I can’t think when the last time I’d been along to a gig or a concert was. Years probably. But Lyn dragged me (kicking and screaming) to the concert by Billy Bragg last night at the Powerstation in Auckland that was pretty damn good. These days I’m pretty portably connected so I don’t feel like I’ve left half of my brain behind when I head off on holiday or to a social event.
There are better reviews of it than I can give. For instance this one by 13th Floor.
Billy Bragg is no stranger to New Zealand, although the opportunity to see him with a full band is a rare thing. So, while seeing Billy in concert is always a good thing, this time around it was especially fine.
Decked out in a red, country and western-style shirt, Billy Bragg and his band (Kenny Dickenson, keyboards, CJ Hillman, guitar & pedal steel, Dave Evans, bass and Luke Bullen, drums) stepped out onto the stage at the Powerstation and began their two-hour set with Ideology.
Billy himself was in superb voice, sounding much more musical that he has in his solo appearance. It seemed that playing with the band encouraged him to concentrate on his singing more than usual.
I can’t speak to that. The last time I heard him was decades ago when we were both a wee bit younger when his accent was somewhat more more difficult to understand and I had less problems standing up for two hours.
Digging around youtube this morning I found this version of “The Great leap Forward” from Sydney in 2012, which was pretty close to the version I saw towards the end of the set last night (ignore the lousy focus at the start). Coincidentally at the time I was checking the Nexus7 for trolls who needed my personal sysop attention…. 😈
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