Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds
Review by Ruth Rosselson
Chorlton St Clement’s Church, Wednesday 26th May 2010
Churches seem to have to diversify to survive in today’s times and this Chorlton church seems to be very much a church-to-hire. Host to various regular exercise classes and toddlers groups, it is a major sponsor and one of the main venues during Chorlton Arts festival. On Sunday 23rd May, a select crowd enjoyed the quirky sound of Beth Jeans Houghton. Benefiting from a famous lead singer, the Bad Shepherds drew a full house, despite the mid-week slot.
Adrian Edmonson, in case you didn’t know, used to be famous for being the ‘punk’ character in TV’s Young Ones and for his comedic work with Rik Mayall. He’s pretty much been off the radar for a while and now seems to have reinvented himself as a musician – lead singer of the Bad Shepherds. Formed just a couple of years ago, they were nominated this year for Best Live Act in the Folk Awards.
What makes the Bad Shepherds different is that, instead of playing traditional folk, they play punk/pop and new wave classics in a folk style. Curious as to how, and if, this could work at all, I ambled down to see them at the sold out church – a fitting venue for such a band name!
It is difficult not to smile and laugh a bit as the band open with perhaps one of the best known punk anthems, Anarchy in the UK. Two things soon become apparent as band rattle through some of Britain’s best known 45s of the late 70s and early 80s. Firstly, this is most definitely not an amateur project; Edmonson has surrounded himself with three fine musicians, particularly fiddler Andy Dinan whose fingers deft fingerwork and bowing leave me in awe. Secondly, this is no comedy covers band. These are full-on folk reinterpretations of originals rather than the lazy folk-punk covers band that they could have turned out to be.
Some songs definitely work better than others. My favourites included The Model, Once in a Lifetime and Rise. Where the lyrics may have been equal in importance to anger and attitude in the originals, they stand out here and when it comes to masterpieces such as the Jam’s Down in the Tube Station at Midnight it works. However, other songs, initially rousing singalongs, suffer when that anger and attitude is taken out and they become bland folk ballads. There are a few mash-ups of trad tunes with the songs and the audience show their appreciation whenever the band launches into a full-on traditional tune.
Still, punk songs share plenty of common ground with folk songs and I’m left wondering whether folk is the inevitable progression for middle aged punks? It seems that way if this Manchester audience is anything to go by. Overall, I’d say this was an inventive, musically accomplished set and I expect to see more award nominations as they expand their fan-base during the festival season. There are plenty more gigs on this tour, so check them out and make up your own mind.
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