The first of two sold out London shows on the It's the Roaring Forty tour, a set covering Billy's back catalog from his first offering in 1983 to the present day. The crowd also spans generations, eager to buy reasonably priced designer tea towels and touring tops, with no £40 sweat shop shirts in sight.
The audience welcomes Billy to the stage, Jim Dyson teleporting over his shoulder and resplendent in his “Shakket,” in which Billy seemed proud to be à la mode, if only by accident. For anyone over 30, it's a shirt/jacket hybrid that does both or neither, depending on your perspective. Oddly he stands in the centre, which must seem strange to someone who has spent his entire career on the left. The opening set is the wonderful 'The Wolf covers its tracks', quickly followed by a track from the 'Between the Wars' EP 'The world turn upside down'. A little pop with early 90s single 'Sexuality' is then introduced and, following through, Billy has re-written some new lines: “Just because you're 'them', I won't stop you,” he said. he adds, “if you stick around, I'm sure we can find the right pronoun.” No song should rest on its laurels as Billy reflects the shift in mindset over the past 30 years, broadening the spectrum of participation.
A few tracks in and Billy introduces “King Tide” where he shares his concerns about the planet and the harsh reality that global warming is on our doorstep, not some faraway tropical island. The song itself is strong and clear, with no ambiguity about the emotion. “Levi Stubb's Tears” is a highlight, a cautionary tale of young love turned sour and abusive, the female lead seeking solace from Tamla Motown tapes. Billy jumps backwards and forwards in time, moving between country, folk, pop and soul.
One of the most recent songs Billy wrote is “Rich Men Earning North of a Million”. Billy had the “ghost of Woody Guthrie” whispering in his ear after listening to “Rich Men North of Richmond” by American singer Oliver Anthony, where the writer sings about life's challenges about the often forgotten and problems faced by ordinary people people, blaming the elites, but offers no solution. The original song became a banner for the US right wing with the lyrics seemingly pointing the finger at the obese for guilt. “Lord, we have people on the street, we have nothing to eat, and the fat are milking prosperity.” “Well, my God, if you're 5 feet 300 pounds, taxes shouldn't be paying for your bags of fudge.” Billy wrote his response within an hour and within the next two hours posted it on YouTube. He sings, “They want to tear us apart, 'cause together we're strong, Will you take action now that you've sung your damn song? If you don't like the rich man being in total control, you better get the union rolling. Join a union, fight for better pay, Join a union, organize today.” Away for creative and fun than a Twitter argument.
A recent addition to the setlist is 'St. Swithin's Day', a truly superb rendition of slide guitar and keyboards from the more than capable accompaniment of CJ Hillman and JJ Stoney. Billy's vocals have matured and matured with age, I doubt anyone has ever suggested he has the voice of an angel, but his vocals still evoke a passion, emotion and authenticity that is increasingly rare in a world of manufactured pop.
To the majority of the British public, Billy is the poster-singing protest boy, challenging those in power to protect the voiceless and a spokesperson for the voiceless, but he is much more than that, his songs love are sensitive, sensitive and heartfelt. “I will be your Shield”, from the 2021 album “The Million Things That Never Happened” is one such example. It is shocking, moving and beautifully arranged.
The set closes with a return to protest and politics with a cover of Woody Guthrie's “All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose,” Suella Braverman getting a notable mention, and the rousing “There is Power in a Union,” though not sure how this song can ever be sung any other way. The “Workers Playtime” track, “Waiting for the Great Leap Forward” concludes the set as the band exits the stage.
For the encore, Billy plays the entire 1983 release, all 15 minutes and 57 seconds of it. “Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy”, essentially a debut EP masquerading as an album. I can still remember buying it as a teenager, with a sticker stating that the record must “cost no more than £2.99”. A bargain, even in the early 80s. The crowd sings much of 'The Milkman of Human Kindness' while 'A New England' gets a huge ovation when Billy announces that he will be singing the words he wrote for the cover of the sadly departed Kirstie McCall. With the final chords of NME's 440th best album of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time ringing in our ears, a final farewell before the exit.
Billy is a true London icon, in the same tradition of The Kinks, Ian Dury and Squeeze, he has the water of the Thames running through his veins. Just days away from his 66th birthday, Billy is collecting his pension, but he certainly has no intention of slowing down and is as relevant now as he was in his Red Wedge days, maybe even more so. His songs will always have something to say and we'd all be fools not to listen..
