Review From The Duke 30/12/06 "I'd always been a bit wary of going to see a Punk tribute to a band of the Seventies era. That was the time of frenetic playing with passion and fervour that has not been matched since. Instruments were not so much played but 'attacked'. And no band had such a reputation for excitement than Stiff Little Fingers. Many many hours of rehearsals may give you the right sound, but no amount of rehearsing can give you the passion. Rigid Digits are a tribute to SLF and they had the dubious honour of being the last ever band to play at the Duke of Cumberland in Felling. It was originally planned to be the Force, but as some dates were juggled, it turned out to be Rigid Digits. I couldn't let Thompa go without saying goodbye so I made my way through there and had a quick word with photographer Rob before the band came on 'You won't be disappointed' was his last words before the band took to the stage. And, surprisingly, I wasn't. Singer 'Pea' is a superb frontman and knows exactly how to hold the audience's attention. Looking like Baz Warne's younger brother he downed the pints as quick as the band raced through the songs. I closed my eyes and they DID sound just like Stiff Little Fingers. But, little did I know they had a lot more up their sleeves than just SLF. From the raucous Seventies Punk they slipped into 'Another Brick in the Wall.' Marvellous. Couple of Pistols numbers and the stage was full of musicians from all over the place. Even some Green Day was thrown in. The place was truly rockin' by this time and the shots of the crowd say it all. The Duke was buzzing. The band were truly superb. And as I was driving, it certainly wasn't the complementary JD (again, proferred before I could ask!) that swayed my judgement. In fact, I enjoyed them so much I will catch them again with SLR in hand next time as I did not have any intention of actually reviewing the band tonight! The band ended with the excellent Suspect Device; the audience dwindled away and I bumped into Thompa and Rob outside and talked for a while, and then I realised that the band had picked up their instruments and were carrying on playing!! Over two hours and the lads were still belting it out!!! Saw Terry from Powerage too, but the last word must go to Thompa who told me: 'I've had nine years at the Duke and there is absolutely nothing I regret. They've been nine happy years.' Asking Thompa to keep in touch, he said: 'I'm gonna do what I love and go and see bands, and tell Riffs if they are good or they are shite!'" |  |
