Beer Swilling, fist raised, Irish punk sing-along

Last night the Stiff Little Fingers put on a strong show of force with a rocking set of politically charged anthems from their heyday that were oddly fitting to the politics of today. Jake Burns was in top form in singing as well as between song banter. The singer kept the evening playful, but always reminded the audience of their responsibility to make a better world. With mournful dedications to fallen friends and strong criticisms of Bush and Blair, Burns led the crowd through a rollercoaster of emotions. The moderately sized audience filled the Cat with a roar more fitting to a crowd three times its size. The sing-along quality and passion of Stiff Little Fingers’ music combined with a crowd of dedicated fans made for one of those good old fashioned punk rock parties that are sorely lacking these days.

Originally published on August 19, 2004.