A long ago sold-out evening at the Portland started with Near Jazz Experience playing a set that explored the seemingly limitless possibilities of a jazz trio; with drums and hefty electric bass providing the foundation for multi-instrumentalist Terry Edwards, mainly on saxophone (sometimes two at once!), melodica and pocket trumpet. Together they produced a super-tight rhythm driven sound varying from complex up-tempo pieces to the more wistful new single ‘Afloat’. The audience were happy to join the celebration of their addictive sound by playing along with percussion shakers (which I think were mostly handed back at the end…)
There was a time when a music line-up would often feature a comedian or poet (John Cooper Clark, Attila the Stockbroker, John Shuttleworth et al) and The Nightingales have maintained this tradition for their shows; on this tour it was cult legend Stewart Lee performing a relaxed and hilarious 20 minute act drawn from some of his 1988 club routines. Much-loved and appreciated, he certainly made his mark and left the audience wanting more!
The Nightingales continue to be a formidable live attraction with an energy and commitment that doesn’t diminish with time. Tonight playing an hour of continuous songs with no let-up for audience interaction or appreciation; it was a fully immersive experience. They have an immense back catalogue to draw on but also still release new material with album ‘Perish The Thought’ just out and featured single ‘Chaff’ being one of the highlights tonight.
Dynamically supported by spiky guitar and incisive bass and the superlative drumming and duelling vocal from Fliss Kitson, the lyrics and vocal demands of founder member Robert Lloyd draw you into their special and unique world. A a bit like listening to the late Mark E Smith, it is an onslaught on the senses. From the noise fuzz of ‘Real Gone Daddy’ to the punching art-rock of ‘Best of British Luck’ and the timeless sentiment of relative oldie ‘Company Man’, tonight showed that the Nightingales continue to push against the barriers.
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk