Gig review: Bellowhead, Shepherd’s Bush Empire. 20/11/10
Currently on ‘The Hedonism Tour’ across the UK to promote their third album, tonight Bellowhead are playing their only London date at a sold out Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Due to an earlier detour to catch a few bands (The Chasms: loud, Spiderlegs: very good, Hazel Winter: Pam Ayres meets John Cooper-Clarke) at Notting Hill Arts Club we get to the Empire a little later than planned and arrive to find Matthew and the Atlas on stage. I don’t know a lot about these guys but I saw them perform four songs tonight, two of which sounded ok but two of which sounded remarkably dull for a folk band. The thing that really stood out was how seriously they seemed to take themselves, especially the po-faced singer who didn’t seem to be enjoying himself at all.
A short break and a quick trip to the bar later and it’s time for the main event. As Bellowhead take to the stage they’re greeted with rapturous applause from a very mixed crowd. For most gigs I go to the majority of the audience is made up from 18-25 year olds, and while that demographic is well represented tonight, it’s the 30 somethings and up that make up the majority of the crowd.
Bellowhead are probably the country’s most successful English folk rock band and though the band are a collective who all play their part, it’s quickly clear that at the centre of their appeal is singer and fiddle player John Boden. Boden is a born entertainer and has a presence that makes him a natural frontman for the band. Watching him on stage, as well as playing and singing, he seems to have another role; conductor. With a staggering 11 members it’s quite stunning how tight they are, and it’s Boden’s subtle directions; a nod here, a hand signal there, that keep it all together. In fact I would imagine the whole show, from the lighting right down to the angles the fiddles are held, is meticulously choreographed.
As they play through the album I become aware that I have a stupid grin plastered all over my face and as I look around the audience I’m pleased to find I’m not alone! Not only that but during a lively rendition of ‘New York Girls’ I even find myself clapping along, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I never do that! ‘Hedonism’ is a stunning collection of songs and as the disco ball spins above our heads scattering light in every direction, every one of them gets the audience, including those on the balcony, bouncing up down and singing along. After an incredibly quick hour or so that included a fantastic cover of Jacques Brel’s ‘Amsterdam’, the band bid farewell and leave the stage. Fortunately the crowd’s cheering, clapping and foot stomping guarantee a speedy return and for their encore the band launch into a long time crowd favourite ‘London Town’. They leave/return once more for a storming Frogs Legs & Dragon’s Teeth and the show comes to an end. As the lights come up and the doors open, 2000 extremely happy people leave the Empire, united in the feeling they’ve been part of one of the best gigs Shepherd’s Bush has seen in a very long time. It’s been a truly magnificent night and I can honestly say the most fun I’ve had a at gig in a long time, ‘The Hedonism Tour’ could not have been a more apt title!
Mark Cousens
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