Jim Bob / Chris T-T

We get a quite a sombre set from Chris T-T tonight, but the odd comic statement is there like "I am your merch boy and support act!". He is trying not to take the piss out of old mate Jim Bob, as he keeps doing it first and then wondering why JB gets on at him during his set!

Chris stands up for many a thing, and as this is a solo show with no backing instruments, just the man and the guitar we get to hear some of the hard hitting lyrics he writes such as those to 'Ankles' about domestic abuse ("Yes / I broke her ankles"). 'Old Men' about life going on is a good start to the set, showing Chris' way with words.



'Seven Hearts' is a cute sounding song with the "Mwa Mwa" sounds that are quite comical but not I'm sure entirely meant to be. 'Market Square' features the words from a poem by another double lettered poet A.A. Milne ("You might have heard of Pooh!").

A couple talking at the bar have already ruined most of the set as everything else is quiet, but ever the gentlemen Chris T-T says nothing (I nearly did). He does have a moan about someone's phone going off, then realises it is his own!

The a capella (well maybe not, but non-instrumental) song 'The M1 Song' is very stirring with it's look at how the trees must have felt prior to making way for the motorway, and there's a new song in the way of 'In The Halfway House (I Don't Sleep Around)' with it's repeated chorus, and the biggest cheer is for the funny but true 'The Huntsmen Come A-Marching' about the Hunting Coalition. Finishing on 'English Earth' this is a great set from Chris; and the only show he is performing on (although travelling with the five date tour).

Now Chris is on this tour as he has contributed piano and vocals on Jim Bob's new solo album 'Goffam'. The album has a little bit of concept about it as the story of a town that has been deserted by its superheroes. On stage with just his guitar, harmonica and TV with a big red star around it (Kapow!) showing Jim and fellow superheroes this is to be a good show.



New tracks 'The Man Behind the Counter of the Science Fiction Superstore' is worth a listen (about a quiet superhero in waiting) and 'Teenage Body Count' is a sobering view on knife crime. 'One Small Step For Man' (with added whistling!) urges us to go and do something worthwhile, like "Buy some wool and knit your Gran a cardigan instead', and 'Our Hero' is all about fear in the communities today. Hard hitting and dark stuff spoken how only Jim Bob can.

Looking "Like a maths teacher' with suit and glasses, someone shouts out "What's with the glasses?" Jim Bob replies "Erm, so I can see!" having finally had enough of not being able to see clearly. He promises to come back with a good math's teacher joke later on, but is too busy performing tracks from his huge back catalogue…

It's not all new songs from the Carter USM member. There are plenty of changes to the set list as Jim Bob seems to fit in more classics for the brash crowd. Allowing room for his own tracks like 'Battling The Bottle', 'Pizza Boy' and 'Touchy Feely' (well, Jim's Super Stereo World, complete with lots of bubbles from the ever present Mr Spoons). The comical 'Mrs F*****g MacMurphy (Teaches Food Technology)' must take some singing (having to spell out all the naughty words from the foul mouthed teacher).

The rest are all Carter USM songs, much to the pleasure of the crowd. Where as Jim Bob still has the knack with witty statements and use of puns it's his older stuff with Les 'Fruitbat' Carter that people still remember fondly. Let's hope his solo stuff goes down in history too.

Not only do we get 'Only Living Boy In New Cross', 'Young Offender's Mum' and 'Sheriff Fatman', but 'Johnny Cash' also fittingly has a little bit of David Bowies' 'Heroes' added in. Is there no end to Jim Bob's talents?!



Our Hero
Superhero Midlife Crisis
Battling The Bottle
Glam Rock Cops
Anytime, Anywhere
Mrs F*****g MacMurphy (Teaches Food Technology)
The Man Behind the Counter of the Science Fiction Superstore
Only Living Boy In New Cross
Pizza Boy
Young Offenders Mum
Teenage Body Count
One Small Step
Tattoos
Goffam
Prince In A Paupers Grave
Not Far From Here
Impossible Dream

Johnny Cash
Sheriff Fatman
Touchy Feely

FUTURE GIGS