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