Billy Bragg:
Record Mirror Miscellanea

I'm sure if Billy wasn't so ugly he'd love to be in a group like Wet Wet Wet. Given the choice of being mobbed by busloads of knicker-waving nubiles or Neil Kinnock, I know which I'd prefer ... nothing personal Neil!
The Bard of Barking has been grinding his political axe so long now it's becoming blunt. 'Workers Playtime' is another collection of the thoughts of Chairman Bill, with nary a mention of acieed! You've got to admire him though. I mean, if I had a voice that sounded like Arthur Mullard with a cold and tight trousers I wouldn't dare become a singer.
There's no doubt his heart's in the right place and many of his sentiments admirable, but with such sparse backing on which to hang his nasal whinings the message loses its appeal. Even his occasional love song ('Valentine's Day Is Over') is a sordid, unromantic affair.
The years have perfected his songwriting and the harsh guitar has been replaced by a fuller, more polished sound, but where the voice once complemented it now grates.

Billy Bragg may be a folk guitarist, but his appearance at the all-day hootenay at Le Palais is something of a diversion as a stream of wigglin' and skifflin' bands provide a live backdrop for bearded and pullovered computer operators and librarians to jig and 'take their partners' in a drunken party atmosphere.
Almost apologetically, Bragg takes the stage and proceeds to play some of his more up-strummed songs in a tongue-in-cheek attempt to keep the pace going.
"I've been offered a lot of money to play this by the Lybians," he coyly announces before launching into 'Union Miner', an unashamed plea for working class solidarnosc.
Halfway through 'Milkman Of Human Kindness' the audience becomes spellbound, which is pretty good going considering the lad has only a guitar for ammunition.
Of course, Bragg's lyrical ability and his unfettered commitment are the deciding factors, providing a one-dimensional live show which on a good night, like tonight, can be all-consuming.
The whole day is, in fact, a benefit for the Bristol Cancer Center, a fact highlighted by Billy's inclusion of new songs 'Tank Park Salute', a heart-warming letter of compassion for his late father who died from lung cancer. This song, with Bragg's face fraught on pure emotion, raws warm applause.
Bragg is then joined on stage by his mate Wiggy (the giggy) and the two exchange some fierce guitar sparring, giving way to a protracted speech on Nicaragua from Billy and a final acappella version of the socialist anthem 'Internationale', leaving the crowd with food for though and a chance to get down to some serious wigglin' again.