Billy Bragg / Otis Gibbs

Despite the move of venue there's no doubting that this gig is popular, we arrive before the entertainment starts and there's no spaces in the car parks. Clearly fans have come from far and wide this evening. Eventually we enter the Lemon Grove and it is just as Otis Gibbs takes to the stage.

The venue's stage is at the far end of one room and the merchandise and bar, with seating is in the other. The stage has no barrier in front of it and so we get to stand just feet away from Otis, close enough to see the details on his tattoos.

I'd only heard his name and had a quick look at the great photographs he'd put on his website, but not had a chance to hear his songs. Comparisons to Seasick Steve are obvious although it's only the trucker's cap and beard they have in common. Otis' voice is much more melodic although just as deep, and his banter is more amusing. His voice has a hint of Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger and his Indiana deep boom is distinct. His songs are fantastic, perfect gems of well crafted protest songs. Just him and a guitar, and songs primarily from his new album 'Grandpa Walked A Picket Line'.



The songs have a deep resonance, he holds the tune without need of the guitar at times, and gets the crowd to joining in, embarrassing us by saying, "we sing perdy". The songs have subjects such as anti war 'One Day Our Whispers', abusive relationships 'Caroline', money grabbing clergymen 'Preacher Steve', the unions and workforce 'Everyday People' and more, and we empathise instantly. He talks about touring, hobos, trees, Obama, burlap bag mountains, and a load of other stuff and treats us to his own 'bah humbug' Christmas song, 'Aint Nobody gettin' Crap From Me'. Every song is fantastic, really. He closes his set asking us to download the album for free from his website.

Now Billy Bragg has indeed found the perfect symbol of himself in marmite which has become his tour shirt logo. It does indeed mirror how people respond to him, they do either love him or hate him.

Now I happen to agree with his politics, so I try not to, I try to find something in what he says between songs to disagree with. But I can't, his politics makes perfect sense to me. There should indeed be no power without accountability, Guantanamo Bay is an abomination, the music history of the Eighties is being re-written to remember only the dross, the BNP are scum and it was great news when the list of names and addresses got leaked. The Clash were great, rock against racism is really important, the Tories in power would be a lot worse, the NHS is an institution to be preserved, and Levi Stubbs' music was great. Obama's victory did feel like a wind of change, and we must try to remain un-cynical about the future.


Now I know the packed crowd, who heckle occasionally with amusing banter, but remain either quiet or vociferously sing along are more than likely Bragg fans and he's preaching to the converted, but it's important I feel to have like minded individuals celebrating being just that.

Anyway, politics aside, and that's virtually impossible with Bragg, what of the songs? Well most get introductions and explanations and the first segment of the set is 'Mermaid Avenue' based, the hidden songs of Wody Guthrie that Bragg and members of Wilco have brought back into the light. Bragg has both the political standpoint and the history to qualify him to sing these songs, and if he didn't then who would? And these songs do need to be heard.

The mid section is the political stuff and the highlight of the night has to be the pertinent 'No Power Without Accountability' which is almost an anthem for those who are losing homes in the credit crunch, and more shocking when you realise it was penned in 2002.

Then we get the classic sing along songs too, 'This Guitar Says Sorry' with the classic riffs interspersed, 'Sexuality', 'Shirley', 'The Milkman Of human Kindness', 'Accident Waiting To Happen' and more.

Plus a few gems like 'Goodbye Goodbye' which he says he wanted to stick on the end of the last album, but everyone thought he was retiring so it's saved for another album. By and large Bragg talks less than the previous times I've seen him, but seemed to say more, the songs were played pretty much perfectly on various of his guitars, and mistakes did happen but Bragg amusingly deflects forgotten lines, or blames his cup of tea.

For me though, it's the duet performed by Bragg and Otis Gibbs, of one of my favourite tracks of all time, Gram Parsons' 'Sin City' and a cover of Sam Cooke's 'Change Is A Gonna Come' which makes this show so special.



Set list:
This Guitar Says Sorry
Mr Love & Justice
Shirley
Ingrid Bergman
Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key
I Ain't Got No Home
The World Turned Upside Down
Brickbat
No Power Without Accountability
Sexuality
Goodby Goodbye
Sin City
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
The Milkman Of Human Kindness
Accident Waiting To Happen
Old Clash Fan Fight Song
I Keep Faith
There Is Power In A Union
Great Leap Forward

Levi Stubbs' Tears
A Change Is Gonna Come
New England

FUTURE GIGS