Live Review: Iggy & The Stooges, Beasts Of Bourbon

Are we still thanking All Tomorrow's Parties for this Beasts Of Bourbon line-up? Because it seems like we should be thanking someone. Having Spencer P. Jones and Tex Perkins on stage together just feels right. The band's chainsaw guitar and throbbing, visceral rhythm section has never sounded better and Perkins, always a stellar frontman, can't hide his joy in performing with his old band, even if he tries to behind biting lyrics and angry passion. Beasts, always a live band, knew the challenge ahead of them in opening for Iggy and co. and damned if they didn't rise to the occasion.

The reason everyone was here though was clear from the opening notes of Raw Power. Iggy & The Stooges have nothing left to prove as a band, so it really speaks to the group's craftsmanship and passion that they still play like their lives depend on it. Highlights 1970 and Search And Destroy served as reminders as to how powerful the band truly are; the way the punk blues saxophone cuts through the down-tuned, dirty as hell guitar noise sounds like nothing before and little since.

The set consisted mainly of Raw Power material, self-titled and Funhouse highlights and a new tune, rounding out the night, which wisely avoided 2007's misstep The Weirdness. Iggy Pop, still the world's sexiest ugly man, never stopped moving. His famed stage dives, jumps and animalistic behaviour were all on show for the screaming crowd.

On recent records, Iggy Pop has experimented with muzak and French lounge music, partly as a means of out-punking the punks. But live with The Stooges – even over a lean, 75 minute set of classics – it's clear Mr. Pop is still the godfather of punk and really just here to have a good time, reminding everyone who's in charge and why.