Who
Badly Drawn Boy
Support
Tiny Ruins (Solo)
Where
Birmingham St Paul's Church
When
26th October 2019
Price
£25.00
Who with
No-one
Position
Seated, towards the right
Comments
Just seven days after Gruff Rhys, and here I am the day after this show and writing up my review quickly, hoping to keep on top of them and finally allow time to do the Kraftwerk review from the Bluedot festival. It's tough though, my diary is so full, and now we've hit autumn there is a lot of good stuff on the TV, and I'm falling further behind with my jobs even though this had been intended as a chill-out few months after a hectic summer of travelling. I'd never expected to return to watch Badly Drawn Boy play, having felt quite satisfied to see him for free doing a short support slot for The Flaming Lips back in 2003. He'd pretty much fallen off my radar completely, as apparently his last album was in 2012, and his last hit I'd noticed was the Born in the U.K. album back in 2006! However despite Damon Gough's assertion that he hasn't been doing anything, my research indicates that he has been playing a steady trickle of concerts since. What really drew me was the choice of St Paul's Church in Birmingham as the venue, which seemed a unique and thrilling opportunity. After a few failed attempts I'd finally got to look inside this church back in 2017, and it was basic but pretty, although unusually despite being open for sightseeing they'd left most of the lights off, so I felt like I hadn't seen it at its best! I'd printed out one of those lacklustre paper tickets to gain entry to the venue, and on the day I heard through the Have You Fed The Fish album and a good few other choice cuts, and was starting to look forward to this!

Now I'd planned to finally nail that Kraftwerk review on the day of the show but as usual time ran away from me, and after my morning swim I just got caught in doing odd jobs. I finally dispatched 40+ awful Savage Garden/Darren Hayes CDs that my brother had given me to sell on eBay, but the £13+ postage fee wiped off a good chunk of my profits as I couldn't be arsed to repackage them into two smaller boxes to reduce the costs. I also watched the end of Thirteen Ghosts and Bridget Jones's Baby, following on from watching the ludicrously over-loud Terminator Dark Fate, which despite the praise and welcome return of Sarah Connor just didn't feel as good as Terminator 3 or Genisys. Also it had been raining crazily throughout the day, and when driving back from Telford's Luxe Odeon the night before I was worried I'd damaged my car ploughing through all the water, and I was annoyed but not too surprised to see that pretty much all the trains were cancelled thanks to some flooding on the line. I didn't let this bother me as I just drove into Wolves and parked my car at work, then got the super off-peak train fare into Brum. Luckily by this time it had stopped raining, but it was still a rather cold day, and I stopped off at McDonald's in Wolves for a dinner of five chicken selects and large fries/drink, as I normally get thirsty when attending a concert so needed the large Coke. I'd hoped for the lovely but pricey naan bread burger but it had already been taken off the menu, and despite the ongoing delays I had no problems getting the train into Birmingham New Street, resisting the urge to change for Snow Hill as the walk across the city really isn't that bad, and in fact it felt even shorter than I remembered as I had no-one slowing me down!

There was a day of events around Birmingham Hippodrome to mark their 120th birthday, and also I'd heard that the Bullring bull had been given a cool Halloween makeover, however I wanted to reach the church for the advertised start time of 8pm, which I just about managed, and in particular I didn't want to be late as I couldn't find the stage times anywhere and I thought that all the best seats would fill up early, which turned out to be absolutely correct. I heard a bit more Badly Drawn Boy as I walked over, enjoying the outside of the church as the lights inside had illuminated all the stained glass wonderfully, even if the tower remained shrouded in darkness. St Paul's occupies a beautiful square that is quite off the beaten track, forming quite the contrast with the busy and well-lit cathedral square, and as I walked past the cathedral I did wonder why Badly Drawn Boy couldn't just have played there, say if it was otherwise booked, or just more expensive to hire? The event had been billed as In Spite Of Ourselves, with Robyn Hitchcock headlining the Friday, and I'm not sure how often St Paul's Church has witnessed concerts, but it certainly seemed to be a lovely event. I arrived to find a small queue, and as usual everyone in front of me seemed to take a long time for no reason at all, but I just handed over my paper ticket and got my hand stamped, which I immediately smudged but it didn't really matter as I had no intention of leaving the church in any case until the event was done and dusted. I had wondered if the church would even have sufficient toilets, but I only needed the one and I found it near the steps, and after a short wait I managed to offload my large Coke from McDonald's, and as I saw that the balcony was open for business I quickly decided to head up there.

