Gig Review: Overshadowing Jesus: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, St George's Church Brighton, Tuesday 21st April 2009

I've seen Bonnie 'Prince' Billy before. I've been to St George's Church before. Both let me down.

Twice burnt. Twice shy.

I refrained from over-anticipating the coming together of these two forces. I was right to.

What can be better than the pure joy that sneaks in, when, with an apprehensive invite, you expect a no show? From tense caress to unbridled yielding. Oh boy.

If you are a regular reader, you will know that Will Oldham is a god amongst gods at Flat 1a. He's been worshipped home and away for the lifetime of an adolescent. On Tuesday, celebrated in the flesh - gargoyle expressions, wispy hair, paunch an' all - he stole my heart.

I arrived early. Many had arrived earlier. Outside the church, a queue of people waited for the doors to open. Grown men with beards and grown women with lines stood quietly chatting. This is a rare, rare sight in England. Queuing for bands is for the youf, with extreme haircuts and excitable temperaments. Evidently, I was not alone in the knowledge that St George's Church offers an appalling view for sixty percent of its capacity.

Seated on a typically uncomfortable church chair, and raised high by a prayer cushion, I could see Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's full figure. Score!

Legs danced without grace, adding expression to meaning, unfettered, dungaree-ed and farm-like.

Face muscles formed sounds, rapturously possessed, with eccentric brilliance and joyous passion.

Away from the microphone, a dancing figure filled the wall, a giant made possible by spotlight. Billy's silhouette darkened Jesus, but Jesus - as he bled from his cartoon feet and dangled high from his cross - didn't mind. They’d already compared bellies and quizzically frowned over who imitates who.

"I think it's okay to supplant the purpose of this structure with what we’re doing tonight," Will Oldham asserted, "I think it’s relevant." As church services go, it has to be up there.

With double bass (Josh Abrams), fiddle (Cheyenne Mize), second guitar (Emmett Kelly) and drums (Jim White), the performance took a country folk rock format.

The speed wagon rendition of 'A Minor Place' was troublesome (without hate). For the most part, I found myself forgiving and utterly enjoying the re-incarnation of the live format. The sparring between Emmett and Billy, both facial and musical, was charmingly touching.

I felt glee that the testosterone flavoured backing band of 2007 had not returned.

Highlights for me were:
No Bad News
Ain't you wealthy, ain't you wise?
64

I also enjoyed the folk that took to sitting on prayer mats, in front of the pre-planned seating. Hats off to them for rejecting the seats with no line of sight and finding a better way.

Still, just Billy and a guitar would be fabulous to behold. Next time Billy. Pretty please.

Fabpants Recommends:

Download MP3:Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Ain't You Wealthy, Ain't You Wise (sorry, this link has died)



Download MP3: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy – No Bad News (courtesy of media.libsyn.com)




I also saw Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at The Freebutt last night. There's a new album and it's called 'Vs. Children'. The new tracks sounded rather good live. The bass guitar's death was rather unfortunate, but an enjoyable night all the same.

Download MP3: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - White Jetta (courtesy of rocksdemilo.files.wordpress.com)




Download MP3: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Northfield, MN (courtesy of thetorturegarden.org)