Gang Of Four played Bristol on October 7th.
Widely lauded as one of the most influential groups of all time, who can list Franz Ferdinand, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana in their pantheon of fans, Gang Of Four rarely get the credit that their post-punk impact deserves.
Largely unknown, they are perhaps the original ‘muso’ band but the paucity of attendees for tonight’s show sadly reflects their cult status. The venue is by no means empty but an act of such significance should be able to muster a larger crowd, yet it matters little because it’s a joyous show with smiles all round.
Warming up for the Leeds art-rockers is The Miki Berenyi Trio, with the former Lush singer on something of a renaissance in 2023, in part due to her excellent autobiography Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success.
As striking a stage presence as ever, she rattles through some select cuts from her Lush days and its successor band Piroshka, including a spellbinding V.O. by the latter act and a charged Kiss Chase from the former.
Always politically charged, Gang Of Four seem as relevant in 2023 as they were 45 years ago on the day that saw Israel and Hamas commence a violent conflict (with the stage draped in flags to reflect the occasion). But despite the solemnity of the day, there is unquestionably an air of celebration for the last night of the tour.
Guitarist Andy Gill, who sadly passed away in 2020, is undoubtedly missed even if his most recent version (sans Jon King) of the band didn’t exist with King’s blessing. Yet the brusque, angular guitar work Gill trademarked is present throughout, especially on the gnarly Return The Gift which opens the set, its ragged jangle and motorik beat setting the precedent.
Consisting mainly of songs from seminal albums Solid Gold and Entertainment!, the hits come fast. The bass heavy Not Great Men wakens the crowd from something of a lethargic slumber and thereafter King refuses to allow the audience to let up in their enthusiasm, with a performative display which would shame someone half his age.
The disco-funk of We Live As We Dream, Alone sees the punters participate in the falsetto chant of the chorus, while the scratchy, spoken-word Paralysed is given due reverence. He’d Send In The Army marches appropriately, while a ferocious I Parade Myself is a highlight.
The glee with which Miki Berenyi – invited on stage for backing vocals – delivers I Love A Man In Uniform is testament to the end-of-term vibes, while the relevance of the band and the songs is best exemplified by a swaggering Outside The Trains Don’t Run On Time and the menacing Capital (It Fails Us Now). Old pros they are, they save the best for last with a righteous Damaged Goods (their debut single, recently covered by IDLES) closing out the evening.
Punchy and succinct yet dexterous when required, age and nearly half a century in the business has not withered Gang Of Four’s vitality.