1,361 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, Morris and Watson, Bristol Fleece, Saturday 7th December 2024

 

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…!

1,322 GAZ BROOKFIELD, Mischa Weston-Green, Salisbury Winchester Gate Beer Garden (matinee), Saturday 6th April 2024

 

When the girls are away, then the boys will gig…! My missus had long earmarked this afternoon for a Bristol theatre trip with the daughter of the house, so when Logan’s and my own “most-seen” live act, “The Bard of Purton” himself, West Country travelling folk/ punk land pirate ruffian Gaz Brookfield, announced a matinee beer garden show at Salisbury bolt-hole The Winchester Gate, suddenly our afternoon looked a bit different than the usual Saturday afternoon vegging on the sofa (usually post-gym morning, to be fair…) watching the footy results. No sir, some acoustic Gaz shenanigans now await!

So we set off just after 12.30, a little later than planned as Logan was feeling a little worse for wear (!) and was slow getting up… happily he revived on the winding journey through Savernake to old Sarum, so was in good form as we arrived, dumping the motor in a nearby cash-only car park which, as we had no cash, required a fiddly app download! Gained entry into this 2-tier beer garden which reminded me of Southampton Hobbit’s sprawling back yard, then back into the pub for drinks, queueing up behind Gaz and Logan having a chat with him about motorbikes and stuff. Support Mischa Weston-Green had already started, so we took a watching brief at the top of the steps on the fringes of the open upper tier (all the benches were taken). A solo acoustic guy, as expected, his material had definite Jamaican/ reggae leanings, both in the rhythm and song structure and in Mischa’s vocal delivery. A mid-set “Stop, Drop, Roll” was punkier, and apparently co-opted by Extinction Rebellion as their theme, and my highlight was the frantic closer about his favourite bands whilst growing up; shame the track was way better than the bloody awful bands (Queen, RATM, RHCP, Guns’n’Roses) it namechecked (!), and overall I was a bit ambivalent about his set. Nice he’s trying something other than the usual punk-tinged acoustic folky stuff, but I’ve never been a fan of reggae anyway, and the material largely didn’t make much of an impression on me either… 

We ventured down to the bottom tier, covered gazebo-like, and eyed up a couple of unoccupied seats by the merch desk to the right of the corner stage. As Gaz kicked into his usual rambunctious form dead on 3 with a jovial and jocular “Solo Acoustic Guy”, no-one else had bagged them, so we did! An early, swayalong and rather ace actually “So Very Rock And Roll” saw the first beer garden singalong to the “la la la la” middle 8 refrain, and when Gaz then announced the release of an acoustic version of his recent “Morning Walking Club” album before an affirmative “Nuggets”, the dog companion of an old bloke in marker-penned hi-viz gear (more on him later) started barking. Everyone’s a critic…! 

Having seen Gaz a couple of times at the end of last year, much of the newer numbers in the set and the explanations for same were recently familiar, although it was nice to hear Gaz’ story about “Time Team” again before a poignant “Arborglyph”, particularly the addendum that Gaz is now appearing on “TT” in May! “I’m taking my metal detector and I’ll find absolutely nothing…!” he quipped… However my particular favourites of the early set were the “path less trodden” numbers, such as a rare, relaxed “Pen To Paper”, and the splendid “Cornish Fishing Town”, played by Gaz “in the round”, standing and rotating (“I’m the lazy Susan of folk!”) on the wall separating the 2 beer garden levels, and using a fretted dulcimer that a sponsor had bought him, in exchange for writing a song in 24 hours using it! The band coming-of-age paean “Hook Village Hall” was another highlight, particularly as Dave, one of the protagonists of the song, was present this afternoon, Gaz revealing he had indeed nicked a drumbeat from ska punkers [spunge]!

By now we’d been joined by the old bloke with the dog, who proceeded to rifle through Gaz’ CD box, which made me a little awkward… do I stop him, or what? Luckily the onlooking Gaz didn’t seem too perturbed, although the final few numbers were played in a bit of a gallop; the more familiar likes of “Be The Bigger Man”, a brilliant “Gunner Haines”, an acerbic “I’ve Paid My Money” (“it’s not about you guys!”), the “arrrr!”-inducing “Land Pirates Life” and a totally apt and inclusive singalong to “West Country Song” rounding off a fine set, and a perfect accompaniment to a lazy beer garden afternoon.

Happily, the old bloke paid for the pile of CDs he’d accumulated, and I grabbed a new tee and a handshake from Gaz at the merch stand, before we set off, home via the chippy for tea. Nice one Gaz; we’ll see you later in the year for the usual Hop and Fleece full band double-header!

1,305 GAZ BROOKFIELD, Shedrac; 1,307 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, George Gadd, Jim Blair, Swindon The Hop and Bristol Fleece, Saturdays 25th November and 2nd December 2023

 

Another double-header, this; this time it’s consecutive Saturday nights out (sandwiching a Chameleons gig in Oxford, hence the number sequencing!) with the West Country’s finest and hardest-working DIY, have-guitar-will-travel, folk/ punk troubadour/ raconteur Gaz Brookfield… These 2, the 31^st and 32^nd times respectively he and I have crossed paths, form part of his “Morning Walking Club” tour, celebrating the album release of the same name. Honestly, this one’s taken a little time to really burrow itself into my consciousness; a few galloping and fun tunes, but a bit “Gaz by numbers” and a bit of quality control short of “Lostfolk”, for me still his finest work by some distance. However, given he’s a DIY musician, I understand and support Gaz’ plan to whack out an album every 18 months or so, plus he’s always great fun and good value trading the boards, and Logan is still keen on coming along, so off we go!

First was Gaz solo in the ‘don, so a bloody chilly trip up the hill saw Logan and I parking in the Planks car park and hitting the Hop at 8, meeting up with Rich and a visiting Ady, down from Glasgow for the weekend. Caught up with the guys before we heard some noise emanating from the upstairs venue, so wandered up for opener Shedrac. Another solo acoustic guy, he specialised in some very intricate guitar picking underpinning material which was quite scattergun, veering from very trad 70’s folk, New Orleans Bourbon Street jazz and swampy Delta blues, and even Dr. Feelgood-style bluesy pub rock. Not my thing, and sometimes it felt as if the material was a vehicle to showcase his guitaring dexterity rather than actually construct a memorable tune, but I did like his final number, a lament about a girl from Penhill!

We all took a step forward so Logan and I were front row, house left. Gaz greeted us in passing then hooked up onstage, overcoming some tech issues (“why do we even do soundchecks?” he bemoaned before sound-guy Ed Dyer, as ever, made it all better) before launching into the clarion call of opener “Loud And Clear” and the mundane daily detail of the swayalong “All So Rock And Roll”. The audience were in fine voice too, singing the roof-raising harmony before joining in with the call-and-response counter hook of “IOU”, to Gaz’ obvious delight. In fact, it then all got a little emotional, Gaz needing time to compose himself before a clearly heartfelt and meaningful “Pantomime”, commenting, “sorry guys; it’s been a long tour…” No need to apologise, mate! 

