#jez lowe and the bad pennies

[guardianreadersofthegalaxy]

Greek Lightening: https://open.spotify.com/track/4mEMqS0ab0fQSwvzQxh3wS?si=6c0e3a0278ac4fb2

Days #228-9: Today I Listened to ‘In Spite Of Ourselves’ by John Prine & Iris DeMent and ‘Greek Lightening’ by Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies.

Listening to ‘In Spite Of Ourselves’ was like watching one of those insufferable modern romcoms where the couples laugh at their own jokes. It reminded me of when the film ‘Juno’ came out and my generation decided that you’re only really in a relationship if you and your significant other can sing cutesy songs to each other, preferably in public.

I think the reason this annoys me so much is that there’s a difference between accepting your and your partner’s faults, and revelling in them. It sounds less like “in spite of their shortcomings, I still love them”, and more like “we’re both wankers, but for some reason that’s fine”. It’s that ‘This Is Me’ ‘fuck the haters’ bullshit, and I hate it.

Also it’s funny that, in the list of kooky quirks, JP lists “she gets it on like the Easter Bunny” and “swears like a sailor while she shaves her legs”. You mean she’s sexually available and conforms to standard beauty norms? So brave of you to love her anyway...

‘Greek Lightening’s a lot sadder – I feel bad for the female singer’s character. Perhaps it’s just her lovely voice, clear as mountain stream. And while it’s not fair, Jez Lowe’s vocals do a lot to convince me that his character’s a nice guy deep down. He may sing of drunken bad tempers and public embarrassment, but it’s all sung so sweetly that I can’t be too mad at him.

All the same, this is a bad marriage. “My hopes have grown thin as you’ve fattened on 6 pints a night til your dole money’s gone”. If only she had the financial independence to see the Greek lightning for herself, but alas she’s shackled to this loveable loser. “Dreams let you down”? Sounds more like your husband let you down.

But I don’t begrudge them their happy-ish ending, “We always make do for a week and a day” going on less glamourous holidays. And that’s when you get some lovely harmonies that I’d take over Prine & DeMent’s grating unison.

[pilferingapples]

Feuilly

AW

favorite thing about them

He doesn’t just get fired up about things, he goes and LEARNS about them so he can be fired up More Effectively!  That’s a very endearing kind of nerdery.

least favorite thing about them

Feuilly Has Done Nothing Wrong, Ever. ( I guess then that I wish he had More Lines?, though I agree with Arai that his whole intro can basically be taken as a Feuilly Speech, I’d still like to hear more from him.)

favorite line

“Does anybody understand these men who promised to join us, and took an oath to help us, and who were bound to it in honor, and who are our generals, who abandon us!” (FMA translation)Just. He’s got so much faith in others, despite everything, despite his own life and especially despite knowing international politics really well??  It’s a lot. 

random headcanon

I’m never sure if these are supposed to be like character overviews, or Really Specific Things, so one of each:-- tying in with the above quote: he puts a lot  of stock in his idea of Honor, in people being honest and true to their word,even if it’s just to the extent of making a Sincere Effort (because he knows sometimes, hey, Things Happen).  He also, unfortunately, and again Despite Everything, tends to extend people the benefit of a doubt on the matter until they’ve thoroughly proved he shouldn’t. Which has  left him in bad situations , sometimes , and it’s meant a lot of broken-hearted moments that didn’t even have anything to do with romance.  But he’s made a conscious decision to stick with  his approach anyway, and he’s managed to come through to a point in his life where all the people he trusts on a personal level are entirely deserving of it. 

more Specific Individual Thing: he’s always had a roommate (or several), both for practicality and for company, but  since he’s come into a position where he could afford to rent his own space if he wanted, he’s insisted on having his own bedroom--something with a real door, that shuts and locks. He gets teased about his Wild Party Life (which everyone knows he’s not having) and his Illicit Literature (...which he IS having but it’s all Illicit in the sense of being Politically Troublesome) but really it’s just that he hates being interrupted when he’s trying to read.

unpopular opinion

..what are the Popular Feuilly Opinions these days? Are there any? 

...I still don’t envision him as a redhead. That seems to continue to be the Outlier Option:P

song i associate with them

Skin Too Thin, by Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies , I mean that’s why it’s on the playlist :P

favorite picture of them

Il Mis Feuilly is my Fave Film Feuilly:

So enthusiastic! So intense! Such a major player in planning the revolt! And he’s got the best Outbursts:D

[olwog]

So ‘Folks’, it’s slightly overcast but there are pools of blue so spirits are high.

They’re not as high as the local gin and tonics last night! The Spanish don’t use measures, they’re dispensed in glugs and looking around there’s a fair amount of collateral damage.

I’m taking the opportunity to exercise the ‘no calories’ rule that’s clearly applicable here in Ibiza. In fact the same rule applied last year in Mallorca and Portugal so I suppose it’s really a festival thing and not, as originally assumed, country specific.

