Stiff Little Fingers/Ricky Warwick - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow 17th March 2025

These Barras gigs sell out fast year after year, and for good reason. Because we know SLF always deliver.

After a quick frisk on entry (fnar, fnar) I make a beeline for the merch stall upstairs. Hats off to SLF who had a great selection available and at very reasonable prices - it’s good to see they don’t take advantage of their fans, unlike many bands these days.

If you were to sit down and draw a rockstar then I think most people would end up with something that resembled Ricky Warwick. Along with his band, The Fighting Hearts, Ricky ambled onto the Barrowlands stage at 7:45pm wearing his leather jacket, black jeans and low slung guitar. Whilst the crowd was still pretty sparse, those that were there could clearly see that Ricky was ready for business.  

 

I have seen Ricky Warwick a few times over the years. The first time was on this same Barrowlands stage in 1989 when he and his erstwhile band, The Almighty, opened for the Ramones. I remember that as a night of no-nonsense rock and roll.

 

Tonight was much the same. From the get-go this four piece band tear it up. Much of the set list was drawn from the bands current top ten album “Blood Ties”. ‘Angels of Desolation’, ‘The Crickets Stayed in Clovis’ and ‘Rise and Grind’ being big pulls from that disc. 

 

The Fighting Hearts were outstanding too. Tax the Heat’s drummer, Jack Taylor, was behind the kit and really gave it large for the full set. Richard Vernon, who was previously with The Mission and looked every inch the reformed goth, provided a really banging bassline throughout the night. Guitar was supplied by another goth survivor, Ben Christo. I saw Ben with the Sisters of Mercy a few years ago and really enjoyed his guitaring then. He and Ricky bounced well off each other, Ben taking on a few solos and delivering a solid rhythm across the show.

 

This was a short set, only 45 minutes, but the band packed everything they could into it - including a cracking cover of ‘Born To Lose’, the old Johnny Thunders tune. There was little time for banter, rather a very loud (and that’s a good thing) rock and roll wave crashed over the Barrowlands. By mid-way through the set the crowd had increased significantly and it looked to me that people were really enjoying it.  

 

Ricky Warwick and The Fighting Hearts were a great St Patrick’s Day opener for Stiff Little Fingers. The Celtic influence that came through their set was just enough to remind everyone what the day was and why they were here.

 

Fingers crossed, Ricky and his band take on their own promotional tour soon - a full set from these guys would be a night worth investing in.

After a handful of Bond themes were played over the PA, the lights went off again and the familiar ‘Go For It’ intro began. This is always the cue for the obligatory crowd chant-along, and when the band appeared they were welcomed as returning heroes. 

‘Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae’ kicked the set off in grand style and was quickly followed up by gutsy, rapid versions of ‘At the Edge’ and ‘Wasted Life’. The Glasgow punters were clearly up for this one with lots of friendly jostling down the front.

Next up was an unexpected addition to the set, ‘Won’t Be Told’, which had amazingly had never been played live before this tour, more than 42 years after its release! 

Another new addition, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’, followed. Not the Christmas song popularised by Harry Belafonte or Boney M, but a new song about the pampered and spoiled son of Mary and Fred, who would go on to become the President of the USA - in Jake’s words, it’s about a “f**king arsehole”. 

Jake has always been an interesting lyricist and his songs continue to be relevant, whether they’re political commentary or about life’s struggles. More new material would be very welcome as it’s been 11 years since the last album, ‘Not Going Back’. 

Much of any Fingers setlist picks itself - old classics such as ‘Tin Soldiers’, ‘Just Fade Away’, ‘Nobody’s Hero’ and more recent favourite ‘My Dark Places’ were all included. But having such a strong back catalogue allows Jake and Co to also include deeper cuts, such as ‘Harp’ and ‘Piccadilly Circus’, without adversely affecting momentum. With the latter, Jake said they don’t play it much as he can’t sing it, but I didn’t notice any problems. 

The band’s debut single, ‘Suspect Device’, was released on St Patrick’s Day 47 years ago. It was was famously championed by the late John Peel and the rest is history. Back then, my pals and I used to go to a kids disco in the school on Saturday nights. Amongst all the disco and pop, the DJ used to give us 4 or 5 punk tunes and I fondly remember jumping about to it all those years ago. But that was nothing compared to the frenzy at the Barras when Jake started the opening riff tonight. It still sounds just as rousing now as it did back then. An equally thrilling ‘Gotta Getaway’ rounded off the main set and the band left for a well earned breather. 

They soon returned with ‘Barbed Wire Love’ and topped off another great St Patrick’s Day gig with the hair raising ‘Alternative Ulster’. Top stuff!

For a band who formed in 1977, it’s remarkable that they’ve retained so much enthusiasm and energy in their performances. Ali McMordie deserves a special mention as he bounced around the stage like a teenager all night, without ever a bum note.

I mentioned earlier that SLF always deliver. This year’s gig certainly didn’t buck that trend. Same time next year!