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