02 December 2012 (gig)
08 December 2012
The Idiot Bastard Band is Ade Edmondson, Phill Jupitus, Rowland Rivron and Neil Innes., and they’ve all come together ‘dedicated to the comic song’. All have an anchor in music. Innes barely needs an introduction when it comes to comic song, Edmondson has been in a few bands over the years, Jupitus has been on Never Mind the Buzzcocks for ever, and Rivron has more than dabbled in the music business.
The set consisted of their own compositions: Edmondson’s Prog rock song - despite the warning - was actually very good if impenetrable, the Jupitus skiffle about his horrible experience supporting Madness was one of the highlights. While some of the other numbers were incredibly obscure Americana dating from the 30’s and 40’s to lesser known artists such as Jake Thackery.
If there was a slight leaning towards the States it was countered with songs by Flanagan and Alan, Ian Dury and of course the Bonzo Dog band - Big Shot and the encore Urban Spaceman. The end of gig song epic skit Coldplay was spot on and very funny.
At the end of the day, there weren’t a lot of risks being taken here; much of the material had been well tested; the band’s routine bore that out. There was a (rehearsed?) raggedness about the band but you’d be fool to expect a Rush like precision performance - and this was a performance, not a jolly sing-along as Jupitus said to one punter ‘want to join in then you should have come to rehearsals’.
There isn’t really too much to analyse here: this was four men comfortable in their own skins, doing what they want, when they want. Taking songs they clearly have some affection for and playing them to an audience that in the main enjoyed them. It was a damn good night out.
