A stray wisp of a social media mention drew my attention to this in-store gig yesterday afternoon. It's the best way to see a band, sometimes, and this was no exception.
I'd dropped off some blackberry jam for the Offsprogs on the way there, and wandered down Camberwell Road, past old haunts, closed shops, graffiti and the constant air of optimism that floats about on Camberwell Green; the gig was about to start. The core of the band was there: Johny, James and Pete, and a crowd of people who know and love their music. Behind the small deep stage, a video played and replayed, largely green.
The music began, a long piece with spoken vocals. Pete on electronics and James on guitar created an atmosphere that mirrored Johny's storytelling. At times, it reminded me of Edith Sitwell's poetry over William Walton's music; at other times, I could hear echoes of Richard Burton declaiming metaphysical poetry, eating the words and spitting them out. At times, sirens from outside augmented the music, perfectly in tune with the mood of the music, spirit of the age and spirit of the afternoon.
After this, a short set of new songs unfolded. Johny was in fine voice; he and Inge have moved to Sarf London and I think the move has re-energised everything. This was a neat gig, almost like being at the beginning of something freshly minted. You could notice everything: James's row of matching guitar pedals, visual cues, the balancing of the arrangements between electronics, vocals and guitars, and the embedding of politics into the lyrics of the songs. What a neat gig!
Later, I crossed over to the Nunhead Gardener and bought a half dead plant from the poor sad box on the floor, and was given a handful of cuttings which I've just planted; let's see what happens. I went to Lidl and bought six tins of tomatoes (they do great chopped tomatoes), and went home with a clanking bag of tins, passing everyone cool off to their evening gigs with guitar bags on their backs.
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