Seeing Hugh Cornwell perform live is a reminder of just how much of an impact he has had on British music. As the driving force behind The Stranglers, a band I have seen on many occasions, Cornwell was responsible for writing and singing some of their most iconic tracks, from “No More Heroes” to “Golden Brown”. Even after leaving the band, he has carved out an impressive solo career, continuing to release sharp, inventive, and often darkly humorous albums. This Fire Station gig was a showcase of both his classic Stranglers material and his solo work, proving that he still has the same energy and presence that made him one of punk and new wave’s most distinctive voices.
Opening the night was eXTC, a band dedicated to keeping the music of XTC alive, led by original drummer Terry Chambers. XTC were always a fascinating band, shifting from their early punky, jerky rhythms to their later, more sophisticated pop sound. I was lucky enough to see them several times at Newcastle University and Newcastle Mayfair between 1978 and 1981, back when they were still actively touring.
It was great to hear their music performed live once again, especially songs like “Making Plans for Nigel” and “Senses Working Overtime”, which have stood the test of time. Though Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding are absent, Steve Hampton does a solid job on vocals, capturing the essence of the originals without attempting a carbon copy. The set ended on a high with “Generals and Majors”, a perfect example of XTC’s ability to blend catchy melodies with clever, biting lyrics.
And then came Hugh. The first part of the set focused on Cornwell’s solo work, much of it taken from his latest album Moments of Madness, as well as older solo tracks. “Coming Out of the Wilderness” and “Too Much Trash” set the tone early, blending his signature garage rock edge with lyrics full of wry observations. His distinctive, slightly menacing vocal delivery was in full force on “Delightful Nightmare” and “Totem” while other tracks showed his ability to weave together melody, tension, and biting wit.
Then came the Stranglers material, and the atmosphere shifted—the crowd was suddenly buzzing with recognition as “Nice ‘n’ Sleazy” kicked in. The highlights came thick and fast: “Golden Brown”, played with a delicate, almost hypnotic quality, “Duchess”, with its sharp new wave swagger, and “Nuclear Device”, which still sounds as urgent and rebellious as ever. He closed the set with “Wrong Way Round”, proving that he’s still more than capable of delivering something fresh and unpredictable.
It’s always a pleasure to see musicians with real pedigree still performing at such a high level. Hugh Cornwell remains a master of his craft, able to command the stage with an understated confidence, whether delivering spiky solo material or revisiting Stranglers classics. Meanwhile, eXTC provided a nostalgic yet powerful reminder of just how great XTC were—a band that, for all their quirks and oddities, left a lasting legacy on British music. This was a night of true veterans, proving that their music still holds as much weight today as it ever did.
Many thanks to Jan for the photographs and Laura and Chris for manipulating the site.
eXTC Setlist: This Is Pop, Statue of Liberty, Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me), Towers of London, Senses Working Overtime, Ball and Chain, The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, Rocket From a Bottle, Living Through Another Cuba, Generals and Majors, Making Plans for Nigel.
Hugh Cornwell Setlist: Coming Out of the Wilderness, Too Much Trash, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy, Wrong Side of the Tracks, Delightful Nightmare, Golden Brown, Totem and Taboo, Bad Vibrations, Dead Loss Angeles, Moments of Madness, When I Was a Young Man, Tank, Pure Evil, Mr. Leather, Nuclear Device, Another Kind of Love, Duchess, Live it and Breathe it, Wired, Big Bug, Mothra, Wrong Way Round.
One year on and much has changed. Last year when I saw the band in the same venue they were at the point of retiring, as a result of the sad passing of original member and fantastic keyboards player Dave Greenfield. His Doors tinged keyboard mastery formed the backdrop and rhythm to many of their classic songs. Remaining founder member Jean Jaques Burnell felt strongly that it was time to call it a day and close 
The other big change was the layout of the City Hall. Last time it was all standing downstairs with the wheelchair area on a raised platform to the rear of the hall, with a great view of the stage. This time it was all seated with wheelchair customers right at the front of the hall. The view was equally good. However it was surprising that the hall was seated rather than standing. Most energetic bands including heavy rock and new wave/punk usually warrant a standing setup. I was surprised at this and the band also seemed somewhat surprised. Nevertheless everything worked well.
Finally the stage setup was amazing with raised platforms for the drummer and keyboard player who sat behind an amazing keyboard arrangement. Everything was set out in grey. It looked wonderful.
The other noticeable change is that Jean Jacques Burnell has taken more of a leading role. It seemed to me that he sang a lot more of the songs and has to some extent reclaimed the legacy of the Stranglers. I could almost hear him saying “this is my band and I am proud to lead it”. And so he should be. Alongside him local lad Sunderland’ s Baz Warne has taken over the space fronting the band which was left by Hugh Cornwell many years ago. And a great job he does of it.
As we got to the end and the encores, Jean Jacques announced “We started in 1974. There are few bands that have been around that long and kept going throughout. We came from the pub rock movement. Some bands seem ashamed of that but we are proud to have been born as a pub rock band. So let us go right back to the start and our first single “Go Buddy Go”. Fantastic. The Stranglers are back and proud to be filling venues like the City Hall again where I saw them over 40 years ago.
Setlist: Set 1: Just Like Nothing on Earth; Hallow to Our Men; The Raven; Baroque Bordello; North Winds; Genetix; Princess of the Streets; Breathe; Hanging Around; Down in the Sewer.
Two interesting acts at a local venue. It has been many years since I have seen both of these. I last saw 
The last time I saw 
We had a great vantage point on the wheelchair platform. First up were The Primitives who played a great selection of jangly pop tunes including, of course, “Crash” which sounded as fresh and singalong today as it did all those years ago. During Hugh Cornwell’s set Tracy was down in front of the merchandise stand and we caught her and she kindly signed my ticket (see image).
Soon Hugh took to the stage with his three-piece band. Himself on vocals and guitar, a bass player who pounded away on his bass guitar in a similar way to that of Stranglers bass player Jean-Jacques Burnel and mid-stage a drummer also pounding away at his kit. The set was once again a mixture of solo material and a few Stranglers gems thrown in here and there.
In total he played around 9 Stranglers tracks, some of which I recognised including “Always the Sun”, “Strange Little Girl” and the closing track which took me right back to the early days “Hanging Around”. A two hour set which didn’t drag at all. The crowd loved it and Hugh seemed to enjoy himself. At the end a guy dressed as a chicken arrived on stage to play maracas. Bizarre.
Setlist: I Wannahideinsideaya; Too Much Trash; Skin Deep (Stranglers); Wrong Side of the Tracks; Delightful Nightmare; Strange Little Girl (Stranglers); Totem and Taboo; Bad Vibrations; Who Wants the World? (Stranglers); Moments of Madness; When I Was a Young Man; Tramp (Stranglers); Pure Evel; Mr. Leather; Always the Sun (Stranglers); Duce Coochie Man; Goodbye Toulouse (Stranglers); Another Kind of Love; Out of My Mind (Stranglers); Live it and Breathe it; Leave Me Alone; Thrown Away (Stranglers); Lasagna; Hanging Around (Stranglers).
Well here I am. Back at the City Hall with 
Brooks who, of course, went on to much greater success in Vinegar Joe, again with Robert Palmer, and as a soloist). Soon I saw the Rolling Stones there, a few weeks later, and then many more bands over the years including Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Bruce Springsteen, and many, many more over a 50+ year period. For the first time they had somehow managed to remove all of the seats from the downstairs area, allowing a massive crowd of Stranglers fans to jump around and have fun to the music. It was very strange, yet refreshing, to be part of a very different experience in a very differently configured City Hall.
tour was almost cancelled but fan demand persuaded the members to continue in tribute to Dave Greenfield’s massive contribution to the band and their music. Only Jean-Jacques Burnel remains from the original lineup. Drummer Jet Black retired some years ago. Lead singer and songwriter Hugh Cornwell left many years ago, and after a few line-up changes including one with both a vocalist and a guitarist, his position is filled by local Sunderland lad Baz Warne with Baz taking over vocal and guitar duties and becoming the band’s main front man. The Stranglers were the first punk band to play Newcastle City Hall in 1977, a concert which I attended and was absolutely stupendous. Later in 1977 they returned and after some altercations between Hugh, Jean-Jacques and the bouncers which ended up in a massive stage invasion The Stranglers were banned from the City Hall for a number of years. But the soul of the band remains as does the power of the music. Nothing is diminished, we are overwhelmed by a constant barrage of classic songs: right back to the start with “Grip” and “Peaches”, through the massive hits “Sweet Little Girl” and “Golden Brown” and many, many more along the way. This is The Stranglers at their best and just as I remember them from the many times I have seen them over the years. If this was to be the last time I experience this band, it couldn’t be any better. Jean-Jacques is a joy to see, quietly leading the band, his bass playing as booming and driving as ever. Baz has a bit fun with the Newcastle crowd, in terms of the Geordies/Makem rivalry. There are lots of encores and lots of dancing and moshing down at the front. For the first encore Jean-Jacques and Baz return as an acoustic duo and treat us to a couple of beautiful, more subdued, songs. The pace and volume then return for the second encore and the band finish, triumphant. The crowd go home overjoyed at the experience.
great view over the heads of the jumping, swirling, moshing, crazy crowd below us.
“Babylon’s Burning”. Both of these were very credible versions and it was great to hear them again.
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