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With music events now being bigger money-spinners than albums, 'savant journalist and cultural historian' PHIL STRONGMAN, decided it was time to go live.
GER LANE
12 Bar, London
Andy Lowe has been one of the unsung heroes of London's live scene for almost a decade now and, as the 'curator' of the 12 Bar, he's given that venue much of its innovative programming. Since the closure of the Metro, The End and the Astoria, both the 12 Bar and Lowe have taken on an even greater significance.
And three times in December and January Mister Lowe gave a live platform to one Ger Lane. Who he? Well, just a man with a guitar. But, after the whole post-80s mess i.e. Britpop, Hip Hop, slip slop, boy band, girl group, X factor etc, for a man to go onstage with just a guitar is almost a revolutionary act.
Especially when the man in question is singing his own compositions - and not hiding in any genre pigeonhole. Lane is a Limerick lad who defies easy classification - most of the set's unplugged but there's electric guitar in there too, there's touches of Nu Acoustic and raw Folk but there's also an echo of jump blues and early Rock'n'Roll.
So it's not impossible to discern some influence from Van the Man but, then again, GER is also someone who seems to have listened to Jonathan Richman, Kate Bush, rockabilly Elvis and Lou Reed. His songs bear the traces. Does that make him credible? Who knows? Who cares? The point is that, on the right night, he's incredible - a soaring voice and throbbing original songs that show he's anything but safe with live performances that always seem to be the edge: shows that are often on the brink of collapse but usually, and amazingly, end in triumph.
Little seen outside his native city, Ger Lane is unquestionably one of the most important singer-songwriters working this side of the Atlantic, potentially the greatest thing to come out of Ireland since Van Morrison. And live he's exceptional. He'll no doubt be back at the 12 Bar in February. Miss him and you'll miss a lot. (8/10)
ASWAD The BBC Sessions (Universal dble CD)
Like most civilized people I'm a sucker for old style reggae, and Aswad were one of the few British bands to do the whole post-Ska thing pretty damn well. There's 33 cuts here, all recorded live at the Beeb between 1976 and 1994 and all bearing the Aswad hallmarks of soulful vocals, sweet melodies and tight rhythms. Of course, it all goes a little bit downhill in the Eighties but, then again, what didn't? (7/10)
JOE JACKSON Live At The BBC (Universal dble CD)
I knew a sound engineer who once beat the hell out of Joe Jackson – not due to any studio excess, you understand. It was when the engineer was an uptight teenage fan and approached Jackson for an autograph. 'Bugger off, kid!' snapped Jackson and found himself fighting for his life on the floor of South Molton Street's Hog In The Pound public-house. Pal Joey operated – still operates - in the Bermuda Triangle between New Wave rock, blue-eyed soul and singer-songwriter pop and scored big back in the day with 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' and 'Steppin' Out'. The latter sounds like its on speed here while 'Is She Really...' goes all moody with a climatic five minute version. Fans will love this double disc array though it may not win that many converts. Does what it says on the packet though. (6/10)
SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND Live At The BBC (Universal dble CD)
Alex Harvey was a real treat live so this collection is a bit of a disappointment. While most of the tracks stir things up nicely, a few of the performances just haven't aged that well and only 'Giddy Up A Dong Dong' and the Top of The Pops version of 'Boston Tea Party' really shine. One for completionists (though they might wonder where 'Gamblin' Bar-Room Blues' is...). (6/10)
Copyright Phil Strongman © 2009 |