I had wondered about the seats, and as suspected the churches seats were in place, and as they were old-fashioned they were enclosed pews with little gates to access each one, which obviously were difficult or impossible to remove for an event. This meant that many of the side pews had awful views, and similarly once I got into the balcony I found that I had to go to the front row and then stand in a spot just in front of a pillar too see anything. The sight lines were appalling really, as if I sat down I couldn't see anything except the top of the performers head, and all the pillars blocked off so many viewing angles. It did make me wonder if the church was even suitable for use when full, or if the desire to see simply doesn't matter so much when it comes to a religious service, as to be fair this venue had never been designed for concerts. The best seats downstairs had already filled but once I arrived it didn't get that much busier, and as the show had been touted as a near sell-out I take this as a good sign that the organisers had taken this into account and not over-booked, making for a much more pleasant atmosphere for all concerned. There was no search on the way in or any hassle about seating or standing or taking photos, which led to a relaxed and drama-free atmosphere, and the ambiance of being inside a church and the relatively sedate nature of Badly Drawn Boy's music meant that most were exceptionally well-behaved anyway. So when I headed upstairs I couldn't help noticing that the crest at the back of the church was beautifully illuminated, and as I'd been around the building before I could just about contain my natural desire to explore. I spotted a free space to the right in a little area between a couple of couples, and put my coat down on the seat and didn't move from this spot until the end of the show.

It just felt that downstairs would have a worse view - especially as all the best seats were already taken - and also that I'd feel less comfortable taking photos with obstructing heads and more people around me. I enjoyed the higher vantage point, and as so many churches close their balconies it seemed too good a chance to miss. Also I'd enjoyed the lofty position for Hot Chip and thought I was onto a good thing here! My spot was immediately in front of a pillar, and due to the sight lines it was amazing how many seats were no good for a concert, and the rows behind me remained empty for most of the show as a result. I stood pretty much throughout, and noted that there was a bar judging by the drink bottles around, although as everyone seemed to be clutching Budweiser I can't say that I was tempted, also I was doubtful that there'd be adequate toilet provisions in any case, plus I was driving home afterwards! At the back of the altar was what looked to be an impressive centrepiece artwork, but much as it had been the last time I visited it was plunged in darkness, which was frustrating and unusual, as I suspect that there is a beautiful glass pattern that is only visible if backlit, and it should have been proudly displayed as the pinnacle of a beautiful venue. Are they just cheapskates, or is it broken for one reason or another I wonder? I also spied that there was one sneaky row at the back of the balcony that extended the whole width of the church, but this was already full and I didn't see many other opportunities to move throughout the show, and my only real concern about my position was if people would choose to stand behind me and then moan that they couldn't see a thing!

