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