Haunting newie “Arborglyph” came with a lengthy preamble about history nerd Gaz meeting the folks from TV’s “Time Team” on a local dig and sharing tea and cake with them (quipping, “not so good for us Type 1 diabetics,” and nodding at Logan), and the subsequent “Maps” (“my rule – I need to follow a sad one with a silly one!”) followed that story, with Gaz reflecting that “TT”s Alice must have enjoyed that one, when she subsequently took up his guest-list offer! Switching moods again, “Godless Man” was angry, dark and dour (“I’m available for weddings,” deadpanned Gaz afterwards), before he delved waaaay back for rarely-played oldie “Things You Don’t Need”; “I still don’t have these things [agent, record label, manager], but I do have a number one [Folk Chart] album!” he announced at its conclusion to cheers.

“Morning Walking Club” was the last of the newies tonight, Gaz bigging up the absent Ben Wain’s fiddle solo on the record – I guess we’ll have to wait a week for that! After that, it was singalong, all-inclusive bangers all the way; “I’ve Paid My Money”, bilious and hard-hitting, the inevitable “Be The Bigger Man”, then a joyful and roof-raising singalong “West Country Song” to round off proceedings, Gaz leaving us with profuse and heartfelt thanks, and a comment of, “I never thought it would be so emotional!” Grabbed the list and a bobble hat – the last one! – for Logan, before heading off down the hill to end Gaz. Part 1!

Part 2 arrived the following Saturday, seeing us set off down a freezing and foggy M4 about 6ish for the annual “full band” Christmas show at the Fleece. Parked up on the main road next to the old Transport House, bringing back memories for me of that Jamie Wednesday gig there in 1987 (gig 78!).

Hit the venue just after doors and met Matt at the bar; he kindly got drinks in and we took a spot down the front, house right, for opener, Swindon’s very own Jim Blair. The grizzled scene veteran took a seat, as is his wont, and played some ramshackle and fuzzed-up pedal steel old school New Orleans/ Delta blues delivered in his distinctive gravelly Bourbon-soaked tones, interspersed with a few 70’s Fairport folkier rockers (his Valentines Day paean to “my queen” being an example). Not my kind of stuff, but an entertaining set from Jim, his usual deadpan banter about his 17 kids (!) and a foot-stomping cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together” (“I do work for Help The Aged, so I’m covering this so McCartney can heat his home!”) going down well with the early crowd.

Next up on short order was Nottingham’s George Gadd, another solo acoustic folky punky guy from a seemingly endless production line, but his oeuvre, delivered apace with octave-changing, yearning vocals, immediately called to mind Mr. Carraba’s early work with Dashboard Confessional – a pretty lazy comparison, I appreciate, but hey, as with Ben Sydes’ support Brightr last April (gig 1,217), if I hear clip-clops, I shout horse! Despite the frantic, tension filled delivery and angsty-emo overtones of his material (also pretty much nailing himself to the emo mast when he mentioned a member of the excellent Modern Baseball had sung backing vocals on an earlier single), Mr. Gadd himself was a buoyant onstage presence, giving a shout out for Gloucester Services then bantering with a punter who apparently works there (!), and giving props to Jake Martin for his songwriting advice (“[he] said, write what you know; so it’s imaginary girlfriends, dead dogs and the drink!”). The “ooo-eee-ooo” repeated refrain of “C’mon Courtney”, sung back by the crowd, clearly delighted him too, his comment being, “I love this! Look at me now, dad!” A little derivative for me, maybe, but the man warmed up the crowd nicely, so well done sir! 

I took a wander back for a loo trip which nearly proved a mistake as the place was rammed and I needed to take the long way round to return to my spot! Gaz led the troops on promptly at ¼ to 9 with a cheery, “good evening, Bristol!”, ploughing straight into rocking opener “Loud And Clear” and giving it loads from the outset, shouting out the hook with furious intent. In a rejigged set from last Saturday, the singalong “March Of Progress” was next up, and a much earlier and raucously delivered “Diabetes Blues” made it clear the man was here to deliver a proper party set, the unexpected and superb fist-pumping manifesto of “Lostfolk” (featuring some excellent virtuoso fiddle from Ben Wain) underlining this point. Working up a sweat already, the man announced, “it’s taken me 15 years to [remember to] bring a towel onstage with me!” 

“The Tale Of Gunner Haines” was happily restored to the set tonight, Logan raucously singing along from his barrier spot, and “Getting Drunk For Christmas” was doubly poignant tonight, Gaz remembering his old mate Jock and also The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan, lost to us earlier this week. Oldie “Man Of Means” was a little understated, but Gaz cranked up the volume and passion next, challenging the crowd, “have we got any Land Pirates in tonight?” to cheers, and a rambunctious “Land Pirate’s Life” ensued. The venomous “I’ve Paid My Money” and its’ slower-burn, quizzical sequel “Living The Dream” was audience participation catnip, with a roaring singalong for the first, and shouts of “Yes!” and “No!” answering the questions in the lyrics to the second. Again, Gaz and band ploughed through into the encores (“we’ve got 4 left, and if we [went off and on] we’d only have time for 3”), a jaunty and rousing “Thin” then leading to the final “West Country Song” and a deserved bow for a red-faced and blowing Gaz, the man having really put in a shift tonight and backed ably by his band.

Farewells to Matt, then a quick chat with both Ben Sydes and Evey, and a newly-svelte looking Nick Parker, before hitting the road for an equally dirty and foggy yet swift drive up the M4, home via the kebab shop for a late supper over “Match Of The Day”. A fine way to spend a couple of Saturdays, then, and another successful Gaz Brookfield Christmas Party!

1,257 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, Heartwork, B Sydes, Bristol The Fleece, Saturday 3rd December 2022

 

Completing my recent Fleece “residency” tonight is this one, which also happens to be my 30^th time of asking for Gaz! After a couple of solo gigs earlier this year by Bristol’s finest confessional punk-folk singer songwriter and ruffian troubadour (have beaten-up guitar and harmonica, will travel…!), our paths have largely remained uncrossed, his more recent Marlborough and Swindon Hop gigs coinciding with other Dance Card appointments on my part. This one, however, had been on the itinerary awhile now: Gaz’ annual full band “Christmas Do” at his spiritual home The Fleece! Previous such outings have been real highlights, and proper celebrations of Gaz’ uplifting and singalong oeuvre, particularly when fleshed out by his splendid band. So here’s for a hopefully entertaining Big Three-Oh!

 

After an afternoon supporting one of my children (Jami) at her piano group recital in town, I packed the other one (Logan) up in the motor, also collecting recent gig friend Joanna for a swift early evening drive down the M4. I’d sported my Darth Vader Chrimbo jumper to Jami’s “do” so figured, tonight is Gaz’ Chrimbo bash, so let’s keep it on! Hit the venue just before 7, greeting the recently Covid-ed but happily now-recovered Ben Sydes outside, then grabbing barrier front and centre on opening, Matt joining us shortly before Ben took the stage at 7.30. The place was already amply full, and Ben did his usual admirable job of getting the crowd fully warmed up and their collective larynx loosened with a few rousing and rowdy singalongs. The urgent “Crutches” was great, Logan and I chanting “knees! Knees! Knees!” at the hook, then Ben needed to call Heartwork’s Dan onto the stage to replace a busted string, the first of two such tonight! In fact, after the second mishap, which followed a singalong “Good Times”, Ben received a drinks shot from the crowd, commenting, “the best way to get over Covid is to get absolutely fucking shitfaced!” A plaintive yet singalong “This Was My City Once” was my set highlight, although the hurtling emo of “Still In Saigon”, coupled with Ben’s lengthy outro note, ran it close in another fine B Sydes set.

 Heartwork, AKA charming young bloke Dan O’Dell, was next up; his material was more angst-ridden and both determinedly and passionately delivered, demonstrated by “No Angles”, a pointed diatribe “about motherfuckers on the internet,” and “Fire”, a rawer heartbreak ballad. Between numbers he also showed some biting wit (“let’s get a cheer for the manufacturer of B Sydes’ strings!”) and a caring attitude, with a positive mental health message preceding his final, best number, “Just What I’ve Become”. Nice stuff, Sir!

 Only a 15 minute turnaround, before the lights dimmed and Gaz led the 6-piece Thieves on (no Nick Parker tonight) dead on 9, welcoming a full house with, “how’s everyone doing? Merry Christmas!”, easing into a slightly understated “March Of Progress”. “Gunner Haines”, next up, however raised the tempo and “Diabetes Blues” got the full crowd raucously singing along and raising their cans of Thatchers, Gaz reciprocating with his bottle of water before complaining, “I’m standing here drinking fucking rain!” Nonetheless, this didn’t detract from his and the band’s performance, which was as full-bodied and energetic as hoped, a perspiring and hard-breathing Gaz commenting, “I’m definitely not match fit!” but nonetheless leaving everything on the stage. “Getting Drunk For Christmas” was poignantly dedicated to, “absent friends,”; a rollicking “I Know My Place”, despite a 2^nd verse lyric ricket, was a tough best-of-set so far; but that was immediately surpassed by a blistering and rarely-played “Black Dog Day”, propelled in no small part by an octopus-limbed virtuoso performance by excellent (new? Stand-in?) drummer Lee Moulding. Another rarely played oldie, “Man Of Means” featured a splendid middle-8 break from violinist Ben Wain, and “I’ve Paid My Money” was another rousing singalong, “Gaz remarking at its’ conclusion, “you have no idea how satisfying it is to hear 400 people shout the word Dick!”

 

“Be The Bigger Man” was its usual superb and barbed self, Gaz then asking of us, “got a little left?” before the echoed chant of “East Winds Blow” and “Thin” closed out another, “AGM of lovely people!” as Gaz aptly put it, and another great, fun and inclusive singalong set. Quick chats with Lee (who learned the whole set in a couple of months on his work commute! Impressive!) and esteemed keyboardist Jon Buckett, before we briefly shook hands with the besieged merch-stand bound Gaz and headed off, home just before 11.30. So, the big Three-Oh up with Gaz, and a real celebration to mark it. Merry Christmas!

1,206 and 1,208 GAZ BROOKFIELD, Jake Martin, B-Sydes, Southampton 1865 and Swindon The Victoria, Friday 21st January and Thursday 3rd February 2022

 

Gaz is on the road again! Punky folky storytelling wandering minstrel and “live” favourite (indeed, currently my most-seen “live” act going away) Gaz Brookfield initially held back from his usual seemingly perpetual programme of gigging following the easing of Covid restrictions last July, poking his head above the parapet for a select few appearances (“My Dad’s” Festival and his own Christmas Fleece gathering, my gigs 1,187 and 1,204). But then, following the release of his new album “Idiomatic” at the arse end of 2021, the man announced a New Year tour with his 2 besties and analogues, Jake Martin and Ben Sydes. Mainly centring around weekend dates, our only shot initially seemed to be the Southampton 1865 gig, so Logan and I booked for this. However, following the postponement of the Dean Wareham gig (for about the 9^th time!), the clashing Swindon Vic date opened up, so I booked for that too (no Logan as it’s 18+; boo!).

 So, a new South Coast venue on a Friday night for starters then; an easy drive down got us parked up before doors directly outside the venue (next to their bins!), a returning Gaz greeting us on arrival. First in then to this unexpectedly large ballroom style venue, half carpeted and with tables and chairs, so we got seats and drinks and passed the time listening to their soundtrack of earnest emo before Ben took the stage for his opening set. Opening with a splendid, rollicking “Crutches”, his performance was slightly softly spoken and understated, yet heartfelt and emotive. Falling more on the emo side of the one-man-plus-battered-acoustic oeuvre (and admitting that tonight’s pre-gig soundtrack sounded like the inside of his head!), Ben nonetheless enticed a couple of singalongs from the early gathering, during “Good Times” and the plaintive “This Was My City Once”. Clearly happy to be back onstage after, “2 years playing to my phone and getting drunk on the internet!”, Ben was also clearly still shaking off some ring-rust for this, the 4^th gig of the tour, and earned a shot of sambuca from a fellow punter for each lyric ricket, eventually downing 4! Donning the harmonica for “The Desperate Dance”, Ben coaxed another backing singalong from us early punters (“if you’re not [warmed up] for Gaz he beats us!”), and a final, off-kilter and dissonant “Still In Saigon” rounded off a fine opening set.

 “Sydes is much nicer than me, I’m going to abuse you for the next half hour!” proclaimed Jake Martin as he bounded onstage, prompting me away from my merch-stand chat with the opener and joining Logan down the front again. A more overt, potty mouthed and in-your-face performer, Jake was nonetheless as full of good fooling and effusiveness as opener Ben, prompting singalongs for an excellent early “Mountains”, and the, “you’re an asshole!” hook of “For Fuck’s Sake Jake”, Jake commenting beforehand that his therapist advised him not to play that anymore, but remarking afterwards that it, “never fails to bring a room full of people together!” “Posters In Picture Frames” was pre-empted by a fun if meandering explanation about growing up (all my posters are in frames – does that mean I’m old??!!) and featured some “la la” singalongs, as Gaz had said all Jake’s songs have “whoa-oh”s in them (!). Then closer “We Sing The Words All Wrong” reverted to type for the inclusive, “whoa oh,” hook (“my grandfather said always end on a singalong; mind you he was a truck driver…!”), again rounding off another entertaining Jake set.

