March 22, 2006

"History is different in them places, you know." An interview with Billy Bragg, ostensibly about his new box set, but really about girls and politics. Mostly politics.

And let me just add this poorly-written review of his recent Toronto gig. (The show was indeed great, but not the best Billy I've ever seen. Which would be at the old Club Soda in Montreal, one week after the last Referendum, with Bill's voice cracking because he just had the baby, and hadn't sung out loud in a while. But it's pretty tough to top that...)

posted by Capt. Renault 18 years ago
  • Boy does this seem Freudian, but I *swear* your his new box set link said his new bot sex! I mean, that's why I clicked on it!
  • an excellent lyricist and in my experience a very good live performer. i saw two shooting stars last night, i wished on them, but they were only satellites! it's wrong to wish on space hardware... and just because it freaked me out no end the first time i saw it, i offer the billy bragg fan fiction pages
  • Sweet Mothra, roryk -- those are freaking me the fuck out! I mean, they're sweet and all, but still give me full-blown heebee jeebees. And what's with the VW GTO? Fans know he drives a Mitsubishi Zero...
  • and "I just met the new neighbor," he said. "He's a Scottish folk singer named 'Billy.'" scottish? he's a proud essex boy!
  • Indeed. And far be it from me to gloat or anything, but my box set came in the mail today -- turns out that I was one of the first 500 to order, and so -- *does Snoopy dance* -- it has an au-to-graph! HA! This would be my third Billy au-to-graph! HA!!!
  • *starts to hatch plot to liberate capt. r's box set*
  • Unsealed it last night -- she's a beaut. Notes are a little lacking, but the rare tracks are pretty fantastic. It's clear why some of them weren't chosen for the main album, but that doesn't matter. It's Billy. And it'll hold me off until the new Billy comes out. Haven't watched the DVDs yet. Saving that for a special occasion. Such as "Saturday".
  • Um... the essential BB is a 3 disc set? Three? I only have two. (damnit.) Discovered Bragg through listening to the Mermaid Avenue albums - found a friend who had some more, did a little swapping and have a pile of music as a result, but no physical discs. As far as I'm concerned, his music falls into the "would be happy to actually buy it even though I have it electronically" category. Hadn't heard about this new deluxe set, so perhaps a good time to start on that "purchasing music" thing I've heard tell of.
  • Canadian Tour Dates confirmed. Govern yourself accordingly, but you're not allowed to buy Toronto before me. I'll be there, screaming for "Qualifications", but no doubt, I'll be disappointed. Also, vol. 2 to be released, covering everything from Worker's Playtime on.
  • and linked to at the end of the news announcement, billy's myspace page, with musical and video goodness.
  • Bragg fans are hereby duly advised (now that I've placed my order) that Bill's website is now selling: a) SIGNED copies of Vol. 2 of the Box Set, and b) SIGNED copies of Bill's book, where you can order a personalised dedication (up to 15 letters) for no extra charge. (CAPT. R. IS AN ASS will just fit.)
  • Billy Bragg, by Appointment Songwriter to Her Majesty Elizabeth II. In this adventure, Billy meets the Queen after a gig, gets ripped apart by the Daily Mail, and writes a charming comeback in the same paper with the proceeds going to his pet charity.
  • He articulates very well what I think many traditional Labourites would feel about it. I say 'Hands off Ludwig!', though...
  • Up close, the Queen really isn't majestic, more like a grandmother in twin- set and pearls, but the dignity that she brings to the role of head of state utterly transcends the need for the flummery of majesty. Ask yourself who else could have opened the new National War Memorial in Staffordshire last week? Would a politician have made a better connection with the veterans? They stood in line to meet the woman who embodies to them the very things that they were fighting for. Could anyone else signify to the families of the fallen how important we believe their sacrifice to be? Hers is a fame beyond the transitory celebrity which has become the debased currency of modern life. Posh and Becks fade into insignificance alongside her ubiquity and place in modern British history. That sums it up very well. I still get choked up any time I see footage of her postwar coronation, and how she stood as a symbol of everything the nation had been through and survived with dignity intact, and their determination to face what still lay ahead. This tiny, frail-looking woman in the robes that looked too heavy for any person to bear.
  • Billy Bragg is neat-o. It's one thing to be passionately politically engaged, quite another to be an ideologue. It seems he falls on the healthy side.
  • After Billy Bragg and The Blokes recorded the new album Mr. Love and Justice, Billy went back into the studio and rerecorded the whole album solo with just an electric guitar. The session was recorded on film. You can see the videos for all 15 tracks here.