“New” Buzzcocks Bring It Home at GAMH

Buzzcocks
Great American Music Hall
March 14, 2024

Photos by Raymond Ahner

Returning to the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time since the passing of vocalist and founding member Pete Shelley in 2018, legendary UK Punks the Buzzcocks hit the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco last week,with a new lease on life. And with a sold-out, packed to the rafters crowd who were singing along to every word, it’s safe to say that their fans would agree.

Taking the stage with tambourine in hand to the long since worn out “San Francisco” (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair), blaring over the PA. long-time bassist and “new” vocalist Steve Diggle picked up his guitar and fronted the band through a fresh take of the Buzzcocks classic, “What Do I Get.” From there he fronted the band as they tore through a fifteen song set, followed by a nine song encore.

Letting the music do most of the talking, Diggle sounded great, and highlights from the set included ‘Fast Cars,” “Destination Zero,” “Why Can’t I Touch It,” and “Orgasm Addict.” Bassist Chris Remington, guitarist (and backing vocals) Mani Perazzoli and drummer Danny Ferrant all gelled with Diggle quite well, and together they showed more than a few glimpses of the band during their salad days of the 1980’s.

After wrapping up their hour long main set with “Manchester Rain,” (from their 2022 album Sonics in the Soul) the band returned to the stage for a rollicking encore which included “Love You More,” “Just Got to Let it Go,” and “Ever Fallen In Love.”

By the time it was all said and done, the Bay Area return of the “new” version of the Buzzcocks was quite triumphant, and it was obvious that the band still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

Supporting the Buzzcocks on this evening was local San Francisco Garage Rock band The Seagulls, who delivered a highly energetic set of their own, and more than primed the crowd for the headliners with a guitar-fueled set of their own.

Here’s a slideshow with more photos of the bands by Raymond Ahner: