Billy Bragg, San Francisco Bath House, Wellington, January 16, 2008
Billy Bragg can't sing. Or so he said. His actual words from the stage, "I get by."
Political songs, stage presence, two electric guitars, a capo and his motor mouth all came together for a very satisfying good time. Bragg likes to tell stories, many humorous and political. He's called a political performer but his rants are about justice and if that's Radical Left, then so be it. I didn't mind his rants, mainly because I agreed with everything he said. Bragg, from the UK, is an old Clash fan and his punk roots were loud but clear as he segued from his hard core punk songs to more recent songs of love and loss in relationships and in society. His fans know all the words to every single song. My friend "A" and I seemed to be the only ones in the room who didn't sing along.In fact when Bragg lost his place in one song, the audience kept the lyrics going.
This review is also published in Lumiere.net.nz. Click on http://lumiere.net.nz/reader/arts.php/item/1469 to read the full review and see other great stuff on what's happening in the arts in New Zealand.
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