Morning:
13°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: The Blur guitarist performs solo material from his album The Spinning Top.
Phone: 07812151101
Website: www.myspace.com/londoncityloveaffair
Forward looking: Graham Coxon concentrated on his new material rather than old Blur hits
It’s an old story but there’s nothing like selling a few million records to skew your self‑perception. Take past and future Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, whose solo career now spans seven albums. A selection from each, plus a choice cover or two and perhaps a surprise from the outer reaches of the Blur catalogue and we’d have all gone home slightly flattered not to have been spoonfed Song 2 or Park Life.
Oh no. Instead, joined on stage by a shaven-headed security guard wearing a CIA-style earpiece (heaven knows why; I’ve dallied in less mild-mannered charity shops), plus double-bassist and drummer, Coxon celebrated Monday’s release of the long and winding The Spinning Top by forgetting Blur and his solo past to play all of it (bar, for reasons never explained, Far From Everything) in running order, before covering Elizabeth Cotten’s folk staple Oh Babe, It Ain’t No Lie.
And Coxon performed mostly sitting down, visible to only the tall and those at the bar, where the bored crowd’s chatter meant he was inaudible. “Play us a new song,” shouted someone before Feel Alright. Coxon didn’t get the joke. Or the barb behind it.
That the Syd Barrett influenced The Spinning Top is worth cherry‑picking for live shows made the evening even more perplexing.
Showing a certain English rusticity, In The Morning (about being woken by so much birdsong that it seems safe to assume Coxon lives in an aviary) was a life‑affirming madrigal, while Tripping Over’s instrumental climax was a rare reminder of his other-worldly way with a guitar.
Alas, unleavened by anything familiar or anything more than an occasional change in pace, everything else meandered by in — yes — a blur.
How could he possibly think this alienating indulgence was a good idea?
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Sorry, but we cannot display user comments at the moment.
