15 November 2011
I love the Leadmill, we always manage to get a spot to the left of the stage where there is a bit of room and a good view. We walked in mid-way through The Sound of Rum's set. Kate Tempest was in full flow splattering the back wall of the venue with verbal shards. On stage she is a force of nature, energetic and bold. Off stage she looked a lot younger and more vulnerable as she stood near us watching The King Blues.
I first heard of the King Blues a few years back, liked them and even plugged them on The (now defunct) Hack, but didn't really follow them up, so I was intruiged to see them tonight. If The Sound of Rum are a force of nature, the King Blues are a force to be reckoned with. In the best tradition of protest singers, they mix 'take no prisoner' lyrics with up beat melodies. It was a pleasure.
An even greater pleasure was finally getting to see Mr Billy Bragg in all his glory. He is one of those folks I wanted to see play a full set before either he, or I, shuffle off our mortal coil. I saw him once on the Red Wedge Tour back in the mid-80's but had just never gotten around to a proper Bragg Gig. So tonight put that right and what a show.
As he has done in each town he's visited, he had attended the local Occupy camp earlier in the day and there were various protestors in the audience handing out manifestos. As it's well over a week ago and my memory isn't what it used to be I can't remember all the songs he sang. He did do a couple of new-ishly topical ones, most noteably 'Scousers Never Buy The Sun' and 'Last Flight to Abu Dhabi' along with some older ones like 'The Milkman of Human Kindness', 'Sexuality' and the very wonderful 'I Keep Faith'.
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