Irish Eyes Are Smiling for Stiff Little Fingers!

It was July 4, 1976 and the Ramones invade Great Britain!  Shortly after, the Sex Pistols vomit for the queen, during the summer of 1977.  August 16, 1977 was the day Elvis left us. He was a southern country boy that brought black music to a white audience. Rock 'n' roll was an uncontrollable monster that could never be tamed.  With rock 'n' roll's evolution into punk, it got louder and angrier, and was determined to shock the world into examining its inhumanity. 

1977 was about the time that punk rock started flaring up in Ireland.  An explosive Belfast-based punk band Stiff Little Fingers (named after a Vibrators song) had the questionable distinction of being referred to as "the Irish Clash." At the time, it might have seemed like a complement, but it did little to help their career, because of the constant comparisons between the two bands.

August 16, 2011 marked the thirty-fourth anniversary of Elvis Presley's passing. Driving home from work that day, I heard Elvis singing "Danny Boy," and it made me reflect on 1977. As one of the architects of rock 'n' roll ascends to the universe, another is passed the torch. It was the year 1977, that Stiff Little Fingers began its rumblings in Belfast. Thirty-four years later, I witnessed the return of Jake Burns and Stiff Little Fingers to Chicago's Double Door.

 The show began with an awesome band from Chicago's south side called Flatfoot 56. Oh yeah, South side Irish punk rock with a bagpipe and a mandolin. They were a fun bunch of guys that I will definitely make an effort to go see again. Stiff Little Fingers assaulted the stage at 10:00 PM, and to my surprise, it's Mark DeRosa on bass. Mark is a current regular at Double Door, and the bassist-singer for the great Chicago band Dummy.  Stiff Little Fingers stirred up the crowd into some civilized moshing.  Typical of a punk rock crowd, but tonight was uniquely Irish.


Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers


Stiff Little Fingers debut record "Inflammable materials" hit the streets in 1979.  After two years of absorbing the new wave of punk that was smothering America and England, a sandpaper voiced frontman named Jake Burns launched a ferocious collection of songs that reflected the anger and despair of growing up in violence-torn Belfast, Northern Ireland. Jake Burns was a political voice, and had an interest in reggae, like Joe Strummer of the Clash. Stiff Little Fingers did turntables justice, at a time when corporate culture had a stranglehold on the music business.



Mark DeRosa of Dummy joins Stiff Little Fingers

 
Punk was a restless child of that monster called Rock 'n' roll. The monster's language was universal and timeless. Old jams like "Alternative Ulster" and "Suspect Device" were in full form. It was a mesmerizing performance that landed two encores. Last night's show was a testament for aging rockers.  It was such a delight to see youngsters dancing with old-school punk rockers. Irish eyes were smiling in Chi-town.