Cloaca Melodia

World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA ....   sorry, I haven't yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!  Billy Bragg & Joe Henry

The Marquee, New York, NY This was one of the coolest Billy Bragg shows I attended, primarily due to some technical difficulties early on in the set. post continues.... Bragg's guitar wasn't coming through properly, so while the problem was being corrected Bragg began to sing one of my favorite pieces of Bragg obscurata: "I Don't Need This Pressure, Ron," an acapella Reagan-era number (the title satirizes the Spandau Ballet U.K. hit "I Don't Need This Pressure On") which I used to play all the time on my college radio station. Frankly, I was shocked and delighted he pulled that one out--I never expected to hear it live! I went to the show with my then-girlfriend Christine.

Lonestar Roadhouse, New York, NY sorry, Mike has not yet written about this show... add your own comments if you were also there!

The Ritz, New York, NY I was at the concert with my college friend Tim. We were both big Billy Bragg fans, so we really enjoyed the show; particularly so, as this was my first time seeing him live. When he came out by himself and performed "The Milkman of Human Kindness," I was stuck by how much intensity he could deliver, just him and his electric guitar. And when he sang the refrain line -- "I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint!" -- he would kick a leg backwards as he ended it, as if using the motion to put extra force into his singing. Tim was living in Jersey, so he decided to leave during the encore break. However, as soon as he began making his way towards the door, a member of the stage crew started setting up additional microphones. Since the concert had been entirely Billy solo (with occasional 2nd guitar contributed by Billy's friend Wiggy), I quickly realized that Something Was Up. I scanned the crowd of people leaving t...