Buzzcocks - Punk up Bath!!!

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Buzzcocks make you fall in love with Punk all over again

The Buzzcocks **** formed in 1976 in Manchester so have been seminal in both the music emanating from that city and of course with the Punk scene. Some forty five years later they are keeping the spirit of Punk alive, none of the songs are much more than three minutes and pretty much no gaps between songs, bang onto the next and let the music do the talking beyond a few pleasantries. In fact, they managed to fit in sixteen songs in about forty five minutes. More than a lot of bands play in ninety minutes to two-hour headline sets. 

Opening song was ‘What do I Get’ with appropriate woo hoo backing vocals from the crowd, ‘People are strange Machines’ made an appearance a few songs into the set too. Of course, being a classic act, I was aware of their music, but it was one of those gigs where you had those revelation moments in a, I forgot they did that one, sort of way. That being said most of the classics were probably released before I was born, but that’s testament to how they have stood up. 

Of the band only Steve Diggle of the original band remains, who takes on the lead vocals and guitar duties, original singer Pete Shelley sadly died in 2018. I think a lot of the crowd were original too, hair was very much optional from the old Punk Rockers. But they are keeping that spirit of Punk alive too alongside the bands, after all they need an audience, and this is a passionate one at that.  In that vein of the Punk spirit, during ‘Bad Dreams’ a wall off feedback comes from the stage, no worries ignore that and get on with the song. But they have other sides to them too, in fact there was a bit of groove going on with ‘Why Can’t I Touch It’. Orgasm Addict’ was another crowd favourite (not quite to the level the song implies though luckily), but I really enjoyed it. 

As alluded to earlier, it was all over pretty quick, partly the punk rock ethos and this was a support slot for From the Jam, so they were making their presence known and making the best use of the limited time. Of course, ‘Ever fallen in Love’ probably got the biggest reception of the night, though it did occur to me that the new generation probably know it from the not quite so Punk Rock Shrek film. This could have been a headline set, but they certainly did their job of warming up the crowd as a support night and brought their part of the evening to a close with ‘Harmony in my Head’.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

Buzzcocks - Setlist
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What do I Get?
Senses out of Control
Fast Cars
Strange Machines
I don't Mind 
Sick City
Autonomy 
Bad Dreams 
Why can't I touch It?
Third Dimension 
Destination Zero
Orgasm Addict
Promises
Manchester Rain
Ever fallen in Love (With someone you Shouldn't've?)
Harmony in my Head

Check Out! the Video for 'What do I Get' Below...