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        Not Pete Atkin >> Off-topic >> Adrian Edmondson
        
(Message started by: Gerry Smith on Today at 01:29)
Title: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Gerry Smith on Today at 01:29
Hello all

I went to see Adrian Edmondson (aka Vyvyan Bastard from The Young Ones) and the Bad Shepherds at Venuu in Hastings tonight. A great four piece folk line up, fiddle, uillean pipes/whistles/bouzouki/mandolin, guitar/vocal and string bass.  Hadn't heard of them before but a friend had a ticket going so I went along. Highly accomplished folk musicians and positively virtuosic in places.

However, the trademark of this lot is that they play PUNK - yes PUNK in the folk idiom. Interspersed with some brilliantly executed more traditional session tunes many of which I often play myself were Anarchy In The UK, London Calling, God Save The Queen and We're Going Down The Pub and several other punk numbers I'd rather not remember.

The gig was extremely well received by a crowd of about 250 of all ages. But the youngsters bopping around at the front weren't even born when Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten unleashed their hideous offerings.

OK, so Edmondson is never going to be conventional given his background. So we can expect the unexpected. But is such a bastardisation of their art the way to go? Seems a shame when they clearly have so much to offer.  Or have I lost my sense of humour?

Anyway, they're well worth seeing if they're playing down your way. See http://www.thebadshepherds.com

By the way, if any of the musos amongst you fancy coming along to one of the very best open folk sessions in the south of England, get down to The Stag in All Saints Street, Hastings old town on Tuesdays after about 9.30.  Usually a rip roaring night in a lovely pub packed to the rafters with  lovely people. British/European tunes and songs. Often goes on to 2-3AM!

Gerry
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Murray McGlew on 03.06.10 at 16:33
How topical (for me); they've just repeated The Young Ones on the ABC after a long, long time. Of all TV shows, that one provided our family with by far the most catch phrases and family in-jokes over the years. I had previously thought that all the episodes were my favourite, but on fresh viewing I've decided that the University Challenge episode edges the others out.

I had no idea, though, that Edmondson was a musician. I'll follow your link to see what he plays.

Although in theory I'm mildly purist about cross-genre treatments of songs, they can work surprisingly well at times. We had a band in these parts called The Sensitive New-Age Cowpersons who converted absolutely everything to blue grass, and the results were usually far less hideous than one would imagine. Yothu Yindi did a cover of AC/DC's Jailbreak that sounded great.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Kevin Cryan on 03.06.10 at 18:49

on 06/03/10 at 16:33:31, Murray McGlew wrote :
................................
I had no idea, though, that Edmondson was a musician. .........


You'll may also find out  that it he is not the only one in the family (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq1N4oAfCTA) that is one.

Kevin Cryan
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Pete Atkin on 04.06.10 at 12:35
Now I see how threads get pulled off-course.   I've always been a bit of a sucker for "cross-genre" treatments (The Ukelele Orchestra, etc), and I'm thrilled to learn that next month sees the reissue on one CD of both of the brilliant albums by Run C&W.  Nothing can ever recapture the joy of my first listen to this IMHO sublime stuff, but I'm forever playing my favourite track to all and sundry in hopes of reliving that moment vicariously.    Purely musical jokes - good ones, anyway - are precious few and far between, but Run C&W run a close second to my all-time favourites (not at all cross-genre), Darlene and Jonathan Edwards, who retain the ability to move me to tears of laughter every time.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Murray McGlew on 05.06.10 at 04:28
I had a look at a couple of clips of The Bad Shepherds and thought they were wonderful, and I enjoyed some Ella Edmondson while I was at it. Also some Run C&W, so this thread has been mine of valuable information, though perhaps a bit expensive if I buy albums by all of them. Which doesn't mean I'm snubbing Darlene and Johnathon Edwards; I just haven't looked them up yet, but I will.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Murray McGlew on 05.06.10 at 04:38
Sorry, I mean "a" mine of valuable information. And I forgot to mention how envious I am of you, Gerry, being out and about in Hastings. I fell in love with the place while watching Foyle's War.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by colin_boag on 05.06.10 at 10:57
'But is such a bastardisation of their art the way to go?'

Not sure I understand what that means.   Next weekend I'll see John Otway play Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys', and I've just been listening to Lianne Carroll singing Eleanor Rigby.  What does it matter as long as it works, they like doing it, and the punters pay their dosh?  I don't suppose Michael Marra or PA / CJ envisaged their songs being done a capella by Coope, Boyes and Simpson, but it works.  Personally I find their version of 'Hill of little shoes' moves me even more than the original so these 'cross genre' things can work sometimes.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Gerry Smith on 05.06.10 at 14:51
Hi Colin, sure, cross genre can work and often does. It's just that I don't think that punk in a folk idiom does work. The punk renditions the Bad Shepherds did were very lame and generally less well received compared to the rest of the set, not through any fault of theirs, rather the banality of the material they were working with.
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by andyw on 06.06.10 at 10:45

on 06/05/10 at 10:57:40, colin_boag wrote :
'But is such a bastardisation of their art the way to go?'

"................  Eleanor Rigby.  What does it matter as long as it works, they like doing it, and the punters pay their dosh?"


On that topic, and while we are recommending people, can I commend to you all a lap-steel treatment of Eleanor Rigby by the great Tom Doughty on his CD "Running Free"

http://www.tomdoughty.com/products.html

http://www.myspace.com/tomdoughty
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by dr_john on 06.06.10 at 12:34
It's by no means an original observation, but I've always believed that most popular music is at root folk music. After the stylistic rivalries fostered by the music press have died down, people start to notice that R & B songs can be played as Bluegrass, or punk as folk with only minor changes in instrumentation or costume.

When the Bad Shepherds' play 'Anarchy In The UK' on fiddle, cittern and thrash mandolin they demonstrate its basic folk structure, as do the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (and before them Albertos Y Lost Trios Paranoias - anyone remember their doowop version?).

Incidentally, Pete, I'm assuming your favourite Run C&W track is 'Hold On I'm Comin' ', as it is for most right-thinking people?
Title: Re: Adrian Edmondson
Post by Gerry Smith on 12.06.10 at 00:32
Whilst we're on the subject of cross genre and musical jokes, I was listening to R2 in the car earlier tonight and there was some talk of how Bill Bailey (now there's a real talent) is planning a "synthesis of Kraftwerk and The Wurzels" as part of his new show.

Well, the mind boggles but I bet our late friend Paul Gunningham would have a thing a or two to say!

Gerry


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