 Logan and I kept our front-centre spot as Gaz set up, Logan telling him about our intended post-gig dirty kebab plans which prompted an appreciative fist bump from the man, before he eased into the almost ballad-like opening of first number “Pantomime” before picking up speed for the second verse. Pointing out his lyric stand, Gaz admitted that following the near-2 year layoff, “I’ve no longer retained the ability to remember lyrics!”, although he had no such problems for an early highlight, his “most requested livestream song” (no surprise there) “The Tale Of Gunner Haines”. Newie “Monochrome” was introduced as being, “about loving where you live – even if you live near Swindon!”; I mimicked being stabbed through the heart at this, which prompted a chuckle from Gaz, then the next number, a rocking singalong “Diabetes Blues” was dedicated to Logan, “my diabetes bro!” An unexpected “Godless Man” was taut and tense, then Gaz bolted on his harmonica (“unlike Sydes, I never apologise for [doing this]!”) for a slower burn “Art Of Falling” and sway-along “Under The Table” mid-set double. “Idiomatic” was another highlight, Gaz explaining the song’s meaning – “about my anxieties on normal life – not this [being onstage]; this is my comfort food, my… dirty kebab!” “Lostfolk” and “Land Pirates” finally got the Southampton crowd, who’d been very reserved and respectfully quiet throughout all the performers, properly warmed up, and another excellent Gaz set rounded off with the headliner bringing the 2 supports onstage for a bonding “Aged Revolt” and a rousing “Great Minds Drink Alike” to round off an evening full of singalongs, good humour and general bonhomie.

 A quick chat with Jake at the merch stand (re-introducing him to Logan, 4 ½ years after my then-9 year old son got all up in his face at “All Roads Lead To Frome”, gig 1,036!), before a swift blast up the inky black A34 and a late kebab rounded off another fun boys night out and part 1 of my triple-header double-header (!).

Part 2 came 13 days later, one night after the Chameleons’ Fleece gig (gig. 1,207, hence the gap in the count!), as I trundled up the hill, meeting tonight’s promoter Ed Dyer, plus Rich and Ady in The Vic for some pre-gig rock chat. We were however well ensconced in the old back room for B Sydes opening set at 8.30, Ben running through the same set as Southampton, this time with extra added piss-taking from the side-stage Jake after a lyrical slip-up during the otherwise excellent opener “Crutches”, and of course the ubiquitous penance shots! Ben however fired back at his tour buddy whilst exhorting the audience to sing the “woah-oh” fill during “This Was My City Once”; “it’s easy, it’s like one of Jake’s songs!”, prompting an entertaining bitchy exchange between the two, which continued throughout both their sets! The Placebo-esque, tense and taut “Still In Saigon”, featuring an impressively held final note, ended another fine opening set – he’s up The Tuppenny in April; so are we!

 “I said to Gaz and Sydes I might be the drunk one tonight, but then Sydes got a little bolshy!” announced Jake at the outset of his set, continuing the pseudo-feud, but then admitting, “I’ve proved by mocking my best friends that I’m a bit of a twat!” So following a raucously sung-along “For Fuck’s Sake Jake” (during which he nonetheless changed the hook to, “Sydes, you’re an asshole!”), the boys all made peace with an onstage hug-in. Again, motormouth Jake’s set followed the same lines as Southampton, with the Frank Turner-esque closer “We Sing The Words All Wrong” my favourite of his well-received set.

 This bumped us up to 10 and an amply full room; Gaz took the stage to little fanfare, quietly strumming the opening bars of “Pantomime” whilst prowling the stage and eyeballing the chatty crowd until they paid attention! Gaz also followed the same set structure as a couple of weeks ago, but from the outset you could tell there was something extra tonight… “You have no fucking idea how much it means to be here!” he announced at the end of the opener, “let’s not dwell on it or I’ll get all teary…” his comments making us realise that he was playing with the spirit of his old friend Dave Young, former proprietor of this very venue and sadly lost to us last year, looking over his shoulder. That being the case, he did his old friend full justice with a splendidly delivered set. The early “Gunner Haines” was again amazing; “Monochrome” was again preceded by his sad lyric-forgetting lament, although this time his phone served as prompter (“I’m actually playing “Doom”!”), and the excellent “Godless Man” was referred to as, “one from my wedding set!”

 A mid-set break to raid Jake’s fish supper (“I love Mr. Cod! I used to live around the corner from [there]…”) preceded a loudly accompanied “Under The Table”, then, after checking in on the crowd (“how we all doing? Thought I’d check… I’ve been rabbiting on… scruffy cunt with a guitar, what’s he doing…”), the rest of the set passed in an inclusive and raucous singalong blur, my highlight being a splendid “Lostfolk”. Jake and Ben again joined him onstage for the communal manifesto of “Aged Revolt” and the three-handed drinking song “Great Minds Drink Alike”, Gaz leaving us with a heartfelt comment of, “it means even more [than usual] to be playing here… this is my fucking town!” to appreciative roars.

 That wasn’t it, however, as Ed took the stage and persuaded Gaz to come out for another couple of clearly unplanned numbers. Gaz, seemingly reluctant at first, ran through a savagely bolshy “Be The Bigger Man” and an emotionally charged “West Country Song”, murmuring between songs, “this is the first time I’ve been back [to The Vic] since…” his voice then tailing off. By the end he was an emotional mess, heading off backstage in short order, with both Ben and Ed following to check on him, after a performance which would have done his old friend proud.

 Not much else to say on that… I left pretty promptly too, as my knees were aching, home at 11.30 in reflective mood. Strange how a performer can play the exact same set over 2 shows, but for the mood and atmosphere of those shows to be completely different. One relaxed and full of good humour, the next a poignant tribute to an old friend. Either way, 2 splendid nights out from Gaz and his besties. Here’s to Dave Young… and the Original Trilogy!

1,204 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, Jess Silk, Acrustic Badger Band, Bristol Fleece, Sunday 20th December 2021

 

The last one of a late-starting 22-gig 2021 – considering my first wasn’t until 28^th July, thanks to this bloody Covid shitstorm, I’ve got to be happy with that – and fittingly, and for the 27^th time of asking, it’s “live” folk/ punk raconteur favourite Gaz Brookfield, this time accompanied by his Company, for his annual Christmas bash! It’s back at The Fleece this time, but also against the troubling backdrop of increasing cases of a new Covid variant seemingly impervious to 2 vaccine doses, although less efficacious against a booster. I’m boosted, me, so me and Logan were happy to go along, although Matt, Ady and Rich all dipped out at the last minute due to concerns about any subsequent quarantine period disrupting Chrimbo plans.

 Anyhoo, Logan and I tiptoed down a foggy M4, finding a parking spot a stones throw from the Fleece entrance but enduring a bit of a phone parking payment-mare (since when does “C” sound like “A” when I say it?), before hitting a quiet early doors venue at ¼ to 8 and easily slotting into Logan’s preferred viewing space – front and centre! My first time back at this much-visited venue since lockdown, and weirdly, it appears they’ve installed what looks like urinal troughs on the front of the stage! Didn’t have much time to ponder this before the Acrustic Badger Band, an acoustic guitar/ violin/ ukulele trio, joined us at 8, the vocalist immediately breaking a string which required extensive post-song rework, the ukulele player deftly filling in with an impromptu singalong cover of old Labi Siffre staple “It Must Be Love”! Their usual oeuvre consisted of fiddly diddly numbers which all sounded like a cross between The Wonder Stuff’s “Golden Green” and The Wurzels’ “Combine Harvester”! Couple that with the vocalists very pronounced (affected?) West Country accent and their subject matter – lots of songs about badgers! – meant that I didn’t see them as anything more than a bad novelty act. But they got the crowd singing along, so what the fuck do I know, eh?

