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