Stereogum Does CMJ: Billy Bragg @ Arlene's Grocery, NYC 10/17/07
While we were downing bloody marys with Sparrow House, Abbey was just a few blocks away at Arlene's Grocery, taking in a sweet set from, yes, Billy f'in Bragg. The man ripped through an eight-song set of classics and new cuts. Abbey adds:
This was most definitely 'Freedom Fighter Billy' and the crowd was floored ... The terms "fascists" and "radical right" were tossed around, and he let us in on the extensive backstory of his alter ego 'Johnny Clash' (It's exactly what it sounds like). At one point someone wandered in and placed an intricately carved guitar onstage, to which Billy glanced at and deadpanned, "Thanks mate. But I don't play guitar. I just beat the shit out of this percussion instrument strung around my neck."Yes he does.
Posted at 5:01 PM in Concert
Tags: Billy Bragg | CMJ
I suggest y'all check out Save Macaulay and the Nobility at Pianos on Friday night. They play at 6:30 and 7:45.
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Give me Uncle Billy & his trusty guitar anyday... so glad he has been bandless lately because this is the way the gods of rock intended Billy to be!
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Why are the British so ugly? Seriously, I don't understand.
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Why are the british so ugly? So that you won't be distracted by wanting to sleep with them, and will actually listen for a change, damn you, Joan Rivers.
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BILLY BRAGG IS MY FAVORITE SINGER SONGWRITER OF ALL TIME!!!
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