 Main support Jess Silk, on at 8.45, was much more palatable. An earnest, left-wing Grace Petrie-alike (another pretty obvious comparison, but, hey, clip-clop = horse, and all that…), albeit darker and more serious, and actually with a touch of the doleful yearnings of Mr. Carraba, she kicked off with a couple of confrontational political anthems delivered in a distinctive, almost rasping voice, then changed tack considerably with a well-received cover of The Pogues’ “Fairytale Of New York”! A haunting “If We’re Damned” (her attempt to write a hopeful song of defiance after the dreadful December 2019 election result) and a more plaintive road song, “Home Is Where The Heart Is”, rounded off a short but impressive set tinged with some melancholy, as she put it, “it feels like this is the last time for awhile that we’ll do this…”

 That being so, we were looking for Gaz to send us into an uncertain Yuletide and potential post-Christmas/ New Year lockdown in good cheer, and he and his merry men duly delivered. From the opener “March Of Progress” (with its telling hook, “what is going on!?”), through an early “Logan-double” of “Gunner Haines” and a rocking “Diabetes Blues” (which got us both unmasked and singing along down the front), Gaz was in determined mood, giving it his all and (also a little out of practice with this “live” malarkey at the moment) clearly putting great effort into his performance. Newie “Pantomime” was a breathless rocker, “World Spins Round” featured some excellent fiddle breaks courtesy of Ben Wain, and a later “Lostfolk” (preceded by Gaz commenting, “two years on [from this album] and we still feel pretty lost!”) was my set highlight, a brilliantly ragged anthemic call-to-arms. Not note- or word-perfect by any means (Gaz messing up his words in a couple of different numbers), but nobody cared, the audience (probably ¾ full tonight, with my mates not the only Covid-cautious absentees tonight) just wanted to sing along to Gaz’ easy folk/ punk hooks and choruses, and have a great time, make the most of it before the next inevitable lockdown…

 After a raucous singalong to “West Country Song” and “Let The East Winds Blow”, Gaz remarked, “it’s a difficult time to be a musician or music fan [so] it means the fucking world to us that you came along tonight!”, before one final roof-raising “Thin”, Gaz taking a bow and handing Logan his set-list at it’s conclusion. Quick farewells to Gaz and his uke player Nick Parker, before a 20 minute circuitous nightmare just trying to get out of the road closure-affected city centre without traversing a bus-lane (I had to, in the end!), then home for midnight in increasing fog. So that’s 2021 done and dusted for gigs, then, but a great send-off provided by Gaz and his boys!

1,187 “MY DAD’S BIGGER THAN YOUR DAD” FESTIVAL, Swindon Town Gardens, Saturday 28th August 2021

 

In June, the Swindon Music Community lost a towering figure, both figuratively and literally, in Dave Young, former owner of the Victoria and 12 Bar gig venues, promoter and impresario extraordinaire, and latterly our “live” favourite Gaz Brookfield’s tour soundman. As a relative newbie to the music scene that for years had been sprouting fertile tendrils right under my unknowing nose, I never really knew Dave apart from on brief nodding terms, but I can still acknowledge the massive impact he’d made to Swindon’s entertainment scene, and to the lives of many of the good folk therein. Following his passing, a number of said folk, led by Ed Dyer of the “Swindon Shuffle” team, came up with the idea of this event, apparently a continuation of events Dave himself used to run (hence the name), as a perfect way not only to celebrate the life of such an important figure in Swindon music lore, but also raise some much-needed cash for the Prospect Hospice, who supported Dave during his final days. That in itself would have been enough to ensure my attendance, but when Gaz decided to break his current gig hiatus to play a full band set in honour of his friend, Logan was up for it too!

 So Logan and I headed up the hill on a sunny Saturday lunchtime, parking up just around the corner from the Town Gardens thanks to a resident’s parking pass from local boy Rich! Wandered through a smattering of stalls to get our wristbands for entry into the grassy Bowl leading up to the arched mainstage, bumping into Rich and Ady and catching up with the Americana stylings of openers BLACK SHEEP APPRENTICE, Richard Skidmore’s vehicle to document his paeans of lost love and despair, as backdrop. Just the kind of stuff for a sunny day, then! I jest, of course, as “Skiddy” and crew were on top form, with “Born To Walk Alone” and eponymous set closer “Black Sheep Apprentice” my highlights of a fine set of his combination of Spanish guitar-inflected psych folk pop and Ennio Morricone-meets-Arthur-Lee baroque dusty Americana, a set concluded by Skiddy raising a glass to his old friend Dave. Fine start!

 Rich headed off to the footy and Logan and I took a wander around the stalls while JIM BLAIR was plying his proto bluesy riffery onstage. A gentleman and a very talented musician, Jim, but honestly (and my loss, I know…) his stuff’s not to my tastes; the same could be said for the subsequent ERIN BARDWELL TRIO, an unusual 3-piece set-up from former Skanxter Erin, who played predominantly piano-led ska material, a couple of early numbers which I recognised as 2-Tone covers. Again, Erin is a lovely bloke, but I’ve never liked ska, so Logan and I caught up with old friends Rich and Helen, before heading out of the Bowl to the Bandstand, operating as the second “acoustic” stage and being overseen by “Sheer Music” impresario Kieran Moore. THE LOST TRADES, a loose collective of 3 local folky musicians including Tamsin Quin (whom I’d seen deliver charming pastoral acoustic sets in the past) and Phil Cooper (who supported Fij and Bickers in Oxford a couple of years back with a quirkily impressive, almost US college pop solo set) kicked off their set with a very Fleetwood Mac-like “One Voice”, an ironically named number as it was immediately evident that it was the combination of their 3 voices, intertwining and producing some lovely harmonies, that would be the feature of their delicate yet intriguing and absorbing folksy set. A jaunty “Ballad Of The Groom Of The Stools” (a true lost trade, apparently, being about the servant who used to wipe the king’s arse!) made Logan chuckle, but it was closer “Wait For My Boat To Come Home”, with its intricate harmonies, that was my favourite of a set from a band I’ll definitely see again – and soon!

 

Another wander around the Bowl, then, bumping into folks and catching up with the likes of Paul Carter, Si and Matt Hall, Steve and his charming wife Caz, a returning Mark Carter back from Aus, then, back out by the bandstand, an arriving Tim and Danny, then Gaz Brookfield! Gaz had rocked up there, as had we, to catch the 5 p.m. set from his touring buddy B-SYDES. “I’m glad to be actually playing to people’s faces!” announced Ben after kicking off his set with a robust and rambunctious solo version of the excellent “Crutches”, a real banger with the full band but still pretty damn fine in this format. The more plaintive and poignant storytelling of “This Was My City Once” followed, and a none-more-appropriate “Good Times” elicited a nip of whisky from Gaz’ hip flask! A great set from Ben, despite his worries that, “I’ve forgotten how to tune and chat in these last 18 months!” which culminated in an angular and discordant “Still In Saigon” and featured an impressive last note hold from Ben. Good work, mate, you certainly earned your subsequent planned “advanced state of refreshment”!

