Burnley: The Talbot: 24-11-11.
Why, shiver me timbers, stap me vitals, & roger me senseless with the thick end of a rag mans trumpet!!!! Honest John Plain? Honest John Plain, playing the only Uk show of his tour? In bloody Burnley? What the devil is going on? I mean no disrespect to the good people of Burnley but a thriving metropolis with a large catchment area, it ain't!
However, it was a mere stones throw over the Pennines for the breadknife & me to witness a man who's written, co-written & performed on more power-pop classics than you could wave a shitty stick at!
Ably assisted by Mr Steve Fielding on bass & vocals, Honest John treated us to an array of classics from his vast repertoire. Brickfield nights & First time from the Boys, material from the Crybabys, (where have all the good girls gone) even Howitt road from the Amigos, as well as a smattering of old 60s standards, all stripped down & played acoustically, makes you realise just how bloody good these songs are. (Aaah bliss).
Hell, we were even treated to his amalgamation with the Lurkers, New Guitar in Town, Flamin Nora! it's a few years since I've heard that little beauty. In fact in hindsight, that was quite a good album. I'm gonna have to try to dig that one out of the vaults & give it a spin.
The Quality moment of the night was when our John taunted the Burnley faithful with their recent defeat to the mighty whites. To do that in a town like this, bloody hell, the guy must have balls of iron.
All in all, 'twas a thorougly entertaining evening. A real appetiser before we see 'the Boys' in London in the New year.
A lovely way to spend the breadknifes birthday.
Mr honest John Plain; we thank you.
Chin chin.
