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.
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter