The Speed of Life
It seems like I had been looking forward to being entertained by Richard Jobson, punk frontman, actor, author, model, presenter, raconteur and the multi-talented Martin Metcalfe writer, musician, composer, artist for aeons when the day finally came around. With those two involved it was sure to be an interesting and intriguing evening’s entertainment.
We were glad to finally take our seats having endured the typical Scottish summertime in getting to The Admiral. Sun splitting the sky, interspersed with monsoon like rain. In typical fashion the sunny bits were just before leaving the house and while waiting in the station/on then train. This meant arriving at the venue resembling drowned rats just as Mr Jobson and Mr Metcalfe were taking to the stage.
What followed was an engaging evening soon allowing us to forget the weather outside and be drawn in by the warmth of the welcome and the variety of entertainment on offer.
Mini Tour
Richard and Martin were on the third date of a 6-date mini tour. They had already visited Forfar and Dunfermline promoting Jobson’s book The Speed of Life.
Bowie
Without reading a word, Bowie fans will realise who influenced the book. A cover that pays homage to Low, and the title taking its name from the same albums lead track. Look closely at the book cover and you’ll see a pair of aliens. One has green eyes and the other blue. Another nod to then great man.
The performance is a mix of spoken word, Q&A and music and if you can attend any of the remaining dates I would highly recommend it as being worth every penny as I was enthralled from start to finish.
Green and Blue
We were treated to four excerpts from the novel following the time travelling aliens, Green and Blue, visiting four different stages of Bowie’s career, Ziggy at the Hammersmith, Young Americans/Station to Station era and so on. Jobson catches the imagery of those times perfectly with his love and admiration for Bowie shining through. Not to forget the touching and heartfelt tale of Green and Blue as they experience the vagaries of life on earth. I’ll not give any of the story away but suffice to say the readings were enough to whet my already inquisitive appetite and left me ready to devour the book.
For anyone expecting this to be merely a book reading though, think again.
Exquisite Soundtrack
Each reading was sound-tracked by Martin Metcalfe playing some exquisite and delicate soundscapes providing a perfect atmospheric backdrop. (A CD, Music for The Speed of Life, is also available and is a glorious science fiction-esque ambient/electronic emotive soundtrack for the book) In addition, the readings were interspersed with Martin playing a variety of Bowie classics on acoustic guitar.
One highlight was his acoustic interpretation of the Brel classic Amsterdam. Having been introduced to Brel’s music via Bowie, Metcalfe and his band Goodbye Mr MacKenzie had previously played and recorded their version of this. I was reminded of the time I first saw them play it live. It was at a Christmas show in The Pavilion Theatre in December 1987, when they played alongside Love and Money, Wyoming and The Merry Mac Fun Co. I remember sitting open jawed at their version of as it built to a crashing crescendo. Tonight’s version was slightly less dramatic but no less impressive for that.
As well as the music in this part of the evening, Richard was asked about his inspirations for the book and being the great orator he is, he spoke at length and revealed how he was introduced to science fiction (real science fiction – not as described by Jobson, the Cowboys and Indians in space of Star Wars), some touching stories like his childhood feelings of alienation and struggles with epilepsy to the downright hilarious, stories of witnessing The Sensational Alex Harvey Band for the first time…I won’t reveal more. Go and see the show.
The Skids
Other than the book reading and Bowie themed music, Jobson was also asked about his time with The Skids and posts Skids. Some more touching and revealing tales including stories involving Stuart Adamson, and John McGeough, as well as more tales of humour. One particular story raising more than a few laughs. It involved one Steve Jones, Top of the Pops, Pan’s People, a party and… Well, Mr Jobson is far better at telling it than me… as I say, go listen to him.
Talking of interactions and meeting with other big names, other names involved in some of his entertaining tales included a squeaky Steven Seagal and a confused Clint Eastwood, after having been approached by a Hare Krishna monk and a young Scottish “punk”. A masterful storyteller.
Into the Valley
More music supported this part of the show, with Metcalfe and Jobson playing some acoustic Skids songs. Finishing with Into the Valley they visited the new Skids album along the way. Playing Kings of the New World Order, one of the Metcalfe co-writes for Burning Cities. The album was a great success, as Jobson recounts, reaching number 2 in the charts. Only being held off the number one spot by that heavyweight of the modern music scene, Leo Sayer. Oh, and there were rumblings about possible acoustic Skids gigs…watch this space. The evening was relaxed and absorbing. Richard and Martin hung around for a while afterwards for book signing, photo opportunities and generally chatting to fans.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening, as I say, well worth a few of your hard-earned pounds. You still have time to catch one of these shows with the following dates coming up in the next few weeks.
Remaining Dates
LONDON WATER RATS 20th. SEPTEMBER 2018: GET TICKETS
BRIGHTON LATEST MUSIC BAR. 21st SEPTEMBER 2018: GET TICKETS
CORBY THE WHITE HART 22nd. SEPTEMBER 2018 : GET TICKETS
The Ginger Quiff comes up trumps (mmm) again, with an xlnt review of a show I would have definitely attended, if I had been in Glasgow, at the time. Reading it again, it’s almost as if I was there, after all. Thanks GQ!