The support act took to the stage pretty much as I walked into the building, and was advertised as a solo iteration of the band Tiny Ruins, but probably could be better described as Hollie Fullbrook by herself. Tiny Ruins were a New Zealand band and Hollie announced that she'd re-recorded one of their albums as a solo version, which was a bit unusual, but given the venue and set-up I don't think that this was the right room for a full band to rock out anyway. It was no surprise that there were no drums at all in the mix tonight. I shot just one video, capturing that she was in a nice flowery dress, singing and playing guitar quietly. The vocals were quite haunting in a church, and she couldn't help geeking out as she could see Badly Drawn Boy's setlist in front of her, and that the teenage her would be so excited by this moment. There were some fairy lights around the balcony and the lights remained quite high throughout the support, but the purple light scheme of the stage remained throughout, and it was a challenge to take pics without getting the balcony or pillars in the frame. The illuminations meant that I could see some of the water ingress stains around the side, and it was good to see this venue being put to good use for civilised and thoroughly pleasant concerts with no religious edge. After Tiny Ruins/Hollie left the stage the lights were quickly dimmed, and there was just one guy with Badly Drawn Boy who hung at the back throughout his set and seemed to serve as a roadie, but to be fair there really wasn't that much to sort out in any case as it had already been set up beforehand. Damon Gough appeared to the right in his trademark tea cosy, and it wasn't until he stood up to the mic stand that we loudly acknowledged his presence with a big round of applause, as the set commenced.

Now as I write this I don't have access to the setlist, so the chronology of the videos I recorded is the main clue to the order in which everything unfolded, and it's extra-difficult as there were many tunes that I couldn't name also. In an ideal world I'd have swotted up on his back catalogue, but I count that Damon has released eight albums, and I was barely familiar with the three I had anyway! Even if I had spent many hours learning it all, it could make me more frustrated by what he didn't play, or even more so if he just dedicated the set to new material. Thanks to the tea cosy his appearance was completely unchanged, and I do wonder if that's how he dresses outside work or if it has become his live gimmick and he goes unnoticed in real life by not wearing it? It's clever though as it covers his hair and makes him seem ageless, and considering that he was born in 1969 and became famous at the age of 30, it's mind-blowing to think that he was now 50, as I remember the Millennium well and someone who was thirty then would have been genuinely young, and now no longer is so! I don't believe I knew the opening song, but I expected this and my first video featured some lovely guitar strumming and singing and a great zoom-in. Damon said that he was going to talk later a bit more about his mental state, but nicely summarised it for us by confirming that he was in a pretty good place right now, and he also said that he didn't want to go into politics while admitting that he feared for the future for his youngest child, and said that his hope was to provide us with a bit of joy and escape rather than dwelling on the shit in the world. It was a good sentiment, although it is pretty hard not to be political in the current climate, and silence is arguably condoning all the nonsense that is happening out there, even though speaking out can feel like a thankless task.

Before playing The Shining - which I shot a video of - he gave a shout-out to his oldest nephew who'd taken him by surprise by driving down from Manchester to attend the show. The song was dedicated to him, and I recorded it until it had nicely hit the chorus. It's a really pretty tune and although the seating hadn't been designed with the slightest consideration for concerts, the sound quality was excellent. I'd expected the About A Boy soundtrack to be skipped over, so I started to build up hopes that this would be a greatest hits occasion when Badly Drawn Boy announced that he was going to play a medley of tunes from it. Now I didn't know that the main song was called Something To Talk About rather than About A Boy, so as a result I didn't record it quickly enough, but I shot a video and persisted with it until he returned to the chorus. It was a glorious pop song, showcasing what a lovely, clear voice Damon has, and it is sad that fuckwits such as Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi have taken the notion of the singer-songwriter and turned it into a very bad thing, for some reason dominated by bed-wetting ballads and hideous yelping vocals. To be fair the genre had been a bit wet at the time, but Damon Gough came before pretty much all the others, and although he may have to answer for the tossers that followed him, he perhaps should be remembered as a Buddy Holly figure, as in a founding father of a genre who set the standard that others struggled to beat. And even though his hits dried up a long time ago, it was a pleasure to finally see him properly in concert, and at such a beautiful venue. Some people had briefly stood behind me but moved off, meaning I no longer had to worry about standing in anyone's way, and I had made a point of standing before Badly Drawn Boy took to the stage so that they wouldn't be surprised when I stood up and then couldn't see a thing!

