On Monday October 6, 2025 I headed down to Berkeley, California. The show dejour was the Stiff Little Fingers and opener Star 99 at the Cornerstone Berkeley. What a show it was! It was an awesome show from beginning to end.
The show began with Star 99 from San Jose, California. This band brought an infectious energy as they performed their set. Although their performance was short, it was filled with enthusiasm. Their polished sound was a perfect match for the evening, and they delivered their songs with great vigor. At one point, they mentioned being first-generation Irish Americans, making it fitting that they opened for Stiff Little Fingers. Notably, there was a dad in the audience, enjoying the show. They transitioned to a couple of mellower songs that showcased their musical talent before concluding their set with an upbeat track that got the crowd engaged. Overall, it was an impressive performance.
Follow Star 99 band members on social media
Saoirse Alesandro – vocals, guitar
Thomas Romero – vocals, guitar
Chris Gough – bass
Jeremy Romero – drums
No setlist available
When Stiff Little Fingers hit the stage, the crowd was eagerly awaiting their performance. They kicked off with “Roots…”, and right from the start, they delivered an electrifying set that had the audience fully engaged. As they transitioned into their second song, “At the Edge”, many in the crowd sang along, adding to the powerful atmosphere. It was truly an incredible song, and the band was clearly invested in it.
Next came “Wasted Life”, which sent the crowd into a frenzy of joy. Everyone was aware it was a hit, and the band jammed out the song with such intensity that the entire venue danced and sang along. They followed this with “Won’t Be Told”, which began softly but quickly built up in energy, capturing everyone’s attention.
The song “Strummerville” was next—a tribute to Joe Strummer and The Clash. It was a pleasant surprise, and the audience needed that moment. The tune was catchy and had just the right lyrics. After that, they played “MBC,” a song dedicated to the person in charge, which started with laughter and smiles. It was great to experience them playing a new song for the die-hard fans.
Following “MBC” were “Straw Dogs” and “Piccadilly Circus”. The latter recounts the story of a friend who went from Belfast to London for a weekend and ended up getting stabbed there. The band wrote a song about it, and it kept the show’s momentum going with its solid sound.
Then came “Just Fade Away”, followed by “It Doesn’t Make It Alright”, a song originally by The Specials. This cover was noteworthy because it came from a soon-to-be-released album by The Specials, and the band had managed to get an advance copy, allowing them to record and release the song ahead of the original. This exemplified their close friendship with the band.
Next was “Dark Places”, a song about depression and the journey through it, where the lyrics emphasize not going back. “Nobody’s Hero” followed, snapping everyone to attention with its energetic delivery. One of my favorites, “Suspect Device”, then had the entire venue singing along, chanting “Sus sus sus sus sus sus pect device.” It was an amazing moment!
They continued with “Tin Soldiers”, a poignant song about a young man who joins the military, only to discover that his first two years of service didn’t count. It was a stunning performance that had us all rocking. The final song of the main set was “Gotta Getaway”, which served as a perfect conclusion to the night.
But after a brief intermission, the band returned to the stage to perform “Barbed Wire Love”, a heartfelt love song that dates back to 1979. It was a hit then and still resonates today, bringing the crowd together to sing and dance with joy.
Lastly, the real final song of the night was “Alternative Ulster”. As the guitar riff began, everyone was on feet, reveling in the moment. It was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible evening, filled with cheers and enthusiastic applause from a satisfied crowd.
Follow Stiff Little Fingers band members on social media
Jake Burns – lead vocals, guitar
Ali McMordie – bass, backing vocals
Ian McCallum – guitar, backing vocals
Steve Grantley – drums, backing vocals
Setlist
1). Roots…
2). At the Edge
3). Wasted Life
4). Won’t Be Told
5). Strummerville
6). MBC
7). Straw Dogs
8). Piccadilly Circus
9). Just Fade Away
10). It Doesn’t Make It Alright
11). Dark Places
12). Nobody’s Hero
13). Suspect Device
14). Tin Solders
15). Gotta Getaway
Encore
16). Barbed Wire Love
17). Alternative Ulster
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