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Henry Priestman

Venue: The Biddulph Arms
Town: Biddulph
Date: 19/02/14
Website: http://www.henrypriestman.com

It's inevitable that Henry Priestman will be forever association with one time chart topping idols from the eighties, The Christians, but there's so much more than meets the eye to the unassuming and self-depreciating Yorkshireman who continues to plough a furrow as he approaches the twilight of his lengthy career. He'd received a corker of a review from FATEA for his latest release, the marvellously titled 'The Last Mad Surge Of Youth' - and one which sits proudly next to a quote from the slightly more famous Bob Harris on his website's homepage. We take pride in the fact that it was was also one of the first reviews to appear, and where FATEA lead, others follow, setting a precedent for the likes of Uncut and Q to follow suit with similarly positive praise for a terrific album, and such that it simply had to be that we'd follow up and catch his live performance.

In the cosy upstairs room at the Biddulph Arms in which the locals have heard and encouraged live music for many a year, both here and in other community venues, it was very much to Mr Priestman's tastes - having played previously at the town hall, this was much more his scene - friendly and relaxed and as he said himself, "just like playing in my front room." Complete with curtained windows and neutral canvases decorating the walls, he was pretty spot on.

Decked out in his 'Lennon' hat and accompanied only by the sparkly shirted and perma-cheery Les Glover on guitar and ukulele (also referred to by Henry as 'Loved up Les' after his appearance looking suitably, erm, loved up in the video for 'Valentine Song'), it was most interesting to hear the more stripped down versions of the songs from the new album without their subtly enhanced instrumentation. A good chunk of the new album naturally got an airing, even encouraging some singalong opportunities (which is naturally what folk clubs do) showing that even though the album was actually just in its first week of release, there were those familiar enough to give it up for the likes of his drinking song, 'A Pint Of Bitter And Twisted' and those other songs to which many of an age can relate; those with teenage children and the parents who 'lose' their offspring to university along with the rose tinted self image of 'In My Head' and the album's apt title track. It was possibly 'At The End Of The Day' which opened the second half - a song which has particular meaning with reference to personal loss, and one to which everyone can likely relate - which was the highlight of the evening, for once the joking and irreverence taking time out for a sad yet warm and affectionate take on visions of mortality.

The growing old and the passing of time, viewed with humour and realism is generally the order of the day with the solo Priestman material. Tapping his 'Chronicles Of Modern Life' album for 'Old' and the peer pressured rant of 'No To The Logo' amongst others showed his sharpness for observation and commentary on the mundane and obvious hasn't been dulled.

Of course there were nods to the past, and despite the admittance that he didn't quite possess the silky velvet tones of Garry Christian, a trio of easily recognisable numbers from those heady days made an appearance - 'Born Again' possibly the pick with the Priestman/Glover twin guitar attack (!) being particularly effective. And for those who go back even further with Henry to the skinny tie days of 1977 (with a modern folk style), including one uber-fan being present on the night, there were nods to his early band, Yachts with the first song he ever wrote, even breaking into something from his It's Immaterial days to round off a full career retrospective.

Earlier on, local duo Wilcox: Hulse had thoroughly entertained with a short but striking set of songs. Emerging from the ashes of the Queensbury Rules trio and playing only their fourth gig (and indeed second in Biddulph), they combined traditional folk values and topics ('Cooper's Lad' and 'Year of 42') with some more contemporary and local themes - heck, even including a protest song in their set, one set against the background of the local HS2 line running through the area. Joining Henry and Les for a final encore, demanded of course by the ever so slightly obligatory standing ovation, it was almost like a tongue in cheek rock show with improvised solo slots and band introductions.

Despite the modest claims of "We don't like getting too good!", and the fact that he may even be approaching the twilight of a career and lifetime of which he sings so eloquently about, there' s no substitute for experience. The new material has seen a real critical upturn for Henry Priestman with him producing some of the strongest and best received music of his career. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Mike Ainscoe