Something To Talk About/About A Boy featured some lovely "oohs" towards the end, and by virtue of its unexpectedness could be viewed as the highlight of the set. Damon said that he'd been away for a while and had finished recording a new album, and that as he was happily settled in married life he'd been quite doubtful as to if he even wanted to return. He said that he didn't care about fame but wanted to do something that meant something, which is admirable but does make me wonder if he'd managed to accumulate enough money in his heyday that he doesn't even need to work? That would be good for him, as for the artists of today that must seem like a pipedream. I shot a video of a tune that sounded a bit like Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground, as well as some footage during All Possibilities, which I'd pretty much forgotten about. I suspect that he also played Using Our Feet or What Is It Now?, and for me the Have You Fed The Fish album is a triumphant highlight of his career, although to be fair it's pretty much the only album that I knew well enough to reasonably pass judgement on anyway. I did have The Hour Of Bewilderbeast and Born In The U.K also, but had barely ever listened to either. Damon was certainly self-depreciating, at one point getting out the old mouth organ to perform a song that he'd written as a cheap version of a Bob Dylan number for a film, and it certainly had the vibe of the man, who I feel should be more famous than he is but loses out as he keeps performing and being relevant, so Mr Dylan is somewhat taken for granted. Also another tune was announced as being a by-product of an attempt to make something of a melody he'd worked on with Doves, but nothing had hit the spot so he'd eventually reworked it himself. Thanks to their dreary vocals I can't say I've ever liked Doves in the slightest, but it made for a pleasant story.

There was a heckler who shouted out at a few moments, and got told to shut up under the breath of someone near to me, but Badly Drawn Boy was supremely patient and the organisers just left us to it, with one guy even repeatedly leaving his seat to go right up to Damon and take pictures of him, towards the end getting very close as Gough switched to keyboards. BDB did the right thing by not escalating the situation and throwing a strop about it, and ultimately as the guy was enjoying himself and put some moderate effort to duck and not get in the way, I'll let him off. Damon switched to a more electric guitar for the classic Once Around The Block, which is a tune I've always been slightly aware of, and this may have been the moment he segued into a little bit of Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye, which drew laughs from his roadie/companion at the back. I did a mental check and thought that there were six more songs I wanted to hear, and Badly Drawn Boy had been hinting at showering us with hits, at several points saying that he hadn't played such and such a tune for a very long time, but sadly he ultimately pulled up short, missing out three of my top six requests to round out the evening. He'd started around 9pm and played for the best part of two hours, and it was whizzing by, so there certainly seemed to be time but it just seemed to vanish. Not that the set was squandered, given how long it had been since I'd last paid attention to Badly Drawn Boy I was pleased to recognise a good few songs, and when he aborted a tune and said he'd forgotten how it goes, I was surprised when he said it was a new album track because it had the air of a classic. Damon was a bit ramshackle and that's very much part of his charm, but ultimately the tunes that mattered the most were played "properly", and the abandonment and reprising of some obscure numbers gave the night a pleasantly informal vibe. Damon even joked at one point that he'd forgotten that he was no longer soundchecking!

I had no idea that he'd done a second soundtrack album, which was music inspired by the television series The Fattest Man In Britain. Badly Drawn Boy talked about Caroline Aherne having heard him on a pub jukebox, then they'd met up in Manchester and had got on rather well, and although I've never heard of the show if it ever crops up on the schedule I should definitely give it a watch. Damon said that he doesn't play it very often but that he felt he had to dedicated it to Caroline Aherne, and I couldn't help but check on my phone to relearn that she was one of the many famous people who'd been taken in the mass celebrity genocide of 2016. Badly Drawn Boy talked about Born In The U.K. having been rejected as a single for being too fast and the words not being clear enough, which is ludicrous because one thing that Badly Drawn Boy can be counted on for is very clear diction. He said that he was going to be playing a slow rendition of it tonight and I shot a video, and it really should have been a hit, although I can kind of see that the record is a bit too fast and that a slower single version would have helped matters. It has good lyrics although a reference to the Iron Lady without taking the extra step of criticising Thatcher always feels a bit wrong! Now he'd been teasing at its intro at several points throughout the show, and I was quick off the mark to record the full six minutes of You Were Right, where Damon asked for a little help with the whistling at the end. He declared that this had been his biggest ever hit, reaching number 9, and at the time he'd been furious and felt that it should have gone to number one, but in retrospect was grateful to have hit those heights. It certainly should have been a #1 hit and I can understand his frustration that it probably lost out to some total shit, but given the topsy turvy nature of the charts it can't really be helped. I had no idea it had been a hit though, perhaps because I'd been too busy enjoying university life at the time and had missed the UK Top 40 that week!

