X 

By Dave Miller

X 

"No future," Glen Matlock sang over and over again, eyes closed, at the end of "God Save the Queen." This was no burned-out punk wringing the last remaining bucks from a nostalgia trip, but a rock revolutionary keeping the flame burning of a protest the Sex Pistols fired at England's monarchy in 1977. Dark economic times have made the song's closing sentiment sadly relevant today in the United States. The meltdown of the American dream caused by Wall Street criminals, corporate thieves and political accomplices has been difficult for many working class people to survive, but Matlock offered a glimmer of light after the song ended. "There's no future," he told a meeting of punks and rockers Thursday at Reggie's Rock Club, "unless you do something about it."

X

An original member of the Sex Pistols, Matlock helped ignite punk's big bang by co-writing 10 of the 12 songs on the group's only studio album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. Paul Cook, the group's drummer, said Matlock wrote much of the music and most of the lyrics with Johnny Rotten making some adjustments. Matlock left the group late in its two-and-a-half years of original existence and was replaced on bass by Sid Vicious, though legend has it that Matlock was kicked out of the band for liking the Beatles. Since then, Matlock has played in a series of bands including The Rick Kids, The Philistines and Slinky Vagabond, along with the Sex Pistols on their reunion tours.

X

Playing a Les Paul guitar, Matlock fronted a trio that included Blondie drummer Clem Burke and bassist Steve Fishman. With flat but committed vocals, Matlock showed he has a way with a hook on such songs as "Born Running," "Somewhere Somehow," "Idiot," "Hard Work" and "Yeah Right!" "Ambition" was a credible nod to Chicago blues. Matlock paid tribute to departed Davy Jones with a punk-injected "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," a song covered by both The Monkees and the Sex Pistols. Matlock ended with another Sex Pistols classic, "Pretty Vacant," which could be interpreted as another current commentary on America and its people from politicians to the electorate.

X

Glen Matlock setlist:

X

Born Running

A Different World

Somewhere Somehow

Burning Sounds

God Save the Queen

Idiot

White Knuckle Ride

Ambition

Yeah Right!

Ghosts of Princes in Towers

Hard Work

On Something

Rattle Your Cage

(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

Pretty Vacant

X

Start: 9:54 p.m./Finish: 10:55 p.m.

Totals: 15 songs, 61 minutes

X

Another old British punk, Hugh Cornwell, closed the night as co-headliner. The longtime Strangler played lean-and-tough tunes from his former band and solo albums, including the latest, Totem & Taboo, recorded by Steve Albini here in town. The Stranglers had nearly two dozen Top 40 hits in the United Kingdom, but remained at cult status in America.

X
Cornwell's brand of punk falls on the intellectual side through its menace and sometimes misanthropist lyrics. His sharp playing of his Fender Telecaster heightened the effect of his unflinching songs, as did the relentless attack of Burke's drums and the punch of Fishman's bass. Cornwell plays with no pretense. His smile and simple spoken "Yes" after "Always the Sun" spoke volumes. He delivered a scathing indictment on newspapers on "Stuck in Daily Mail Land." "Very interesting," Cornwell said before the song, as if making an observation to himself. "You can get an insight into the English people by reading the Daily Mail." Afterward, Cornwell was satisfied with his warning not to believe what you read. "There you go, let that be a lesson to you," he said. Cornwell ended with three Stranglers songs, "Straighten Out" to close the main set and a satisfying encore of "Nice 'n' Sleazy" and "No More Heroes."

X

Hugh Cornwell setlist:

X

Toiler on the Sea

Wrong Side of the Tracks

Goodbye Toulouse

Totem & Taboo

Bear Cage

Nerves of Steel

Golden Brown

One Burning Desire

Peaches

Rain on the River

Always the Sun

Stuck in Daily Mail Land

Nuclear Device

Going to the City

Straighten Out

---------------------- 

Nice 'n' Sleazy

No More Heroes

X

Start: 11:13 p.m./Finish: 12:30 a.m.

Totals: 17 songs, one hour 17 minutes

X

A crowd of punks can be tough to please, especially when you don't play punk, but The Handcuffs' glam-rock opening performance went over well. "God is Sure One Funny Girl" was dedicated to Davy Jones early in the set. After the song, singer Chloe Orwell challenged the crowd to show more appreciation for drummer Brad Elvis, her husband, noting it was a hometown show. His always interesting drumming deserved it, and that bit of confrontation by Orwell scored some points with the punks. The set steadily built momentum. "Sex and Violins" recalled Lou Reed's Velvet Underground days. Ellis Clark unleashed his guitar on "Miss You On Tuesday." If anyone was still sitting on the fence late in the set, the five-piece outfit won over the holdouts by inserting the riff from The Who's "Pictures of Lily" into "Gotta Problem with Me?" Elvis is a must-see drummer with his big beats and funny antics, often delivered simultaneously. He has more than a little in common with Keith Moon. It's to his band's credit that it won over the predominantly punk crowd, but not surprising. I can't imagine any rock-and-roller not liking The Handcuffs.

X  

Handcuffs setlist:

X

Half a Mind

Jet Baby

Everybody Waves Hello

God is Sure One Funny Girl

Kiss This Goodbye

Somebody Somewhere

Sex and Violins

Miss You on Tuesday

Gotta' Problem with Me?

I Just Wanna' Be Free, Man

All the Way From Memphis

Dirty Glitter

X

Start: 8:48 p.m./Finish: 9:32 p.m.

Totals: 12 songs, 44 minutes

X

Glen Matlock

March 1, 2012 @ Reggie's Rock Club

X

Glen Matlock

March 1, 2012 @ Reggie's Rock Club

Zo 

 

Glen Matlock

March 1, 2012 @ Reggie's Rock Club

X