Half Man Half Biscuit
Church Walk
Stowmarket IP14 1ET
Half Man Half Biscuit
+ Birds of Hell (support)
“I’ve said it before, a national treasure, there’s no question about it. When I die, I want them to be buried with me.” – John Peel
One of the UK’s most loved bands, Half Man Half Biscuit emerged out of Birkenhead in 1985 with a riotous blend of the Fall-ish post punk and the sort of comical, satirical sense of humour often lacking in the serious 1980s. They debuted with ‘Back in the DHSS’ which topped the indie chart at the time as did subsequent singles ‘Dickie Davis Eyes’ and ‘The Trumpton Riots’ the band’s obscurist referencing of minor celebs coupled with it’s Josef K scratchy guitars and no-fi production made them instantly popular. However the band quickly split up only to reform in 1990 with the excellent ‘McIntyre, Treadmore And Davitt’ which dialled down slightly the absurdist delivery but started to show a hitherto rarely seen musicality. This was topped though by the superb ‘This Leaden Pall’ in 1993, a bleak often depressing work it perfectly soundtracked the dole-age Britain of the early ’90s.
Since then the band have become dependable indie legends releasing albums every two or three years varying in quality but always having something new to say. Singer Nigel Blackwell has become a sort of commentator for the times, holding a mirror up, satirising popular culture always relevant, always viewing the world at a safe distance. The band stay completely removed from the music industry, still releasing records on the same tiny imprint, playing just a handful of shows a year always at venues near enough to Blackwell’s Wirral home that he can get home afterwards to use his own toilet.
Now a great British institution with fans ranging from Robbie Williams to David Lloyd to Julie Burchill some say that Blackwell should be poet laurerate. He’s certainly one of our greatest lyricists – their latest album is entitled No-one cares about your creative hub so get your fuckin’ hedge cut and is an snarky and as thrilling as anything they’ve done. Long may they continue.
Birds of Hell (support)
Over 10 years as Birds Of Hell, Pete Murdoch has truly ploughed his own furrow. His genre-hopping as seen him use samples of dead relatives, table tennis rallies, vocoder death drones and a full band that was the love child of The Flaming Lips and Sleaford Mods. His lyrics tell tales of tragic comedy: rural Norfolk sex clubs, Tesco Express smelling of marijuana, his son being bullied and pagan spirit animals. His current solo incarnation combines post disco Casiotone presets with raps about dodgy neighbours, fizzy hummus and the apocalypse.
Doors open 7.30pm
Tickets £20.00 advance / £22.00 on the door
Book online (fee applies) or call our Box Office on 01449 774678 (open 10am to 2pm weekdays).
Licensed bar.