Cock Sparrer
Live and Loud!!

THE REVIEW

Cock Sparrer are one of the most iconic English Oi! bands, who forged the punk rock sound that runs through the veins of skinheads all over the world.

Rock and roll guitars, checked shirts, suspenders, shaved heads, tattoos, endless beer, backs broken from work on the building site or at the docks, cigarettes, boots, stadium, easy-to-shout chants: this was the formula of early Oi!. A kind of music very close to rock and roll, close to glam/pub rock, not massively tainted by the heaviness of hardcore.

But let’s not think of it as a kind of muscular beat that gets boring after two chords: Cock Sparrer embodied all the energy of a suburban London club and, if in the studio sometimes their drive comes off as a bit restrained, live every doubt will be dispelled; you'll find yourself yelling at the top of your lungs, exchanging drinks and laughter with a chubby skinhead with “Oi!” tattooed on the back of his neck or with his skinny mate who probably did three years and six months in jail and who knows how many in reform school. This is Cock Sparrer: behind the tough-guy façade hide lives that have been truly lived, real people, people who know what it means to love something, to love someone; hidden there is – musically speaking – a seventies rock legacy which paid particular attention to lyrics, to the atmospheres created.

The start is top-notch: “Riot Squad” is without doubt one of the highest points in the Londoners’ career. The lyrics also hide a real gem: some might think it’s just an anthem to revolt, but in reality “riot squad” means “squadra antisommossa”. It’s the story of a poor kid who, as a youngster, acts dumb with his mates but over the years starts getting treated badly, until he decides to switch sides: puts on the uniform and goes from tearaway to violent riot cop. His story ends on a melancholy note when, after a repressive action, he gets kicked out of the force and returns to the suburbs, without hope and without friends. The siren-mimicking riff is textbook. The audience is fired up: after all, what better opener? “Watch your back” keeps the adrenaline up and makes room for the beautiful “I got your number”, where Cock Sparrer show themselves to be, as I like to say, the “Jethro Tull of Oi!” thanks to their innate ability to write melodies that aren’t overcomplicated but are spot-on, British to the core, with a songwriting taste that really reminds me of the legendary folk prog group. “Take ‘em all” is iconic but I find it a bit trivial, just as “We love you” doesn’t quite convince me. But the boys don’t keep us waiting and get back on track with the thunderous “Argy Bargy”, a great track; “Where are they now?” needs no introduction and, a bit like “Riot Squad”, hides a bitter smile under a cheerful melody. “White Riot” and “Running Riot” do just fine, as does “The Sun Says,” though it’s not the most memorable song. The brief “Secret Army” leads into the legendary “England Belongs to Me”, a true anthem in every sense, a declaration of strength and identity sung at the top of everyone’s lungs. The live energy is alive, palpable, the air is thick with sweat: the gig is coming to an end. “Chip on my Shoulder” pushes the bpm higher and leaves the crowd tired but happy.

Tales of youth, energy, a life where the pub is the only place you feel at home. Do you get now what people mean when they say that behind their tough air, Cock Sparrer are real people, with a sensitivity for their story, for their people? That’s what this is about. And you know what? Maybe one of the greatest lessons Oi! can teach you is that, deep down, having a tough look isn’t at odds with having a big heart; I think that this might be the most beautiful message that comes from the notes of this live album, from the warm vocals and the homespun riffs that carry you right to the end of the record. It’s certainly not the greatest live album in history. But it remains a cornerstone for anyone who has ever loved and lived in the dives, loved their team, loved the streets.

"England belongs to me: a nation's pride, the dirty water of the river". Score: 85/100.