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Reviews - Independent, objective reviews on Performances & Publications

Review of Ant Smith & Bertram Trotar's -

The Fools Of Love

 Edinburgh Fringe Preview

Rrrants Extraordinary Event

25th July 2010

The Camden Eye

Review By Beth Dawes

 Last Sunday (25th July 2010) was a hot and sultry night in trendy Camden. I use words like ‘trendy’ because I’m getting on a bit now and I experience a kind of awkward awe around vibrant young things wearing nose rings and clothes that look like they’ve been through a blender. However, in the packed, and steaming, upstairs room of the Camden Eye I felt right at home amongst a bunch of glorious eccentrics occupying various points on the chronological age spectrum, and all wholly and deliberately indifferent to the conventions of age. There were awkward young geeks giving vent to insights beyond their years, and old geezers waxing lyrical, satirical and sometimes outright profane about lurve, York and their mammies.

 
 Though the event was mainly to preview Ant Smith’s Edinburgh act, the plethora of supporting poets were wonderful - shocking, refreshing, touching and hilarious. The assortment of acts included a guy with two hats (Alan Wolfson), a former extra on Byker Grove (Tony Hickson) who held a peculiar grudge against York, a guy (Ernesto Sarzale) spouting forth on invisible lesbians and what to do when you find a belly button in your bed (delivered in what can only be described as the only appropriate state of dress for the weather), and Alvin Colvin whose mammy had something against breastfeeding. My personal highlight was Sophie Cameron. If Tracy Emin wrote poetry…well, she’d be a lot more pretentious than this straight forward Yorkshire lass. In my personal view the frank, sometimes poignant and often truculent relationship a woman has with her own undercarriage just hasn’t been eulogised enough in literature. Sophie remedies this in the only accent that can do justice to such a life-long and earthy relationship.

 But the main act was Ant Smith and his partner Bertram Trotter, doing their Edinburgh preview (The Fools of Love). I’m one of Ant’s groupies so have seen him a few times now, but for those who don’t know his particular personal style it’s rather like being savaged by a rampant, naked id. He communicates from the centre of his savage soul and it’s not pretty, but it is inexorably sincere. His ferocity never fails to blow his audience into the corners of the room like autumn leaves. Freud would have a lot to say about it. But bugger Freud.

 
 For his Edinburgh gig he has teamed up with Bertram Trotar. An unusual coupling - the latter’s style is gauche and foppish, a perfect counter-point to Ant’s style. But this coupling turns out to be perfectly suited to a fresh treatment of the theme of love. If you’re hapless in love you’ll love Bertie Trotar. If you’ve just been dumped your raging heart will find solace in Ant’s rants. And if you’re in love and sickening everyone around you then you’ll be pounced on to play the couples game, and thus given the opportunity to either ruin your relationship or inject some much needed reality into your pink cloud.
As it happens I’m going to be seeing this in Edinburgh too – 23^rd and 24^th August (Banshee Labyrinth). I’d wholly recommend it for anyone who’s around then.

You don’t have to be cool for Rrrants poetry, you just have to be ready for anything!

Review of Bard-Aid at the Poetry Cafe, 21^st July

By Danni Antagonist

....Introducing us to a night of poetry and punk rock, Paul Eccentric kicked off the evening but was very quick to usher on the first act, which established a pace and energy for the night which didn’t falter.

First up was “Captain of the Rant” who ditched the microphone for his rapid-fire dressings-down of internet social networking, Estate Agents, and women’s magazines. Similarly irrepressible was Sophie Cameron, billed as the family favourite and, a force of nature as ever with her onslaught of finely executed filth.

Never wasting a word, the charismatic Mat Lloyd’s performance is always confident but never cocky, and his pieces on bank managers and prejudice are simultaneously acerbic and heartfelt.

The seating in the Poetry Cafe does deserve a mention, as by this point I was incredibly uncomfortable on the cheap plastic chairs, which somewhat blighted the evening for me.

Snatching back my attention, Alain English launched into a phenomenal performance of the autobiographical “snakes in my ears”, edging his already dynamic and warmly impassioned style up another notch. His poems are always intricately crafted and flawlessly delivered.

Jammy Sammy’s struggles to strum a clean chord belie her incredible wit and fudge-sweet voice.  She started with her latest offering, “AA Man” which benefits from a more measured pace than some of her more established numbers. She always raises the roof, and tonight ends on the singalong “Weirdo”, which managed to set the place alight.

After Sammy, Paul contributed a (new?) piece on the joys (ahem) of aging, followed by Vinnie Gibbons. Vinnie’s barbed “Sole Trader” is smart and very dark, with his characteristically underplayed wit. And his “Heston Blumanthal” was scathing and hilarious.

Following him was Ant Smith. Now there’s no denying the jet-engine vehemence of his bellowed works, but in a small space with uncomfortable seating it’s a bit too intense for me!

With the bar and the volume well and truly raised, The Antipoet launch into an established set, ending on the deliciously naughty “Tights not Stockings”

The piercing blue eyes of the dashingly dishevelled Ed Tudor-­Pole, fix the audience with a maniacal stare. His bluesy rock style is impressive, but his goading of the audience to dance seemed rather uncomfortable in this stiffly-seated place. Also, both his vocal mic and his guitar seemed to be overdriven, making some fantastic music a bit painful. However, Ed is an incredible player and utterly charming performer, which more than outweighed these problems.

His laments on being called “not a punk” raised the issue of truth and artifice, very suitable for a poetry gig! Tearing up the rule-book, what a great thought to go home on after such a strong night from the Rrrants stable, where there is variety of everything, except for effort and passion. And every performer did themselves proud on both of those fronts. Bravo!

