I’m
a bit of a “Bah! Humbug!”-er when it comes to Christmas, I’m afraid,
increasingly tired of the over-commercialism and exploitation of the holiday
season, and also annoyed with the fact it seems to start earlier every year.
However, one sure sign for me that Christmas is actually closing in, good and
proper, is the GBATCOT AGMOFL! West Country folk-punk jongleur, “The Bard of
Purton” (whom nobody but me refers to him as…!) and my most-seen “live” artiste
Gaz Brookfield once again organised his “AGM of Lovely People” Christmas
gathering at Bristol Fleece, so Logan and I booked tix for both this and his
Autumn tour date at the Hop. Unfortunately, I had to miss the Hop shlep as Nada
Surf subsequently announced a clashing date (one of only 2 UK dates for ‘da
Surf), but this full band date was a no-brainer!
Rich was up for it too, so we picked the Big Man up for a careful drive down the M4, given the ongoing effects of Storm Daragh. A slight parking mare still got us in as doors opened, meeting Matt in the queue and chatting down the front. Opening m/f acoustic duo Morris and Watson were on at an early 7.45, opening with an energetically delivered instrumental, the ebullient folksiness of which made me think it might have been written as incidental music for “Ballymory” or some such quaint Celtic dramedy. This recently married couple (“she married me because my parents own a chip shop – free chips for life!”) plied a well-played and energetically performed but very trad folky furrow, with one number also recalling 80’s Scots folk-popsters Deacon Blue, and their cheesy cover of The Pogues “Fairytale Of New York”, which predictably got the early comers singing along, was far and away the best of an unmemorable (for me) set.
A quick loo trip still got me back front and centre before the main event, with both Sarah and Liz, plus Ben Sydes Southsea mate who we met at the Frank Turner Brooks gig in May (gig 1,327) joining us in our little front centre spot. Logan and I had had a little chat with Gaz at the merch stand earlier, and he indicated tonight’s set would be a continuation of the “Eras Tour” style of his Autumn acoustic tour, freshening up the usual set selection a little by delving back into his now-impressively lengthy canon (9 studio albums and counting…) and going off the beaten track, “except with less chat…!” And, joining us with his 6-piece band of troubadour ruffians at 8.45, he was true to his word with the raw, ragged and rambunctious opener “Snakes And Ladders”, and the beer-soaked sway-along paean to Bacchanalianism “Under The Table”, Logan lustily (and a little worryingly, given he’s still under age!) singing along to every word of this one, as he – and I – pretty much did for the whole of the set, actually!
Yup,
this was again an inclusive, immersive, roof-raising singalong Gaz Brookfield Festive
party, Chrimbo jumper optional but popular, and a performance which, if I still
drank, I would have been regularly lifting my pint in the air to (and doubtless
spilling half the contents!). An early “It’s All So Very Rock’n’Roll” featured
a roof-raising “la la la la” mid-section, prompting some words of praise from
Gaz; the ebullient “Tale Of Gunner Haines” was excellent but immediately topped
by the dramatic drum opening and dark, hurtling pace of an unexpected but
brilliant set highlight “Black Dog Day”, delivered with no little venom; John
Buckett lent a lovely opening piano refrain to the subsequent palate-cleansing
and plaintive “Ferry Song”, a necessary breather for all; and “Land Pirate’s
Life” and “Diabetes Blues” formed a racey, pacey late double whammy, eliciting
a chorus of “arrr”’s and a huge choral singalong respectively from the locals.
After a proper dredge through the back catalogue for proto-folky oldie “Man Of Means” (a fun singalong, but a reminder just how far Gaz’ songwriting has developed), Gaz eschewed the encore ritual (“a fucking waste of time!”) before announcing, “this tour celebrates 15 years since I quit my day job to do this!” A prescient and utterly worthwhile decision!” A savage “I’ve Paid My Money”, a jolly singalong to “The West Country Song” and another pacey number in “Let The East Winds Blow” (“let’s end on a fast one – [drummer] Lex hates me right now!”) rounded off another sing-yourself-hoarse Gaz band performance. Ace! Gathered our thoughts and chatted with the crew, before setting off into the swirling windswept night for a better drive back home, dropping Rich off after a trip to Jimmy’s Kebab shop for late tea. So, another celebratory night out with the West Country’s finest folk-punk balladeer… now that another excellent GBATCOT AGMOLP is in the books, Christmas is allowed to officially get under way…!
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