Leon Rosselson - Philharmonic Music Room, Liverpool, 14/9/2016
by Steve Kinrade
published: 8 / 11 / 2016
intro
Steve Kinrade watches 82 year old folk singer Leon Rosselson play a completely irresistible set at the Philharmonic Music Room in Liverpool
Leon Rosselson has a rich history - as is the want of his 82 years - of songwriting, children's authorship, interweaved with so-called socialist radical politics, and it is with eager enthusiasm the audience anticipated his two-part set, split with support act Esme Bridie, who served as an interesting counterpoint to Rosselson's artistic manifesto. Ms Bridie offered to the night's appreciative audience songs of subtle and lyrical beauty dealing with sadness, loss and the general complexity of relationships, such as 'Big Brown Boots' and the sublime 'What You Had Yesterday'. She possessed an intriguing stillness on stage which belies her youth but signifies an inner steel of confidence that will serve her well in the future. Leon Rosseleson played tonight a set that embraced the zeitgeist - addressing political and feminist issues he has been grappling with all his long creative life, but that are just as pertinent today as when they were first written. 'Palaces of Gold' themes the obvious hypocrisy of class and privilege. The line "invisible fingers will mould Palaces of Gold" was a telling reminder that power and self- interest always loads the dice in the Establishment's favour; 'Don't Get Married Girls' is a funny, acerbic and many times very accurate commentary - depending on your viewpoint - of the social construct of this hallowed institution. 'Talking Democracy Blues' is a brilliant post Brexit commentary, with not so much as a side-swipe but a full on forearm smash to Blair's political legacy. 'Where Are The Barricades' pretty much sums up these austerity years. Rosselson's call to arms is completely irresistible. This was an evening of intelligent music that spoke to the Philharmonic assembly intuitively and made the assembly consider the political and emotional worlds we all now inhabit. As the Maestro quipped, this was a night of the old and the new. But it was also a welcome reminder that wise observations borne out of experience should always be heeded. And needed.
Also at Philharmonic Music Room, Liverpool
Band Links:-
http://www.leonrosselson.co.uk/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Rosselson
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Allan Clarke - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Madeline Bell - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Feedback File - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesBill Wyman - Drive My Car
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Philip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Deep Purple - =1
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Jules Winchester - The Journey
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Popstar - Obscene
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart