming of his Stranglers legacy is a recent
development 

but I think it's great and only right that he should perform those
songs. I 

notice that he's even using the classic Stranglers font for his name on
recent 

releases. Good on him.

 

Geoff

 

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