 

A little chat with the man before the subsequent SHUDDERS set, which initially seemed very understated and almost hushed in comparison with Ben’s performance, but then settled into a combination of relaxing and hazy 70’s West Coast Laurel Canyon vibes (the likes of opener “Thought I Saw You” and “Sorry”), and more upbeat earlier “Pirate Folk” stuff (“Words Of A Fool” and the later jig of “Lost And Broke”). By now, Stu had arrived so the Shudders formed an atmospheric backdrop to our catch-up.

 We then headed back into the by-now much busier Bowl (an earlier chat with organiser Ed Dyer revealed over 700 advance tickets were sold – well done Swindon, that’s pretty impressive!) where Dave’s old band THE CHAOS BROTHERS were delivering overt, punchy and hobnail-stompy covers of the likes of “Ever Fallen In Love” and “The Jean Genie” to universal acclaim from an increasing dancefloor (dance-field?). But we were here for our undoubted highlight of the day…

 

After GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES’ totally understandable withdrawal from our recent Wickham Festival, we’d assumed that this was going to be another blank Brookfield year… so Logan and I were both well up for this set, so much so that I had to persuade Logan not to grab a bit of barrier until the band actually came onstage! However, when Gaz led the band on and implored us to, “gather round!” we didn’t need any further persuasion! Opener “The March Of Progress” demonstrated not only that Gaz and co., despite the forced “live” hiatus and possible lack of face to face rehearsal, really hadn’t missed a beat, but also, judging by Gaz’ impassioned roar of the “What is going… ON!!!!” hook, he was “on it” too, determined to play a blinder for the old friend Dave. “The Tale Of Gunner Haines” got Logan singing along down the front, bringing back memories of that RSD duet (!), and a galloping “World Spins Round” was ragged and racey, Gaz and co whipping through the set at quite a lick, although Gaz admitted, “the lockdown pounds have made this a lot harder work – good cardio though!” Tonight’s stage-time organiser, the esteemed Mr. Dave Franklin, got a shout out as a “piratey type” before an excellent “Land Pirate’s Life”; the inevitable “Be The Bigger Man” featured a toned down lyric of, “I grabbed the scoundrel by the throat,” in deference to the younger audience members (!); and all too soon, final number “Let The East Winds Blow” saw Gaz lead the clapping and singalong echo line, to conclude a superb festival set full of utter bangers. Great to have you back, Gaz!

 Dusk fell on the Bowl as Logan decided he was hungry, so I actually saw the early part of the follow-up set from another of Dave Young’s old bands, BOYS FROM THE COUNTY HELL, from the food queue! They were however completely as advertised, happily; a fiddly-diddly raggle taggle bunch of old Pogues fans playing their heroes’ brand of punked-up Irish folk, with a selection from MacGowan’s mob’s material covered for good measure (including, gladly, their eponymous “Boys From The County Hell” which saw me shouting, “lend me ten pounds and I’ll buy you a drink!” at my son whilst ordering his hot dog!). A lot of Spider Stacey-inspired tin whistle instrumental reels were also a feature, but the sing-and-swayalong covers of “Dirty Old Town” and closer “Jesse James” saw me and the Hall brothers sing along raucously. Good time stuff!

 

A brief break before headliners KOVA ME BADD came onstage, led by what appeared to be the Honey Monster in an old style stripe bathing suit! Their relentless cheesy covers were however a bit much for me, and when Logan asked to call it a (long) day I was fine with that. So that drew our participation in My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival to a close; a complete success in my experience, with lots of good times, good friends and great sounds, all brought together to celebrate love, life and music. Just as Dave Young, no doubt looking down on us with a wide bandit grin, would want. Ed and co., this was simply a splendid day, you’ve all done Dave proud. Well done and thanks!

1,170 GAZ BROOKFIELD AND THE COMPANY OF THIEVES, B-SYDES, Jake Martin, Bristol SWX, Saturday 14th December 2019

The 4^th of 4 in 7 hectic gig days, this; following this one, I can wind down and reflect on a quite stellar 51-gig 2019. So it seems only fitting that my host/s for my final scheduled gig of this year are Gaz Brookfield And The Company Of Thieves, Gaz in 2019 becoming my most-seen “live” act and further extending his leading tally to 25 with a trio of autumn gigs, this being the final one. And well anticipated too; as soon as I heard Gaz’ best-yet new album “Lostfolk”, I realised I had to hear this excellent, superbly catchy and (dare I say it) mature material being given the full band treatment, so I passed on the clashing “12 Bands Of Christmas” event at the Vic in favour of this, Gaz’ traditional big Christmas headlining hometown show. The only downside was that, with Gaz having outgrown the Fleece and moving his “works Christmas party” to the bigger but sadly 14+ SWX, I couldn’t take my son and rabid Gaz fan Logan along… still, we’ll always have Salisbury (gig 1,166, barely 2 weeks ago)…!

 

Ady however was up for it – and old enough! – so, anticipating another early one (3 acts with a 10 pm curfew, yikes!) and mindful of Chrimbo shopping traffic around Cabot Circus, we left at 5.30, a swifter than feared entry into Brizzle pitching us up at SWX just before 6.30 doors. Nice! Grabbed a spot house left near the front as the place quickly filled, most folks aware of the early start. And quite so; a shade after 6.45, opener Jake Martin joined us to avail the crowd of a set of his raggedy-arsed, reactionary and joyfully profane sloganeering punk-folk. Wishing us a, “Merry Christmas you sexy sons of bitches!” he was the perfect opener for this evening, his half hour set being replete with beery sway-alongs and rousing singalong hooks, the crowd raising the roof with “For Fuck’s Sake Jake”’s rejoinder of “you’re an asshole!” A later number featured a la la la singalong, apparently an “up yours” to, “that lanky tattooed prick” Gaz, who’d been “talking smack” throughout the tour about Jake’s height and frequent woah-oh hooks. “We Sing The Words All Wrong” was another huge extended sing/swayalong, Jake leaving us with fulsome compliments and a huge burp (!) after a typically bolshy and ebullient set. Good start! 

Met up with Matt and his lovely wife Liz at the back, before I popped back in, going house right this time to try to avoid a slew of big bald bearded blokes who’d stood directly in front of us for Jake (cheers guys…). B Sydes was next up, fully banded up albeit with a debut drummer (!), and kicked in with a devastatingly anthemic “Crutches”, the soaring best number from splendid new album “Self Sabotage”. A similarly hooky and heavy-rocking “Good Times” was next up, Ben pointedly referring to the disastrous election result with, “good times are coming – hard to believe after the last 48 hours…” This was a quite remarkably superb set, the material sounding tough and robust and really taking flight given the full band treatment, answering that burning question as to what dark and angst-ridden emo Goth folk would sound like…! “All At Sea” recalled the shuddering riff-heavy dynamics of Boston emo rockers Cave In, and “Verbatim” the yearning angst of Dashboard Confessional, Gaz sneaking onstage to play the final note (not as well as Logan did at Salisbury, though!). A buoyant Ben remarked, “touring with Gaz has been the best 2½ months of my life!” before set closer, the singalong “Desperate Dance”, rounded off a brilliant dark rock set, the only sour note being that I had to deal with a(nother) massive bald bearded bloke repeatedly backing into me towards the end! Still, one shout of, “mate, have some respect for those around you,” seemed to do the trick… 

Thus irked, I headed back to Matt and Liz’ position, staying there for the first few numbers of Gaz’ set. On at 8.15 prompt and with none of this acoustic mucking about, he and the band were straight in with a groovy, catchy “Lostfolk” and excellently singalong “Gunner Haines”, before Gaz gave a big up for his tour banner again, leading into a quite deliciously harmonic “IOU”, with Chris Webb and co. giving the song extra layers with that Teenage Fanclub-esque harmony-laden chorus. Ady wandered down the front for a venomously-delivered “Black Dog Day”, and I joined him shortly after, this time pitching up next to a bloke who immediately apologised in advance for elbowing me during the set, as he was protecting his girlfriend, who’d cracked her ribs but still wanted to see the show. See, that I don’t mind at all…! 

Given the full band treatment – sadly minus the mandolin of the otherwise engaged Nick Parker – the new material sounded as mellifluous and melodic as hoped, occasionally almost veering into amped-up US college/ powerpop territory (viz. a rampant “Snakes And Ladders”, my set highlight). However, a folkier number was never too far away, as Jake joined Gaz onstage (Gaz introducing him with, “earlier there was a tiny little man onstage…!” and adjusting Jake’s mic stand down a few feet, to the rejoinder of, “wanker cunt!” from Jake) for a fiddle-powered, raggedy-arsed and supersonic “Aged Revolt”. “Uneducated Guess” was a superb punkish rant, and “Land Pirate’s Life” even descended into samba rhythms from Chris and the band! Mindful of the strict curfew, perhaps, Gaz didn’t pause for the “encores”, powering through instead with roof-raising singalong renditions of “The West Country Song”, “Diabetes Blues” and closer “Great Minds Drink Alike”, Jake and Ben both joining Gaz onstage for a rousing finale. “This has been a mind-blowing evening!” Gaz remarked, thanking one and all at the end of a splendid 1½ hours.

The usual slow SWX egress and a quick blast home still got us back in the ‘don for 11 (!), after another great Gaz Brookfield evening. “The AGM of lovely people,” Gaz put it, and, with a couple of knuckle-headed exceptions, I’m inclined to agree. 25 down, and no doubt many more to come from Mr. Brookfield!

1,166 GAZ BROOKFIELD, B-Sydes, Trapped In Amber, Salisbury Wincnester Gate, Saturday 30th November 2019

The more I listen to Gaz Brookfield’s new, 6^th 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 23^rd 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!

1,156 GAZ BROOKFIELD, B Sydes, Will Davies, Swindon The Victoria, Thursday 10 October 2019

Gaz Top! (the older amongst you might get that reference…!) This was an auspicious occasion, as tonight marked my 23^rd time of seeing Gaz Brookfield “live”, either in his solo acoustic guise, or with his excellent Company Of Thieves band in tow, thereby supplanting my 90’s-00’s “live” faves, the Mighty Seafood, atop my “Most Seen” live act list. Move over Messr’s Line, Hendrick and co., there’s a new leader in town! And in town indeed, for Gaz’ Autumn tour promoting new album “Lostfolk” inevitably included a date in Swindon (unfortunately on a school night at the 18+ Vic venue, so Logan couldn’t’ join me; he’ll have to wait for Salisbury next month for his Gaz fix!). Said record is an absolute corker as well; continuing the forward momentum from last album “I Know My Place”, “Lostfolk” is an utterly accomplished (dare I even say, mature…) body of work, featuring musings on the relentless march of time, mental health et al, as well as the usual buddy boy drinking songs, set to some relentless and incendiary powerpoppy punk rock (with a tad, nay, a soupcon of folk thrown in, of course). Easily his best work, I had to hear this “live” with a full band, so I snapped up a ticket for his December SWX full band show, as well as tonight (and Salisbury with Logan)!

But this one first; I headed up the hill for 8ish, running into Dave Franklin and meeting Rich and Ady, whence we 4 put the world of rock’n’roll to rights (of course). Wandered into the backroom venue (following Linda’s lusty bellow heralding the first act!) for opener Will Davies of The Flour Babies. Been meaning to check out his band properly for some time but we just keep missing each other, it seems… anyway, solo Will was a hushed, introspective prospect, with some glacial acoustic Americana which early doors recalled “Fables”-era REM and Sparklehorse’s quieter moments, then later on, the likes of Death Cab For Cutie! Small wonder then that the sole cover was an obscure Modest Mouse number, followed by an original which, according to Will, ripped said number off! Thematically, lots of lovelorn material delivered in an understated, conversational voice which gave the impression he’d been through the wringer a bit and maybe just needed a hug. Anyway, good start and I promise (once again!) to check out Flour Babies properly!

Gaz’ tour support Ben “B-Sydes” was next; Mr. Franklin had introduced us earlier and I’d commented on his “All Roads Lead To Frome” set a couple of years back (gig 1,036), which I found enjoyable if a little low-key. Well, straight from the outset Ben seemed determined to prove me wrong tonight, with a considerably more overt, upbeat and dynamic set. His second number (“about stupid decisions, as my life is held together by [them]”) kicked in with a Bragg-esque “New England” riff, segueing into a plaintive yet strident Dashboard Confessional delivery. “This Used To Be My City”’s understated woah-oh’s were the exception rather than the rule tonight, as this set bristled with upbeat, almost emo-esque numbers, delivered in Ben’s heavily nuanced vocals, which reminded me a bit of Placebo’s Brian Molko (!). At one stage he hopped off the stage and handed me his pick to play the last chord of a song (!!); on another occasion he paused a number midway through to pithily comment to a couple of unwelcome chatty Cathys, “I know the chords, I’m just waiting for people to shut the fuck up!”; and another rousing choral singalong was the feature of set highlight “The Desperate Dance”. Another emo-lite gallop concluded a startling and splendid support set. Well done Ben!

A quick chat with Ben as well as Gaz (manning the merch) as I bought Ben’s CD, then I took my spot down the front, house left for a change, for Gaz. Opening with “Pen To Paper”, his wry musings on writers block (!), he then commented on the “semi-circle of doubt”, the empty space near the front of the stage. Oddly for a Vic Gaz gig, this remained relatively unoccupied throughout, only myself and (later) Ed and Linda daring to get that close. No matter, title track “Lostfolk” was next up, Gaz giving it his usual full-on passionate delivery, all energy and attitude. Happily (for me at least), Gaz found space for ALL the numbers off the new album tonight (despite an earlier comment of “don’t you hate it when you see a band with a new album out and they just play the new stuff?”) as well as a smattering of old faves such as the enthusiastically-received “Tale Of Gunner Haines” and the intense roar of “Black Dog Day”, which had segued directly in from similarly-themed newie “Afterthought”. Before this early double, Gaz had promised to, “get the miserable shit out of the way early so we can concentrate on enjoying ourselves,” and was true to his word; slow-burn newie “Oalaero” had an entertaining intro chat about Gaz’ search for a pedal steel player for the CD version, which then inexplicably diverted into a discourse on the Vic’s blokes’ loo décor (“the then landlord asked us regulars if we had any spare porn! This was pre-internet days – spare porn, what’s that?”), a punky “Uneducated Guess” was breathtaking and brilliant, Gaz’ take on Frank Turner’s similarly themed “1933”, and after the almost melancholy “Just Another Day” finished the set, Gaz commented, “I’m not going offstage [to come back on again for the encore] as it’s just a cupboard – there’s no strippers or cocaine!”. A venomous “I’ve Paid My Money” was an encore highlight, before Gaz took to the dancefloor for final number “Great Minds Drink Alike”, conducting the singalong with Ben Sydes filling in for Jake Martin’s lines. A great way to end another great Gaz set!

