In Streaming sunshine Badly Drawn Boy marched on stage at the New Tent dressed in his familiar Autumnal clobber, in a clash of seasons that promised to leave everyone fully refreshed.
Ever the versatile troubadour de boudoir, Gough’s mixed selection of sounds travelled close to folk with a soul-edged voice and skirted with rock whilst avoiding any diversion towards its more popular cousin. Much of the set was taken from his new album “One Plus One is One is One” – a title, he tells us, he was “given by David Beckham” – not exactly a new direction for the boy, but more a natural progression. Perhaps the best of these new tracks, “The Year of the Rat” is destined for release in that despond of directories, the single charts which may well prove the adage of pearls in swine.
Gough really shines live, playing the audience for all their worth until they can’t help but lay down like playful puppies and have their tummies rubbed. He adlibs like a frustrated comic and points his all knowing fingers of frustration in the direction of politicians and pseudo-political popsters alike - showing particular menace for the man with the dog biscuit name.
It was all good fun, with even the infamous Bez making a brief yet memorable mad rap appearance, but more than this, it was also an example of musical, vocal and lyrical excellence from one of the truly talented songsters on the block. A real ticket to what we needed.