Luke Haines - Boardwalk, Sheffield, 7/11/2006

  by Denzil Watson

published: 22 / 11 / 2006

intro

Luke Haines has never chosen easy targets on which to base his song writing. Denzil Watson finds that the former Auteurs and Black Box Recorder star on typically abrasive form in an empassioned performance at the Boardwalk in Sheffield

Luke Haines has never chosen 'easy' targets on which to base his song writing. "Gary Glitter, he's a bad bad man, ruining the reputation of the Glitter Band" hisses the lone and besuited Haines as he performs a fine acoustic version of 'Bad Reputation' on a rather sparse looking Boardwalk stage. A venue,ironically, where the Glitter Band used to practice. Tonight we get songs about German terrorist groups, Oswald Mosley and other such 'difficult' subject areas. One of the telling factors that makes Luke Haines such a national treasure and a refreshing change from a long line of Brit pop bands that have refused to view dear old Blighty through anything other than rose-tinted spectacles. Haines is having none of it though. This and his steadfast refusal to dumb down his art must go some way to explain why his work is so criminally underrated: tonight barely a sixth of the Boardwalk's 400 capacity is utilised. But the sparse turnout doesn't phase Haines. If anything he's relaxed and in playful mood as he cuts a witty line in black humour with his between song banter. While touring solo with just an acoustic as accompaniment to promote his recently released LP, 'Off My Rocker at the Art school Bop', may seem a curious move, since when has Mr Haines done what's expected of him ? Stripped down to the bare bones, it's a real litmus test of the strength of the songs. A test they pass with flying colours as the fifty minute set unfolds, covering not only his solo and Auteurs material but his Black Box Recorder back catalogue too. From the aforementioned new album we get the title track and anthemic set opener 'Leeds United'. Unsurprisingly it's the Auteurs songs that offer the evening's lighter relief in the shape of 'New French Girlfriend' and 'Show Girl' while 'The Mitford Sisters' stands up quite nicely despite being shorn of its lush string arrangements. It's the darker moments, though, where Luke is really in his element, whether dissecting the underbelly of not-so-great British society or dealing with other 'taboo' subjects. Disco-art-terrorism never sounded so good in the shape of 'Baader Meinhof' while sculptor/artist Sarah Lucas is despatched with the lyrical bile of 'The Death of Sarah Lucas'. Predictably for a man with such a prolific back catalogue of songs to pillage, we're left wanting more.Hilariously, the shout of "Wanker" from the crowd tempts him briefly back on to stage for an encore of 'Future Generation'. And there we have it ladies and gentlemen. An evening in the presence of the song writing genius of Luke Haines. He may not be big, but he's very very clever...

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