It felt great to be standing in my elevated position and to be able to record the full tune without affecting anyone else in the slightest, and Damon seemed quite touched by the quality of the whistling at the end, pausing in the song to say thanks. Afterwards he expressed surprise that Brummies had an unknown penchant for whistling, before questioning if Brummie is a derogatory term. For information Damon, the main problem is that lots of people in the West Midlands are definitely not Brummies, so the offence caused by the word is pretty much in that it is too widely applied! Badly Drawn Boy clarified that he was enjoying himself and that tonight was making him think it was worth the effort, and the list of dead celebrities at the end of the song stuck to the original version, as in 2003 he had mentioned Joe Strummer to a respectful cheer. At that point I'd never heard of the song but it was so catchy that I immediately took a shine to it. Damon Gough took to the piano/keyboards for Silent Sigh, which I shot a video of after quickly recognising it from the melody, which is reminiscent of Let's Get Ready To Rumble in parts! A couple to my right left early and the show was approaching 11pm, and I couldn't help fiddling with my phone and checking messages, also noticing that the train services were still thoroughly fucked, with plenty of them being listed as "delayed" rather than "cancelled". As I couldn't take the risk of being stranded in town I resolved to head to the trams afterwards instead, although I was a little concerned, and glad that I'd be able to drive the last bit home from Wolverhampton. Badly Drawn Boy finished his main set, but due to the layout of the stage he just hung around before coming back for an inevitable encore, completely surprising everyone with a cover version of I Wanna Be Adored!

Now I'd pretty much forgotten that he was a Mancunian, and he suggested that he even lived in Chorlton, where I had resided myself back in 2005. It was a much quicker version and very different to the original, and the crowd chose to clap along rather than sing, but it worked nicely, although I was shocked and surprised when the lights came up and that was it! Damon hung around and shook a few hands and chatted briefly with some fans, and I slowly made my way out, taking a few photos of the church from the back, also taking advantage of the cool fisheye lens view on my phone camera. Beforehand a mate had been joking whether it would be Pissing Or Spitting In The Wind tonight given that this was a church, and I was shell shocked that this classic had been omitted altogether. It's why I can't bring myself to award this show more than 7.5/10, as Badly Drawn Boy had teased at a definitive set then ultimately hadn't delivered it, which was a real shame. I jumped on the tram and kept my head down, not being asked to buy a ticket which was great as it saved an unnecessary argument with the conductor about accepting my train ticket given that the trains seemed utterly fucked. I was pleasantly surprised by the speed and quietness of the tram, arriving before the train would have got me back into Wolves. It seemed that the train service did sort its shit out and I wouldn't have been stranded anyway, but I beat the crowds and hadn't had to pay extra or walk as far for the hassle, so it had worked out beautifully. I scribbled a few notes for this review on paper and on my phone, also hearing Kraftwerk to motivate myself to write up that review (which I again failed to do), and playing some solitaire. I got home around midnight and felt very grateful that the clocks would be going back and I'd have an extra hour in bed, perfectly cancelling out the fact that I was an hour later to bed than I normally am. The next day I went swimming and wrote up this review as planned, although it has taken me longer than I expected and I still need to get my shit together and get reviewing Kraftwerk too. The other two big omissions were Have You Fed The Fish and Tickets To What You Need, and also 40 Days, 40 Fights would have been nice. It had been a good show, but by not ending with some Pissing In The Wind Damon had fucked things up a little, which was a shame!

Mark: 7.5/10