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Capture: Humble Bragg

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  • Jackie Clark,

    Beautiful photos, Jackson. Just stunning.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • JacksonP,

    Cheers Jackie. Got lucky with the seating. Hoping the 'review' of sorts doesn't make it sound like I didn't love it. Nostalgia is a mixed bag of emotions though.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I first met Billy Bragg in 1987,

    I first met him last night (ahem) back stage. Even got the cd signed for t’others birthday. He was pretty cool in my book. Sharing a beer was pretty cool too. :)
    I guess it may have felt like a lecture for some, but when preaching to the converted it felt pretty raw which I liked. I thought he conveyed his belief in the project in the music and taking the audience along for the ride was kinda necessary to show his work. Anyhow nice to see Carol Beaumont and Denise Roche in the crowd.
    Nice shots Jackson. Sharing a beer with you is always pretty cool too ;)

    Lyndon was great too. Met him also. Never got the other half of the Duets name but was good to see the two from Chch doing the circuit with Mr Bragg.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • JacksonP, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Nice shots Jackson. Sharing a beer with you is always pretty cool too ;)

    Cheers, and yep. Looking forward to some summer supping. I’m jealous you got to meet him proper like. He’s one of the few celeb/musicians I’d love to sit down and have a chat with one day. I didn’t really mind his ramblings, and as you say, his audience knows what to expect.

    While being up front was good for the capturing, it was a bit too close at times. Didn’t get much of the crowd vibe, for some strange reason. ;-)

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to JacksonP,

    . He’s one of the few celeb/musicians I’d love to sit down and have a chat with one day.

    I got a big hug too :) I’m not washing for a week!
    And his conversation is still political out back too, between conversations about kids.
    The crowd vibe was pretty subdued. I’d like to think they were soaking it all up, he certainly is very personable.
    Glad you took photos cos there were times I thought, "hope Jackson got that" but I'm glad I didn't have to and out back was not the place to although he was so friendly he probably would not have minded.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I got a big hug too :)

    Sofie, you groupie!! ;-)

    Great shots Jackson, and I wish I'd been there for the Mermaid Avenue songs. I like them very much.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    That's the closest up gig footage I've ever seen. Must have taken a fair bit of concentration to get your timing. #respec

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • JacksonP,

    Cheers Sacha. The full flukiness of it may not be immediately apparent. Timing wasn't the only factor. ;-)

    I wish I’d been there for the Mermaid Avenue songs. I like them very much.

    The Guthrie songs were very beautiful, and some heart wrenching even. I guess the unfamiliarity flavoured the experience a bit. I should get the album.

    Instead I bought the 7" single called 'Johnny Clash', with Old Clash Fan Fight Song and The Big Lie. If only I'd known Sofie could have had it signed for me...

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Jonathan King,

    The Clash song? He said, wistfully, "You might have come home late one night after a gig and found your mum and dad in the kitchen, holding hands, looking out the window, singing this old folk song ... it's called 'Garageland'. One two three four ..."

    Since Sep 2010 • 185 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to JacksonP,

    If only I’d known Sofie could have had it signed for me…

    You could have waited after the concert . As he said, he was signing after the concert and did.
    And Lilith, I no groupie! He is now a friend. Friends hug :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Lilith __, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Lilith, I no groupie! He is now a friend. Friends hug :)

    Oh, I’m just teasing, trying to hide my insane jealousy. ;-)

    Jack – there are actually 2 vols of Mermaid Avenue . Vol 2 slightly less memorable, but both are great. Bragg’s such a good match for the Guthrie material, and (as I recall) the tunes are his.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    In collaboration with Wilco, who add something extra to the enterprise,

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • JacksonP, in reply to Jonathan King,

    'Garageland'. One two three four ...

    Ah, of course. Have amended accordingly. Then played this.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Lilith __,

    Bragg’s such a good match for the Guthrie material, and (as I recall) the tunes are his.

    He took the audience with him on the journey of discovery and yep, his tunes in collaboration with Wilco . The daughter knew what was needed to bring the lyrics back down to earth. And that was Billy Bragg.
    Lilith I was just teasing too. ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Went to the Wellington concert last night. Terrible weather outside with winter back with a vengeance, but warm inside the Opera House. Was great to see old and young socialists en mass, and Bragg's anti-cynicism anthem was particularly heartening. He even said 'the personal is political' - haven't heard that phrase in the Opera House before.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    Attachment

    I know a number of people who, like me first encountered Bill Bragg in an '87 orientation event, and are looking forward to tonight's Dunedin show.
    I will also throw in a strong recommendation for the Spooky Men's Chorale, who are just finishing in Dunedin today and moving up through the country over the next while. The family went to yesterday's show and we all thought it was great.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    I was a bit surprised to read that Arlo Guthrie is a registered Republican and a supporter of Ron Paul.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    surprising number of hippies became libertarians, including NZ

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Well, he was a one-hit wonder.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Mike O'Connell,

    I always see these posts too late! I recall seeing seen the Bard in the late 80’s in Christchurch, where being the social animal he is, he kicked around a football with fans pre-concert on the Ilam playing fields . Billy ended up hoofing the ball high into a poplar tree where it remained I believe for some long time.

    I was drawn this time by the Guthrie songs. Ingrid Bergman was simple but beautiful. Bergman, so Billy related, was reputedly photographed reading a book of Woody's poetry and thereby came the inspiration for the song. Agree, there was some lecturing but anecdotes in between songs were mostly a good laugh. The one about the folk festival and Billy having to contemplate the forth verse of This Land Is Your Land, following Seeger, Guthrie A and one folkie whose name I’ve forgotten was v funny

    Adding to Jackson’s comment on Bill’s son Jack, Billy related his wife was complaining about the racket upstairs, saying ‘go upstairs and tell him to turn that crap off’ or such like as she couldn’t work in her study right underneath his room. As Billy was about to enter Jack’s room, he thought ‘I can’t tell him to turn this crap off, not when he’s playing this...’ and he launched into a blistering version of Milkman of Human Kindness! My highlight of the night – he played it out of his skin given Jack’s burgeoning reputation. Yes, I’d go and see Jack play too.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    He was pretty good in Dunedin last night - his own stuff isn't really for me, and the lefty preaching in between annoys me for some reason, but his Guthrie set was very good, and I was quite prepared not to like that. He's a very good story teller.

    My partner is possibly his biggest fan in the world, and was bouncing all day in anticipation. She was at the venue shortly after the doors opened, sat in the front row with a book to hold the best seats, and gave him a flower shortly after intermission. She couldn't convince him to kiss her in the post-gig meeting however. Good birthday present on my part.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    I really enjoyed the concert - Kyle did in fact get the best seats down front - she must have been the first one in line (she said she'd been there 2 hours early - I just dropped off my partner while I looked for a park and still got a 3rd row aisle seat

    Half time mens toilets were at a premium - it was held in a girl's high school auditorium which is fair turnabout for a change I guess.

    I went to two concerts in the OGHS venue this week, it's a great small space, wonderfully in your face, probably needs slightly more oxygen, got a bit stuffy towards the end

    As always those who deign to wear excessive perfume in public in the middle of hayfever season ought to be taken outside and decontaminated

    (this last comment also applies to the approaches to/from immigration in Auckland airport, I always arrive back in the country in tears)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    "Billy having to contemplate the forth verse of This Land Is Your Land, following Seeger, Guthrie A and one folkie whose name I’ve forgotten"
    This seems to be a remarkable common memory lapse among attendees.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Jack someone.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Glenn Pearce, in reply to David Hood,

    Ramblin Jack Elliot

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report

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