Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds - Are just magic in Bath!

****1/2 

A special night with one of England's best comics! and it's not comedic!

Adrian Edmondson is probably best known before now for his comedy connections, most notably appearing in the 'Young Ones' and 'Bottom' and being married to Jenifer Saunders. The vintage of the shows was probably reflected in it being a slightly older audience than normal for music at the Bath, Komedia. But despite this being a comedy club, tonight was all about the music, in the run up to the Monty Python announcement perhaps it was fitting he arrived in a checked lumberjack shirt. For those not familiar with this band, they do not play comedy songs, but Punk songs in a Folk style. 

The band entered the stage and after a quip about being fined £90 for street drinking it was into the business of the day. It opened like a session at Folk club with mandolin, pipes and fiddle all combining for the classic sound, after a few minutes of what sounded like a jam it morphed into a stripped back version of ‘Anarchy in the UK’, yes the one by the Sex Pistols and it works. The vocals are all very quiet and not a smashed guitar or piercing in sight. From the very first song you could forget about Adrian’s past, this is what he does now and he is very good at it. 

Despite saying comedy is not at the fore today Adrian’s, the self-appointed Harry Styles of the band, sharp wit is very much in evidence still being f**king knackered after one song” and jokingly lamenting that you “Can’t do Rolf songs anymore”. We were treated to ‘No more Heroes’ and ‘Going Underground’ sounded like a traditional English song, but I think that is what comes across these are traditional English songs. We are used to them being a lot louder but when stripped back you realise the song writing that is prevalent in Punk, having a story telling quality more noticeable in Folk music. 

The classics just kept coming with ‘Our House’ by Madness, ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’ by the Adverts and ‘Friday Night’ by the Specials being a few more notable inclusions. ‘Blitzkreig Bop’ and ‘London Calling’ led into a composition of their own ‘Mud, Blood and Beers ’giving their take on their tour of the festival scene. The set closed with ‘Once in a Lifetime’ before the obligatory encore included a very interesting version of ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ which is a new on to their set. The “chap off the telly” said he had really enjoyed the night, and do you know what, so did I.

Listen! to their cover of The Clash's 'London Calling' Below...