Hugh Cornwell to many Americans, is still an unknown commodity outside of classic punkophile circles. And yet inside those widening, once eclectic circles, he is a legend. After two decades as the frontman for the seminal punk/new wave band The Stranglers, and nine solo efforts, Cornwell, 61, is still cranking out music that can best be described as punk attitude with prog intelligence.This past Sunday evening, Cornwell treated a Beachland Tavern gathering to a two-set 90-minute sampling of his storied catalog. Set One, included takes from his most recent Hooverdam, other solo efforts and a garden variety of Strangler hits, while Set Two was devoted to The Stranglers inaugural classic 1977 breakout album, Rattus Norvegicus.
Legendary status has its privileges, as Cornwell was accompanied by no less than Blondie drummer Clem Burke and veteran bass player Steve “Fish” Fishman. While Stranglers’ keyboard sounds of David Greenfield were noticeably vacant, the music and talent was a given so that threesome fed off each other just like Cornwell’s old Strangler days.
“Nice and Sleazy” got the first set off and running, as Cornwell worked his quirky experimental guitar hooks and vocals on the cut from The Stranglers’ 1977 Black and White LP. “Go Into The City”, “No More Heroes”, “Duchess” and “Hanging Around” whetted the appetite of Strangler fans, even more.
Hooverdam cuts, “Going Into The City”, Rain on the River”, “Beat of My Heart” showcased Cornwell’s more Lou Reed-like lyrical loungy songs which juxtaposed the dynamic power sound of guitar, bass and drums.
After a 20-minute break, Cornwell, Burke and Fish jumped right into Rattus Norvegicus head first, as they blasted forth the hard-driving “Sometimes” and angry pomp of “London Lady”. With each line of Cornwell’s snarl, Burke and Fish followed suit as if the trio was strolling down the cold, dark, wet backstreets of late70s London nightlife looking for fun.
On the undulating Moog-less reggae “Peaches” the crowd began moving in unison head and shoulders bobbing up and down to the fat bass and drum strut rhythms as Cornwell sang of male lust on the beach. By the end of the set, the crowd seemed sated, but hungry for more, even after literally a full album’s worth of Strangler originals.
And, as if two full sets were not enough, Cornwell brought the troops back out for a few encore covers. First came the Cream classic “White Room” as Cornwell sang the anthemic vocals in an unusual baritone voice. Then, paying homage to Burke’s Blondie roots, the band played the little known “Rip Her to Shreds”.
Considering the three had only practiced for 10 days and had only done one week of three touring, there was little pause in their play. For Cornwell, who seemed tireless, he easily gained a strangle-hold of adulation from his local fan base, and gained more than a few new ones, to boot.
NE Ohio’s favorite son’s, Rainy Day Saints set the stage for Cornwell’s performance, as the Dave Swanson-led quintet mesmerized all with its patented power pop, psychedelic sound. So intensely hypnotic was the sound of RDS that Burke was powerless to walk away from eavesdropping on the band’s opening set before he could hit the stage with Cornwell.
