Chris T-T is more like it. A good friend of the main man, Chris has opened for Jim Bob and accompanied him on piano a fair few times; today he is here mainly "to sell Jim Bob Merchandise". He should not be so self-depreciating, his songs are far better than Billy Bragg's in my opinion. Chris touches upon environmental issues with the 'M1 Song', a sad vocal-only song of a tree's final say before being slain for the motorway.
Love and heartbreak songs feature a lot too, with 'Love Is Not Rescue' from his latest album of the same name, politics in 'Preaching To The Converted', but my favourite is 'When The Huntsman Comes A-marchin', with it's lyrics "I've never been in favour of police brutality / But when the huntsman comes a-marchin' / Well give him one for me, officer, give him one for me." And featuring the c-word to describe the Countryside Alliance is genius.
Jim Bob begins by reading from his new book, 'Storage Stories', a collection of odd tales featuring JB's talent for wit and childlike drawings (which we are shown on a screen, blokes licking batteries, REM's Michael Stipe, mobile libraries, Peter Andre). This first tale is of Carl, the battery licker, and his beard and two t shirts. From this tale alone I am eager to read my copy.
This is mainly a musical show (promoting the book just a couple of times) and we are provided with many a track from Jim Bob's back catalogue, Carter USM and beyond. 'Only Living Boy In New Cross' airs early, and wakes the quiet crowd up a little. 'Mrs Fucking MacMurphy (Teaches Food Technology) from the solo album 'School' is a difficult one for us to sing along to, as it involves fast spelling, and no one seems to be feeling very fast tonight! Jim Bob gets a laugh when asking "What did Joseph do?" (The venue's name has changed from Joseph's Well to just The Well), though it took a while for most folk to get it.
I manage to get a request for 'Good Grief Charlie Brown' for my boyfriend's 30th today, though Jim Bob does not know his name and calls him Barry "I call everyone Barry!" There's more solo work with amongst others the long titled 'The Man Behind the Counter of The Science Fiction Superstore', which JB sang in a comic book store to the dismay of the staff "as it tells of their powers!" This sort of comedy increases through the night, with talk of Fruitbat needing a new kitchen, the reason for the November Carter USM reunion shows, year after year, but instead he spends it on tours with Abdoujaparov in Australia and Berlin on a handful of dates (drinking!).
Carter tunes get the best reception, as they always do, a bit of a shame as Jim Bob's solo work like 'Angel Strike' are just as hard hitting lyric-wise as the punk duo's hits, though the crowd are less attached to these newer songs I suppose. 'Prince In a Pauper's Grave, 'Do Re Me, So Far So Good' and 'Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere' are all loved by the crowd, and as the requests are opened up resulting in 'Lean On Me' and 'Sheriff Fatman' there's shouts of "Fat Man!" and "Rubbish!", to which Jim Bob jokingly replies "Are they insults or requests?! I think me and Fruitbat may have made a mistake naming some of the songs..."
The encore sees time for a story about Gary the Bubblewrap Boy and his love for a naff 90's dance tune, followed by 'Falling On A Bruise' and final song, the requested Jim's Super Stereo world track 'Touchy Feely', complete with Mr Spoons (Jim Bob's long running aid) walking through the crowd with a bubble machine. A truly memorable show.
Watching The Big Apple Turn Over
You Can't Take It With You
Every Day When I Come Home I Expect To Find You Gone
Good Grief Charlie Brown
Mrs Fucking MacMurphy (Teaches Food Technology)
Any Time, Any Place, Anywhere
The Man Behind the Counter of the Science Fiction Superstore
Golf Sale
Prince in A Pauper's Grave
Do Re Me, So Far So Good
Lean On Me
Angel Strike
Sheriff Fatman
Falling On A Bruise
Touchy Feely
article by: Danielle Millea
photos by: Danielle Millea
published: 14/05/2010 15:02
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