|
|
Faith, Folk and Anarchy live
Martyn Joseph, Tom Robinson and Steve Knightley
Review
first published by fish.co.uk
When successful musical acts have a merger, it's like
playing with a chemistry set. You never know if you're going
to get a spectaular explosion or a disappointing murky
sludge. Well, Faith Folk and Anarchy is alchemy. Do yourself
a favour and see this show.
The temporary threesome consists of Martyn Joseph (Mr Greenbelt), Tom Robinson (of 'War Baby' etc. fame) and Steve Knightley (a big name on the folk circuit).
They are three great songwriters, and that art is the focus of the show - that and the art of concord. They sing each others' songs, they sing their own, they unveil new ones. They pass their instruments around (including Steve's cello-mandolin and squeeze box) and give each other strong harmonies throughout. They work wonderfully well together, and have a good time into the bargain.
Tom sarts with his new talking song 'Killing Fields' - a love song for Flanders. Martyn replies with a blistering rendition of 'Strange Way', that daring look at the irony of the crucifixion, which includes a mini diversion into I Don't Know How To Love Him. And Steve responds with the first cover, a thoughtful-and-ballsy-by-turns version of Martyn's I Will Follow.
What unites them, apart from their love for and understanding of each others' material, is a passion and a hope. It's a long time since I've heard such powerfully passionate singing. There were songs of love (Steve's reworking of Tom's 'You Tattoed Me'), environmental injustice (Steve's 'The Flood' sung by Martyn), unemployment (Martyn's 'Please sir' sung by Tom), and about the need for passion itself (Martyn's new Wake Me Up). And Martyn's Cardiff Bay, a song of parenthood, being alive and, well,Cardiff, is beautiful as ever.
The Footlights Folk Club, West Chiltington, Sussex, is, like most of the dates on this tour a smallish venue, and a tad obscure. But that's perfect for an intimate event like this (as long as you can get to the place).
When the sound system starts burning, the musicians weren't phased and since they had nothing but acoustic instruments anyway they just got down among the audience and did War Baby unamplified. It went down so they well kept at it for a few songs even after the gear was fixed.
It's a one off tour, so if it comes anywhere near you, seize the chance and see it. They have recorded a CD, but don't expect it to capture the glory of the real thing.
