Concert review: Buzzcocks | 09.17.25, Red Flag (with photo gallery)

Photo of Buzzcocks’ Steve Diggle by Laura Jerele

Here’s a sentence you don’t hear everyday: The Buzzcocks rolled into St. Louis last night and blew the roof off of Red Flag! Complete with a set that reminded everyone why they’re punk rock legends, they flew right into a seemingly nonstop set didn’t they did not ease into either. I’m so thrilled they came out swinging with the amazing “What Do I Get,” one of my personal favorites for decades, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers hearing that at the start of the show rather than the encore, chanting along to every line like it was 1978 all over again. From that moment on, it was full throttle.

The stage setup was really simple, but powerful in its own stark way: the stage was just a huge platform, nothing but very bright and stark white lights blasting down, JCM 900s blaring, and the band owning every speck of it like it was arena grandeur. No gimmicks, no distractions, just raw, in-your-face punk rock the way it was meant to be. 

Steve Diggle led the charge on guitar and vocals, proving he’s still got the same fire that helped shape punk’s sound. He is a true pioneer and his voice sounded great. Alongside him, Chris Remmington laid down really tight basslines, Danny Farrant was both fun and fierce on drums, and Mani Perazzoli ripped into every riff with precision and grit. What really stood out, though, was how tight the music was: it sounded sharp, locked in, and very well played. Instead of the loose, messy punch a lot of people expect from punk, the Buzzcocks delivered polished chaos that somehow made the songs even more powerful.

Of course, the setlist hit plenty of fan favorites, and the fans varied in age from teens to boomers, and lot in between. Seriously, there were punk rock boomers there, holding the flame for punk rock to never say die. Pretty much everyone screamed along to “Ever Fallen in Love” which still feels just as angsty and relevant today. “Orgasm Addict” brought pure mischief, while “Promises” had the crowd swaying and “Manchester Rain” gave us a singalong with Saint Louis added in place of Manchester. Loved it!\

Coming all the way from Manchester, England, the Buzzcocks have been a cornerstone of the punk movement since the late ‘70s, and you could feel that history just being in their very loud presence. Even decades later, their songs hit with the same urgency and energy that helped define a whole generation. St. Louis got the real deal Wednesday night: pure punk spirit, no frills, just a room full of sweaty, dancing fans singing along to the soundtrack of freedom of speech that damn near felt like rebellion. | Laura Jerele