FOR reasons of rock theatrics, Phil set last night's show on a New
York roofscape. You know the deal: rusty heating ducts, blue smoke,
grimy brickwork, overflowing trashcans, skeletal gantries, windblown
sheets of newspaper. Phil emerged in a grey mac and trilby, looking
thoughtful. Then he took them off, looking preoccupied. Acting in full
the part of a preoccupied man who has just removed his mac and trilby in
a thoughtful manner on a New York roofscape.
Then Phil fell into a four-minute drum-duel with his drummer before
singing a song while strolling about, still looking preoccupied,
occasionally kicking sheets of newspaper in a forceful yet absent-minded
manner. Rock theatrics, you see.
Later, Phil from time to time employed an energetic Groucho Marx
running half-crouch. And several bits where he was like an ordinary
geezer down the pub at Sunday-lunchtime karaoke. Throughout, as
bloke-ish Phil unfurled his patchwork quilt of vaguely anthemic songs
with familiar lyrics and even more familiar tunes, he was plainly the
still small voice of everyday suburban suffering: blocked drains, broken
marriages, boffed babysitters.
Phil obviously likes music because he'd brought a proper horn section
with him when they'd be cheaper to sample. He's a good arranger, having
done a fine job with the Mindbenders' Groovy Kind of Love. Easy Lover
was a streamlined pop-funk swinger. Unfortunately, In The Air Tonight
was burdened with extra drums.
Meanwhile, if you see Phil kicking one crumpled bit of newspaper about
the stage extra hard at tonight's second sell-out show, it will be this
page. It will also be a rare bit of joyous unpredictability. Savour it.
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