Stiff Little Fingers @ The Paradise, May 1 2024

 The best Irish rock n roll band takes a final lap.

Opening up was a solo set from Ricky Warwick, also from Northern Ireland, as told during on stage banter, inspired to get a guitar when he first saw SLF back in the early 70s.  

Ricky had a great sound, a unique guitar and did a fantastic cover of Ace of Spades, which is hard to do solo.

I also bumped into an old scene friend Stu who runs the Joe Kelley memorial scholarship and concert every year.  He had a great story to tell about the Poison Idea hoodie he rocks at most shows. 

SLF come out of the gate with Suspect Device!  I could have left after that first song it was so good.  

"Hate has no home" is the name of the tour and comes from a movement in Chicago (where Jack has called home for 20 years).  Reminds me of an interview with Frankie Stubbs riffing on how can you be a punk rocker and vote Torey (aka conservative).  Answer: you can't!  Ain't no thing as Christian metal either. 

Also in the house was Jeff from Wizard security.  Missed my chance to get a selfie.  Stu says he's 80!!

Jack also talked about and sang a song about depression and getting help rather than toughing it out.  Great stuff. 

My only critique of the man is that he had horrible cable management :D 

SLF also did a fantastic version of "Doesn't make it alright" by The Specials and a tribute song to Joe Strummer.