On October 13, 1982, at Shea Stadium in New York, a little four-piece English band called the Clash warmed up for another four-piece English band called the Who. The Clash were pretty damn popular at this time, coming off the brunt of the late 70s U.K. punk assault, seen as pretty much the ‘now’ in music at that time, while bands like The Who (having replaced original drummer Keith Moon with Kenny Jones a few years before) were seen as the ‘old’. And having been at this show, but not a huge fan of the Clash, I can’t say I was all that excited about seeing them nor do I recall thinking their set all that special. I am revising my opinion since listening to Live At Shea Stadium.
What I come away with after probing this 16-song CD is the energy, passion and even, dare I say, poppiness of this band. After Kosmo Vinyl’s hysterical and impassioned introduction, the band launch into the speedball one-two punch of “London Calling” followed by a less effective “Police On My Back.” “The Guns of Brixton” has a wholly different tempo and beat with a welcomed groove that marks the best of the Clash. The band is better known for “London Calling” “Train In Vain” and “Rock The Casbah” (all featured here), but it’s still these weird quasi-reggae tunes like “Guns,” “The Magnificent Seven” and “Armagideon Time” where I think they show their uniqueness. A tune like “Armagideon Time” is freaky scary man, with the vocals breathy perfect and the band laying way back before blistering right back into the reprise of “The Magnificent Seven (Return).”
There’s a wacky, really different take on “Rock The Casbah.” The bass line is really what makes it totally different. “Train In Vain,” though a big hit, is a bit too poppy, and not quite as interesting after you’ve heard something like “Armegideon Time.” Strong performances of “Career Opportunities,” “Spanish Bombs,” “Clampdown” (more cowbell, more cowbell!) and “English Civil War” follow. Of course, one of the highlights — if not the highlight — is “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.” This is pure pop Clash, and this is really a great live recording of it. The disc finishes up with “I Fought The Law” played at as blistering a pace as “London Calling,” though surprisingly with all its dynamics intact.
I know there were comparisons made at the time that the Clash were the ‘new’ Who; that the spirit, passion and drive the Who had lost the Clash had in spades. They had three strong wholly different vocalists, songs with tight hooks and something to say. They survived where many other punk bands didn’t, infusing their fast and fury style with politics and a near-militant pose. Live At Shea Stadium is a testament of what the Clash were all about at a time when they were at the top of their game.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
