The
more I listen to Gaz Brookfield’s new, 6th album “Lostfolk”, the
more I’m convinced it’s easily his best yet and one of the best of 2019, the
sound of a songwriter tackling both other musical styles beyond his normal
barnstorming punk/ folk singalongs and tears-in-the-beers balladry, and more
diverse subject matter (mental health, the shitstorm that passes for politics
right now), pretty much hitting the bullseye with every song. So, despite
catching him up the Vic last month for the record-breaking 23rd time
(gig 1,156), I was still up for more, booking for both the December full band
“homecoming” gig at SWX, plus this, a solo Saturday in Salisbury, at a venue
where Logan (who’d pretty much declared “Lostfolk” his new favourite album
halfway through the first song!) was able to join me as well!
So
we headed off for a boy’s evening out, Logan navigating me there for 7.30,
squeezing into a small parking space in the pub car park and popping into the
bar. A real old school spit’n’sawdust place, this, with locals gathered around
a pool table and well-thumbed copies of “Viz” in the magazine rack. We hit the
venue at 10 to 8 doors to secure Logan a front row spot; good thing too, as the
low-ceilinged former drinks cellar (I’m guessing!) was quite the smallest gig
venue I’d been to for ages, making the likes of Moles, The Louisiana and even
Cardiff’s Gwdihw look expansive in comparison! Local acoustic/electric duo
Trapped In Amber played a diverting opening guitar set of “mostly songs about
ex-wives”, in a repetitive knockabout new wave / pub rock style which would have
likely seen them signed by Stiff Records in 1977. The vocalist’s easy
conversational delivery seemed at odds with his obvious stage-fright, and I got
the impression they’d be a decent watch, if he could control the nerves…
Had
a quick chat with support guy Ben Sydes at the merch stand, before a quick loo
trip and a wander back down the front to join Logan to catch his set. Once
again, he attacked the set from the off with vim and venom, the opener full of
tension and furious strumming, and overlaid with his unusual yearning nasal
vocals (although he admitted his voice was “on its’ way out tonight”). Second
number “Crutches”, my favourite of his also-rather splendid new album "Self Sabotage", was terrific, a soaring
melodic opening building to a strident chorus, and “This Was My City Once” saw
woah-oh’s from the attentive crowd (Ben cajoling the audience to sing along
with, “it’s like Jake Martin wrote it – it’s not very taxing!”). A monologue on
stage-fright ended with Ben commenting, “the trick, Salisbury, is don’t stop
drinking!” which elicited a heckle of, “what if you’re under age?” from Logan!
“Verbatim” was a splendid dose of emo-esque wallowing melancholy, recalling
Dashboard Confessional (Logan getting to play the final chord of the song this
time!) and closer “(Still In) Saigon” was a galloping, dark and baroque
Placebo-esque rocker, preceded by the affable Ben thanking the crowd for,
“supporting the support”. Easily done, when the support is as good as B Sydes!
Following
that, Gaz nearly caught us all off-guard, sneaking onstage at 9.30 and slowly
easing in with hushed opener “Pen To Paper”, before a strident, impassioned
“Lostfolk” got things really started… “New album! New backdrop!” announced Gaz,
“that cost £80! Money well spent, I’m sure you’ll agree,” before promising to
mix some old favourites in with the new material, the subsequent galloping
“Gunner Haines” getting Logan singing along loudly and lustily. “IOU”
(apparently the only song on the album not about losing one’s self in some way,
and only on the album because Mrs. B insisted!) saw the crowd harmonise in the
splendid chorus hook, before a serious moment, Gaz touching on his depression
issues then dedicating the brilliant “Afterthought”/ “Black Dog Day” segue to
friends lost to this illness. Back on a lighter note, Gaz challenged us to join
in the “la la la”’s of “Rock And Roll” by stating “you’re not obliged, but last
night’s crowd did it really well!”, and a savage- punk rock “Uneducated Guess”
was introduced with, “here’s to not having a clue what’s going on!”
Gaz
as ever really put a shift in, his energetic style meaning he was visibly tiring
towards the end, but still kept some in the tank for a venomous “Bigger Man”
encore, and a beery singalong to “Great Minds Drink Alike”, accompanied by Ben
and delivered from the floor. A nice way to end another great Gaz evening,
Logan loving it too. Congrats with Gaz and Ben and a merch stand stop before we
headed off home through inky black country roads, tired but happy. Looking
forward to that SWX full band gig now!
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