Little Barrie - they're just a blur of sound and fury aren't they? Notice Lewis is playing bass so furiously he's started to de-materialise.
LITTLE BARRIE – Live at Bristol Thekla – February 24 2007
If there was any doubt about what Little Barrie got for Christmas it was cleared up tonight as they show off their new rock swagger. Either that or they were feeling the pinch of those skinny jeans somewhere. Nevertheless, the hair is longer, the jeans are tighter and they take to the stage like they own it – with just cause - as they give a live performance even tighter than their ankle biters. Barrie Cadogan's fringe doesn't prevent him dryly observing that the Thekla has 'changed a bit' though. It's always a nice touch when your home town doesn't appear to be just another nameless shithole on the tour though the motley audience barely have time to make approving noises before the frontman mutters 'We are Little Barrie!' and the band unleash a skeptic-slaying version of Pin that Badge. This is one of the highlights of recent LP Stand Your Ground and is followed by a frenzied Bailing Out - more punky than funky live, setting a mentally energetic pace and putting my beer in quite a bit of jeopardy from the antics of a big guy with a ginger afro. There's no wasting time with unnecessary audience banter tonight either - that would mean less time for playing and anyone who has seen them live before will know this band is all about the doing of it rather than the talking about it. However, in a breathless lull occasioned by the end of one song, someone from crowd calls out a song title that Barrie doesn't catch and he asks them to repeat it – then grins and throws back a wry 'Fuck me that's old!' During another song he formally introduces newish drummer 'Billy Skinner'. There's no doubting that Skinner is a consummate percussionist – you wouldn't expect Lewis or Barrie to select anyone less than brilliant – though as one friend put it – "he's good – but it's 'rock' drums isn't it?" That'll be the skinny jeans then boys - everybody knows they can seriously harm your funkiness as well as lower your sperm count. Well – ok – I'm just fucking with you about the sperm count - I don't think that has been proven yet. Not that the audience was complaining when the band delivered a monstrously groovy Cash In or fuzzed up Green Eyed Fool and especially not that crazy bastard with the 'fro dancing down at the front. The band take a breather with the Why Don't You Do It? a slow burning soully blues number that recalls Hendrix in one of his rare quieter moments and then turn the first LP's funky Long Hair into a call-and-response between the band and the audience that ought to make it onto some manner of live recording so fully did Barrie have the crowd in the palm of his hand. This wasn't just playing to the audience this was a playing of the audience and the band's exit was perfectly timed. And you needn't think it was just cheers that summon them back to the stage. Oh no. I imagine the Thekla's management and begged them to go back on because the venue-shaking foot-stomping conjured visions of a crowd gone bad. So you can picture the enthusiasm with which old favourite Free Salute and new LP closer Pay To Join were met. Nevertheless the encore, like the gig and (I'll say it again) the LP was all over far too quickly. They are Little Barrie and you should be listening.
Little Barrie Myspace
Give me a second opinion on Little Barrie live bitch!
No comments:
Post a Comment