So to breakfast and I’ve looked under the fried bread, the black pudding, the fried egg and even under the sausage and sautéed potatoes and no, not a calorie in sight. I’m told to be careful with the brown sauce though as it could be loaded, so red it is, and it’s good for the prostate to boot; what’s not to like?

We round this off with some fruit to work towards the 40 different foods per day regime that’s so good for you, it’s scientific, we heard it directly from someone at the bar who’s friend had a cousin who knew a nutritionist who’d got a certificate off the internet. It’s a bit like all of the information that we got to make our decision on brexit so we know it must be right.

Now we’re sated we’re off to the first concert. The storm that had forced us indoors yesterday has left us skies that have progressively turned a little grey throughout the morning but it’s still warm. The sound crew have done an unbelievable job moving us indoors for a full 24 hours then magically moved us back out again for this afternoon’s session.

  Flossie is a great opener with tremendous humour and gloriously powerful songs. My favourite is a beautifully poignant Abba song, ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ and Flossie’s rendition is superb. She mentions Vin Garbutt and his contribution to her patter and humour, the response to her wishes for his speedy recovery are met with a great response from the audience. Vin is well loved by all and it would be great to see him on here next year. She gets a fabulous contribution from the audience to Willy Nelson’s ‘On the Road Again’, even though I say it myself, we’re in good voice and Flossie capitalises and encourages it.

9Barrow’s first performance was indoors and I found myself in a position behind a supporting structure that was less than ideal so I’ve been looking forward to this outdoor session immensely. They are exceptional. They’re talented, harmonious and their choice of songs, whilst dark are varied and the patter between them lifts the performance. The great thing for me is the words of the songs are clear and the harmonium backing really atmospheric.

Tom Robinson is astonishingly good with both songs and patter. His little confessional piece about his breakdown as a teenager is equally fascinating. All of this helps to clarify his song lyrics and political views. He’s leaning against an open door when he asks us to join in with a song about the bankers and point accusingly during the chorus. His final song accompanied by Will Pound on harmonica is a stroke of genius. I didn’t know if I would like him before this event but he’s still got it and without doubt, he’s willing to share it.

  Half five and a quick visit to Jez Lowe’s workshop and he’s in full flow about producing songs to order for the BBC and one about the children that were transported to Australia and other countries that they wouldn’t transmit! Shame on them. He also gave us some really interesting stuff on the Bad Pennies and who he’d worked with over the years. If you attend events like this and there’s a “Chance to meet…” session please consider going to it; you get a great insight into how they tick and when it’s a popular guy like Jez it’s even better. Thanks Jez.

  Flossie (did I mention it’s her birthday) is MC-ing the Open Mic sessions. This is where anyone can put their name down to do a song, play something of even just recite a poem or monologue (although I’ve never actually heard anyone do that). I turn up just in time to see some fabulous stuff from Rosie Clegg who also doubles by doing duet backing for others, Two thirds of a Shite Shirt and a number of other very talented folks but the show stealer for me is a lady called Marie.

I think I catch the fact that she’s what we call a floor singer i.e. she’s not professional. She’s accompanied by Antony J Clarke and when Marie begins to sing there is an instantaneous and complete silence as everyone in the room stops doing whatever they are doing to listen. I experienced this once before when Jo Duffield (then called Jo Millican) asked to sing at a little place called Grinton in Swaledale and promptly stole the show with a rendition of Dancing at Whitsun). I’d love to hear you again Marie, your voice tonight is divine.

You get defining moments at all festivals and this is the one for me.

If you click on a photo you can then page through them at full size…

Onwards and, in this case literally upwards, as we vacate the dungeon bar and head upstairs for the outside concert and from there to the bar where we manage to get excellent seats for Flossie’s birthday set. There are balloons on all of the stages that Flossie performs on to celebrate her birthday, she’s loved and respected by both audience and fellow artists and gets a Happy Birthday rendition everywhere she goes.

Flossie’s set is exceptional and this is astonishing after the amount of work she’s already done both on stage and in the bars and singarounds. She’s delivering priceless renditions of songs in different genres including a wonderful Kieran Halpin number, ‘Making Up The Miles’ and towards the end of the set she’s joined by Eddie Jay for a priceless Edith Piaf song. His accordion skills add the extra franco feel and Flossie’s powerful voice has us all mesmerized. You’ve worked so hard today Flossie and each performance has been like your first, fresh and full of energy; thank you so much.

Flossie hands over to Will Pound and Eddy Jay to complete the magic.

What a great day for both the birthday girl and all of us here present.

Then there’s a bonus; we meet Frank Porter and his lovely wife Joyce  Haven’t seen him for 40 years but we catch up in seconds. He’s still doing the clubs in the North East with his partner Eddie Walker. What an excellent day.

  Thanks to all the artists and also thanks to the sound crew that made the transition from outdoors to in. Excellent.

Enjoy the snaps and feel free to share…G..x

Costa del Folk – Ibiza – Days 2 and 3 So 'Folks', it's slightly overcast but there are pools of blue so spirits are high. They're not as high as the local gin and tonics last night!