Cock Sparrer

Street-punk progenitors Cock Sparrer, amazingly, haven’t gotten lost too much in translation from their native England to the American scene. (Aside from their name, which refers to Cockney, and not cock fighting.) Still, it follows that American fans are still clamoring to hear their catchy, working-class-focused songs as the economy continues to circle the drain in slow motion. The band has been together on and off for a couple of years since forming in 1974, though its latest reunion in 1992 seems to be sticking. More than 30 years later, Cock Sparrer has dug out a nice niche for itself—toeing the tricky line between staying true to its original sound but also venturing just far away enough to keep things interesting.

Updated 09/29/2009