Return of the Buzzcocks
By Lynda Hansen
BRISBANE — The Buzzcocks, back after an eight-year break, played to 1500 people at the Site on June 13. Their unmistakable fresh and energetic sound chopped through my subconscious with the same anger and fervour as in the late '70s.
Originally from Manchester, the band evolved from the post-punk era with their own brand of brash pop. They took the world by storm in those days with Howard Devoto at the helm. (Devoto subsequently left to form Magazine.)
To see the Buzzcocks live for the first time was a trip back in time. Still wearing their kitsch suits and Steve Diggle (guitar, vocals) doing his best Pete Townsend windmills, it was clear the Buzzcocks had lost nothing of their ability to entertain and keep you moving right to the end.
Much of the material played came from Singles Going Steady (1980) and Another Music in a Different Kitchen (1977). Classics like "Orgasm Addict", "Harmony in my Head" and "Oh Shit!" were hammered out by Diggle's relentless precision on guitar.
The audience responded with a selection of stage divers and slam dancers. This world tour was a chance to showcase the band's latest CD, Trade Test Transmission. "Isolation" and "All Over You" didn't hold the same urgency as their original material, but were given a healthy response by the crowd.
The new CD has a definite '90s feel; it's been a chance for the Buzzcocks to reintroduce themselves to their old fans and gather a following with a new generation. In an age of manufactured techno-trash, the Buzzcocks remain true to their roots and responsive to challenges.