26 January 2010 (gig)
21 February 2010
Tonight,it's Joe Pernice alone with a guitar in the reverential surroundings of the Union Chapel, Islington.
Sometimes when bands play union chapel the atmosphere can be like sitting in a church but for such stripped down shows like Joe's it feels just fine. Although outwardly Joes songs appear to be perfectly crafted 3 minute pop songs, deep down they usually contain dark and disturbing lyrics.
The set opener 'Chicken Wire' perfectly illustrates this, the story of a friend who commits suicide all housed in a soft and gentle melody. This 2 date tour is ostensibly to promote his latest album on One Little Indian Records - 'It feels so good when I stop' an album of covers to accompany the novel he has written of the same name.
So we get everything from Sebadoh's 'Soul and Fire', to AM Radio Classics like James and Bobby Purify's 'I'm your Puppet'. Joe is joined mid way through by his old Pernice Brothers mucker from london, James Walburn, to lay down some piano and his distinctive country/folk guitar picking. James currently occupies the guitar hot seat in the Pretenders.
Highlights of the show are 'Cronulla Breakdown' 'Prince Valium' and the wonderfully dark 'bum leg'
As an introduction to Joe Pernice try a record from his first band, The Scud Mountain Boys-'The Early years' and the Pernice Brothers - 'The World Won't End', or indeed his book of poems - " Two Blind Pigeons' or his novel, 'It feels so good when I stop'.
One of his biggest fans, Nick Hornby, recently wrote "I can just about handle the fact that he can write the most perfect 3 minute pop songs but now it turns out he can write novels too! This is just too much!"
