Cock Sparrer
Live: Runnin' Riot Across The U.S.A.

THE REVIEW

Brief description of the Skinheads from my area: shaved (you weren't expecting that, were you?), weighing between eighty and one hundred and twenty kilos, tattooed and angry. Brief description of their behavior at concerts: prone to "distracted" moshing with elbows at teeth level, they wait in the front row for the artist to perform while doing some healthy shoulder stretching and downing nice pints of fresh beer. In a friendly manner, they socialize with strangers (i.e., everyone who isn't a skin) by forcefully pressing their fist against others' noses, sometimes causing blood to flow if not outright fracturing the nose. Despite the skinheads I encounter at concerts often and gladly leave me with a barrage of bruises and bumps, I wouldn't miss a Cock Sparrer performance for anything in the world. I'm sure the description given in the preface will cause a torrent of discontent on the site, but it is not my intention to generalize, as some of these guys (the vast majority) are very decent people, though some washed-up nutcases are the scourge of Oi! music.

Cock Sparrer needs little introduction; the band from London, formed in the mid-seventies, released their debut album in 1982. Characterized by punk Oi! music addressing working-class themes, they are revolutionary, urging young people to approach life with gritted teeth. However, they do include lighter topics such as football and adolescent antics.

The live performance begins with the applause of an affectionate audience; the band is announced, and the track "Riot Squad" is fired off as the best greeting possible. The band is pumped, despite having been around for over two decades since their early days when they were named Cock Sparrow and mostly played in dark London pubs. It's no joke, but it sounds like they're playing as youngsters. The San Francisco audience barely catches a breath before the chords of "Watch You Back" shake the stands. As is tradition, there's no room for chatter, and "Working" follows directly from the previous song. It feels like you're there, and when the fantastic "Teenage Heart" begins, this time announced by Colin McFaull, I can smell the sweat of the audience while a terrifying mosh claims victims below the stage.

The band needs to catch their breath, and "Argy Bargy" seems just the right song for that, followed by the impeccably played "Runaway Johnny". But if the Cock Sparrer are starting to tire, the crowd seems to be just getting started, singing "Take 'em All" at the top of their lungs. The performance continues with "A.U.", "I got Your Number", the gorgeous "Because You're Young", and carries on with the classics until the eighteenth song "We're Coming Back", after which the audience refuses to leave, forcing the band to deliver an encore of "England Belongs To Me". The live show is fun, engaging, and well-executed. Cock Sparrer may no longer be spring chickens, but they remain excellent musicians and manage to keep a concert alive from the first to the last song. There aren't any notable mistakes, apart from the barely noticeable ones that only a merciless stickler would point out here.

The positive aspect of this concert is that there is an air of fun, brotherhood, and great relaxation. Bands like Cock Sparrer are a musical treasure of great value, and their longevity has allowed for the spread of their proud message.

In conclusion, I have to say the album is definitely worth it, a noteworthy live collection.