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