|
What's
more important? To entertain, educate, inform or influence?
Maybe
it's a similar mix to that of a successful relationship - trust,
understanding, commitment and passion, get the recipe right and
you're running a marathon rather that dashing a sprint?
Certainly,
Billy Bragg makes it his duty to provide a holistic experience to
his live performances and you can't help but ponder the original
question.
 Click
here to listen to Billy Bragg talk
to BBC Radio Derby's Dave Harvey.
Billy
Bragg played the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 19th November and whilst
providing the essential components to a superb gig himself there
did, at first, seem to be something missing.
Billy's
support act, the delightful American songstrell Patty Griffin charmed
us with tales from back home (Maine, New England) and her sweet
folky style.
 |
| Patty
Griffin's new album '1000 Kisses'. |
Reminiscent
of Sheryl Crow, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell she strummed her guitar
and filled the almost empty Great Hall with her huge voice.
Commendably
the little girl on the stage managed to evoke a cosy, smoky all
American bar room vibe despite the cavernous venue being less than
a quarter full.
The
crowd grew after the interval and Billy and his blokes walked on
stage to a rapturous welcome.
Mixing
songs from his new album 'England, Half English' - the eponymous
first single being a rip roaring stomp in which a guitarless Billy
demonstrates a perfected 'Dad dance' - with well known classics
'Shirley', 'Jane Allen' and 'Somedays I see the Point' and the anthemic
'Sexuality' and 'New England'.
At
home on stage Billy Bragg banters with the audience and the majoritively
30-plus male contingent, pints of cider in hand, bellow back.
He's
a charm to listen to and makes you wish that more politicians shared
his sensibilities and straightforward way of looking at issues that
are quite often spun out of all understanding.
 |
| Go
on buy it, you might learn something! |
Don't
expect to see him taking to the streets kissing babies and campaigning
for election though. He told us, quite pointedly, that he'd never
met a politician who didn't dream of holding court on stage with guitar
in hand. He knows he's in the right place to get his message across.
Between
songs we were involved in debate about the war in Iraq, the fire-fighter's
strike, immigration policy and the minimum wage along with more
light-hearted topics such as the new Harry Potter film and planting
techniques for aspidistra.
All
set to celebrate his 45th birthday next month Billy Bragg has been
ranting, raving, singing and swinging for over 20 years.
What
are the chances that we'll be listening to the thought provoking
musings of Gareth/Will/Darius et al two decades from now?
Maybe
the Pop Idol and Fame Academy kids should drop out of school and
learn a bit about life before we allow them to attempt to entertain
us.
Annabel
Caulton
Click
here to listen to Billy Bragg talk to
BBC Radio Derby's Dave Harvey. |