It occurred to me that this 23^rd time needed noting, so Gaz happily posed for a pic with me, before I bade farewell and headed off. A new leader, and with 2 more “live” Gaz outings before Christmas, he’ll be out of sight by New Year. And a well-deserved accolade for the Top Man Gaz!

1,142 GAZ BROOKFIELD, Simon Hall; 1143 RAZE*REBUILD, Swindon Beehive; Swindon Regent, Friday 21st June 2019

What had threatened to be a rather unfortunate gig clash – and indeed, earlier in the evening, a medical emergency-induced double blowout – turned into a quite splendid raucous 2 gig night out in the ‘don! I’d long penned local blue-collar rock faves Raze*Rebuild’s 2019 debut into my Spring Dance Card, tonight’s show at The Regent serving as both Shuffle warm-up and a celebratory performance for Regent (and former Castle) landlady Audrey’s birthday; however, acoustic folk/punk guitar basher and gig regular Gaz Brookfield then announced an impromptu solo performance at The Beehive – for the same night! To make matters worse, said gig was going to be part-recorded for a mob singalong to feature on his new album! Bugger! Heavy of heart, I decided to stick to my initial plan and go see Raze, but call at The Beehive first – where Raze frontman Si Hall was pulling a double shift of his own tonight, doing an acoustic solo support slot for Gaz – and tender my apologies to the man, maybe catch some of his set before legging it up the hill to The Regent if timings were favourable. You never know…!

But then the medical emergency; earlier in the week I’d been prescribed Beta-blockers to start to address a long-standing (and hereditary) atrial fibrillation issue, but I’d reacted badly to them, suffering with shortness of breath. In fact, after my leisurely cycle commute home Friday evening, I was gasping like a guppy fish on dry land, and in need of medical advice. Thus, I was frustratingly sat in an out-of-hours Doc’s surgery at 8.15, calming my breathing down but increasing my blood pressure at possibly missing out on tonight’s shenanigans! An all-clear (and chuck the damn Beta-blockers away!) from the doc later, I drove swiftly up the hill, hitting a well-attended Beehive to catch the last 3 numbers of Si’s set. “Kat I’m Sorry” sounded as impassioned as ever, Si warming up his larynx for later, an acoustic “Back To The Fall” nonetheless went well (“I wasn’t sure how that would go!” confessed Si), and “Sand In The Petrol” (“a sad slow one to end on a high note!”) rounded off a fine and well observed, if slightly reined-in set, Si thanking all and sundry for being so attentive!

I passed on my apologies to a magnanimous and understanding Gaz, also informing him of Logan’s mention of him on our recent “Dinosaur To Junior” appearance on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 6 show. Si advised Raze were due on about 10, which happily gave me about ½ hour of the Brookfield, so I stuck around, chilling outside with Ady then popping in for Gaz’ set at 9.30. A fun newie to start, featuring some wordy interplay about writing new songs, ironically enough, then we were straight into the likes of “Diabetes Blues”, “Gunner Haines” and “Under The Table”, to a loud reception from the raucous crowd, who to Gaz’ obvious delight, sang along to pretty much everything. No fool Gaz; he’d clearly thought this through and picked a set of well-known, roof-raising singalong bangers to really warm the crowd’s collective larynx in advance of the mob singalong. In good fooling too, the man; “Haines” was introduced with a quip of, “a song about a dead soldier – keeping it light!”, “So Very Rock And Roll” was, in Gaz’ words, “what its’ really like to be a professional musician – “professional musician”, hah! Both of those words are a lie!”, and a punky “I’ve Paid My Money” allegedly had it’s first 2 verses, “written by pricks!”

“Maps”, oddly enough, was a stand-out, things getting weird as the audience kept calling out the title, so by the later “Be The Bigger Man”, the audience were in clear party spirits.

(Me too – by this time I’d excused myself at 10, but a swift wander up The Regent revealed things running very late, openers Flour Babies having just started their set! Thus buoyed, I popped back down The Beehive for the rest of Gaz!)

So I was happily there for the recording; a couple of runs through “Great Minds Drink Alike”, Gaz performing it off-mic in the middle of the crowd, with everyone giving it their roof-raising lustiest best voices. So it seems that, along with a few dozen other loud punters, I’m on the next Gaz Brookfield album. Great stuff! Gaz broke out the Whitney Houston cover after that, which was a fortuitous time to head up the hill, where Raze*Rebuild were plugging in and getting ready for launch at 11. Good timing!

Due to my medical issues earlier, I was strictly instructed not to dance, but I nonetheless took my usual front row spot for Raze’s opener “Burden Of Youth”, being joined by Ady and also old mates Avril and Ingrid, out on a girly night and clearly, erm, well-refreshed…! “Burden” was a rampaging opener setting the stall out for the set, Si clearly saving his roar for this one, and an almost jolly “Face For Radio” followed, a few folks dancing along and myself obeying doctors orders, contenting myself with a gentle sway… Damn shame, as this was pretty much a totally incendiary set – in fact, I’m sure that if you looked up the word “incendiary” in the Oxford English Dictionary of Rock, there’d be a pic of Si in full flow, lionesque roar and bulging neck veins, backed up by Matt intricately picking the riffery, Paj head bobbing in time to the bass, and Jamie pounding furiously away at the back. Another clear masterclass in what makes “live” rock’n’roll such an inclusive, visceral experience; again, by no means note-perfect or technically spot-on, but raw-boned, raggedy-arsed, sweaty and hellishly awesome. The rampant “New Leaf” got me a namecheck, “Sand In The Petrol” was honest and impassioned (for the second time tonight!) and “Troubled Minds” was a brilliant punky blast.

“This has gone way better than I thought!” gasped Si at the encore; “set the bar low and you can’t fail to be impressed!” as they launched into closer “Back To The Fall”. Another great, rocking set from the Raze; they’re well warmed up for The Shuffle, I’d say, and hopefully I’ll have my dancing shorts back on then and will be able to do them justice…

Chats with friends and the Raze boys afterwards – I think they appreciated my mentioning them on Lamacq’s show, which was nice – then a wander back to the car via The Beehive for a quick word with Gaz; and an almost London-late 12.45 home time… good thing it’s Friday night! So, another slap in the face for anyone who says nothing happens in Swindon; this was a great double-header out in the ‘don!