|   the weekend in concerts: Billy Bragg + more. | Rae
Apr 22, 2002 8:19 AM | | OK, well, I promised Mary that I'd post a few thoughts about the Billy Bragg show, so here they are.
Billy Bragg & the Blokes came to First Avenue on Saturday along with Black '47. Billy also did a solo in-store performance earlier in the afternoon at the Electic Fetus which I also went to. He mostly chatted with the crowd there, performing only three songs with his acoustic guitar, two originals and one Woody Guthrie cover (a new one that appears on a disc called <i>Daddy Oh Daddy</i>, a compilation of various artists performing Guthrie's songs for children). He was very engaging, acting bemused at our weather (90 degrees last weekend, snow on the ground today) and our politics. Black '47 opened the show in the evening, and while I respected their Irish odes to the working class, it wasn't really my style. Still, they performed with vigorous energy and went over well with the crowd. Billy & the Blokes came out and ripped into a few uptempo numbers to start the set that were pretty smoking before settling into a more laidback, danceable vibe. I don't have the new album, so I couldn't tell you specific titles, but most of the songs they played were from the new one. It seemed as if Billy talked almost as much as he played, but that was okay by everyone in attendance, as he cracked jokes and told stories that kept the crowd rapt. The high point of the set came near the end as the audience sang along with his signature "A New England." Billy came out for the encore solo with an electric guitar and played four or five songs including a spellbinding reading of "Man in the Iron Mask" before the band rejoined him for a few raucous closing numbers. I should mention that the band was great too-- he had a slide guitarist that really enhanced the show and had enlisted the great Ian McLagan (Faces/Small Faces) on keys. Overall, a great show (and an early show, over by 9pm!) and like last week's SFA show, recommended for anyone along the tour. Mary, he only did one Woody Guthrie song (the children's song), but I can't imagine you would be disappointed by his stellar original material.
Sunday I went to see Elephant 6 bands the Ladybug Transistor and the Essex Green in the Entry. They were virtually the same band, featuring only different drummers and one additional trumpeter/singer in the Transistor. They were both great, though, if somewhat indistinguishable. Indie-pop 'til you drop.
This week I have on the slate: Princess Superstar tonight at the 400 Bar, the Samples (possibly) Wednesday at First Avenue, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds w/Neko Case and Her Boyfriends at the State Theatre on Thursday, Gricklegrass on Friday, and Saturday I will attempt the impossible as I try to see <i><b>three shows in one day</i></b> including the Weakerthans, the Coup w/X-Executioners and Kenny Muhammed (the Human Orchestra), and the Frogs w/Superhopper. Wish me luck!
~Rae, going deaf |
| Nick Cave! | Masonjar
Apr 22, 2002 8:33 AM | | I see the bastard is continuing his tradition of skipping Ohio all together.. every time he comes through he goes straight to Detriot, then skips over to somewhere in PA or up to Toronto.. Grrr!
-jar |
| Billy Bragg!!! | Audio Girl
Apr 22, 2002 8:04 PM | | Rae, sounds like a fun time and I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. I am trying to see when he is coming to Dallas next...I hope to be there!
Thanks for the review,
AG |
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