Saturday, 25 October 2008
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21st/22nd October Boston
This entry was originally published at Billy Bragg's Blog
Two consecutive nights at the Somerville Theatre in Boston presents me with the problem of how to sound fresh on the second night. The simple answer is to play different songs but then the challenge is to find a way of refreshing the set list without changing the narrative of the gig, which at the moment is focused heavily on the forthcoming election and the prospect of an Obama victory.
As ever, the set list is shaped by external events. On our way to the first show in State College, I got a call from BBC 6 Music informing me of the death of Levi Stubbs. As a result, I have to include Levi Stubbs Tears in the set every night and give it a prominent place to allow me to pay my respects to the great man. On the second night, while showering in my room in Ithaca, I hear George Bush call for the leaders of the G8 to get together to preserve ‘democratic capitalism’. I could hardly believe my ears – surely this was an oxymoron, like ‘self-regulation’? This nugget gave me a whole new angle from which to approach NPWA, so that has to go into the set too.
My dilemma is if I take out too many songs from the set on the second night, will it lose its political potency? Fine for those who like to hear the love songs, but disappointing for those who come for the firebrand politics.
Backstage at the Somerville, I’m playing in a newly restrung acoustic guitar. Long-time Bragg ultra Stephen Walker sits on the sofa, so I ask him what he wants to hear – ‘Love songs’ he says. His wish list is helpful, even if his no 1 choice – Strange Things Happen – is well beyond my current range. In the end, I change a third of the songs in the set, bringing in mostly love songs, but still managing to hit my bullet points in the show.
Naturally, I play ‘Old Clash Fan Fight Song’ on both nights. As anyone who has heard me introduce the song will know, it was written and first performed here at the Somerville in March 2006. As always, the line ‘George Bush will soon be gone’ elicits a huge cheer but reminds me that in just a few days, this song will have to be retired from the set.
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