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Billy Bragg...

I saw him early on at the time of Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy (which I have on vinyl). Really good, but he’s one of those artists who to my mind arrived perfectly formed and I never felt I needed to stay with as that debut and how he was live at the time was for me his peak.
 
Give it a go and catch him live. I've seen him in the UK and abroad. I used to rent a flat of his some decades ago, although his manager/mate dealt with that.

Bragg is a talented musician, lyricist and Remainer.

Jack
 
Been following him since the red wedge tour, must have seen him a dozen times or more over the years. Have tickets for the 'first three albums' night at the Leadmill later this year.
 
The band I was in back then supported Billy on tour a few times, during the Red Wedge era. We even did a compilation album & he was another of the acts that had a track on it. A lovely bloke to chat with.
His newer material has matured & mellowed a bit, but his message still comes across. The Mr Love & Justice album is very good indeed.
 
Very aware of Billy Bragg.
I always felt he was preaching to the converted.
I never purchased any of his stuff, I didn't feel the need to wear his music like a political statement.
Too 'right on,' and a bit 'heard one song, heard them all,' for me.
I was getting into the Dead Kennedys and a harder sound at the time, Billy Bragg seemed to suit the 'posh leftie' kids along with Springsteen at the time. With me coming from a very working-class Labour background, Bragg was playing for a different crowd to mine
 
Billy Bragg worked tirelessly in support of the miners, nothing to do with being 'right on'. Workers Playground is a brilliant album @Mr Cat , try Talking with the Taxman About Poetry. More recently Shine a Light with Joe Henry is my favourite...
 
I can see that he’s not everyone’s cuppa tea, but in my experience he has always been genuine about his beliefs & morals. There may well be a preaching to the converted element to his gigs but then you could say that about any live show, ie the audience are already fans of the artist.
A few years ago, I was involved in a lengthy strike, & he came to one of our union meetings & played a set in support of us. No airs & graces, just an honest show of support. There were certainly other artists that were involved with the red wedge movement who were far more in it for their own promotion. Speak as you find, etc.
 
manicatel said:
I can see that he’s not everyone’s cuppa tea, but in my experience he has always been genuine about his beliefs & morals. There may well be a preaching to the converted element to his gigs but then you could say that about any live show, ie the audience are already fans of the artist.
A few years ago, I was involved in a lengthy strike, & he came to one of our union meetings & played a set in support of us. No airs & graces, just an honest show of support. There were certainly other artists that were involved with the red wedge movement who were far more in it for their own promotion. Speak as you find, etc.
Click to expand...

I agree that he is genuine and tells it as he sees it.
I agree with most of his politics.

You just can't dance to Billy Bragg.
 
The Bard of Barking is a gifted songwriter, socialist, and can sing reasonably well.
 
As I‘ve been playing some of it to various assorted pfm folk tonight I’d like to recommend some suitably leftist equivalency from the rather charming pre-Stereolab band McCarthy, e.g. this:


The definitive office-block earworm.


...and the best song ever written about “working” on the dole.

PS Their first album ‘I Am A Wallet’ is superb.
 
...just stuck the Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy 45rpm mini-LP on; bloody hell, it sounds good via the medium of giant Tannoys!
 
I love McCarthy, got some of their early stuff on cassette, and got 'That's all very well but..' on cd some years back :)
 
I loved his EP from about 18 months ago. Some excellent guitar tunes and lyrics, the last song 'full english brexit' is particularly poignant.

 
Big fan here too.....as evidenced by the 28 entries he has in my discogs collection (equalled only by the Beatles, also on 28).

See him at least once a year in concert. Always excellent, always different set to the last gig, always has fun and exudes positivity whilst remaining overtly political. Very refreshing in this day and age where anyone vaguely concerned for the wellbeing of British society as a whole can very easily feel defeated and pessimistic.
 
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