RRRANTS replys:  Agreed re sound but the room is not designed for the full punk experience (Must give that guy a bigger venue!) 

Review of  Philfy Phil's

SEEDY CD.

by Paul Eccentric

Click for Shop

 We've waited a long time for this. Philfy Phil is a living legend and his many fans around the globe have been demanding hard copy of the man's material for years.

 But translating a live act onto any form of stored medium can be a risky operation. A straight live recording; however professionally captured, will usually sound as if it's lacking something and it is: the atmosphere of the event itself. Similarly, hearing what is essentially a live act turned into a slick and overly produced glossy product can be an equally disappointing experience for the artist's original fans.

 Philfy Phil is a live performer. While his lyrics are exceptionally clever and funny, the real genius and charm of his act is in his live performance.

 A collective breath was held at Rrrants when Phil announced the arrival of his debut CD. Would it live up to the sheer hilarity of his shows? Would it work as well without the parody maestro's obligatory corpsing on final approach of a punch line? Would it sound better or worse if his guests had rehearsed their backing lines before performing them?

 What Phil has produced is the perfect compromise of the live v studio debate. This is a studio recording, but he has wisely chosen to eschew the trappings of too much faf'n polish and gone for an accessible, no frills adaptation which instantly evokes the very best of his live shows! Phew. Coulda' gone either way there, but like i said before, the man's a genius.

Review of Jammiesammy

 The George & Dragon, Chesham,

27th of March 2010

by Paul Eccentric

I've lost count of the number of times that I've seen her perform over the past year, from pubs to libraries; festivals to canal boats and I have never known her fail to storm an event. Having studied her act, I'm putting it down to the fact that as she stands up to the mic, tonight with that ostentatious red satin and velvet fifties dress, red hair, pink be stickered guitar and the mischievous grin of a five year old whose just learned her first naughty word, only four of us in this packed venue have any idea what's coming next. Nobody is expecting this sweet little girl to rhyme 'vibrator' with 'chronic masturbator' nor sing them a song about how desperately she needs to pee, and all with the most perfect comic timing and subtlety of delivery.

It's the wry little looks to camera; it's the innocence of that smile despite the fact that she's just said fuck at a children's party; it's the total lack of an ego whist retaining a confident stage charm; it's Sammy, once again trouncing everybody else on the bill with her. See to believe!

Paul Eccentric

Review of 'The Odd Eccentric'

'The Horns - March 2010'

By Jammiesammy

Standing in the crowd watching the band set up their instruments is in itself a sight to behold. 9 members of the band edge around one another on a tiny stage as they set up an electric keyboard, guitars, a trumpet and saxophone stand, the double bass is put to one side and mics are set up for the 2 backing singers and the lead singer (Who has the biggest pair of cymbols i've ever seen).  Needless to say there is little room for manouver.  yet everyone manages to wait their turn politely to do what they need to do to ensure their ready for the nights entertainment.

Now couple this with the fact that some of the band members live in places like Bournemouth, Brighton and Cambridge means that rehersals are far and few between, it makes you realise that what you are about to witness is nothing short of technical genius, and thats before anyones even actually played a song.

The Odd Eccentric.  How would one describe this particular ensemble of musicians.  Its almost like trying to describe colours to a blind person, if you haven't heard any of their music its difficult to explain just how different they sound in comparison to anything else out there. Each song has its own style yet sung and performed in a way that ties the whole set together.  Different and unique yet alluringly familiar.  Monday the 15th of March was the first time I had ever heard any of The Odd Eccentric and instantly I knew I was a fan.  The lyrics are brilliant the melodies are catchy and drive you insane for days afterwards when they wont get out of your head.  Basically if you ever have a chance to get along to one of their gigs.  I would do it without hesitation.  You'll never be the same again. This I promise you.

Sammy

'O Derry Boy'

by Paul Eccentric
 

Rrrants

at The Camden Eye

31st January 2010

Review by Sophie Cameron

Video highlights of this event can be found at

Get Your Ass to Camden Pronto! Sunday 31^st January

What can I say? I hardly have lungs left to breathe or pants that aren’t soiled. I am sending my dry cleaning and health bill to Rrrants for fucking me up. OK I didn’t have to pay for the evening and apart from the fact that it was the best evening’s entertainment in the whole world this is a recession and my briefs were expensive. I could use massive words and poetic smooches to try and re-fashion the night before your very eyes, like a sleazy attempt to wank at a long gone shag marathon, but the end product will undoubtedly be lack lustre.

Live poetry of this quality is a rare and beautiful (notice I didn’t say sexy) beast. The audience poised - mouths open and hearts laid out for treading on, the poets full up with words and aggressive lunges, I cannot express to you the explosion in ones brain when poetry becomes more than just dead verse on the page, but true physical full frontal expression, right from the epicentre of human humanness.

One day I will switch on my telly and see the anti-poet, Ant Smith, Rob Auton, Philfy Phil and the other man that I can’t remember his name, as he didn’t look like he was going to be any good but in actual fact he was amazing, on the screen and I will smile. I will smile bloody big as it is fucking about time. These guys are genii and if I have to take a used copy of Shakespeare’s complete works into the BBC and set it on fire to show them that then maybe I will.

Rrrants

at The Camden Eye

31st January 2010

Review by Mervyn Cooke Video highlights of this event can be found at

Take an intimate setting, the Camden Eye, avec les francais,  perched eyrie-eyed above the Camden thoroughfare, a garret  full of garrulous poets and musicians and you get yet ANOTHER RRRants star show.

lia Avroutine – always delivers  a solid set , Lada like in his durability, even if the place name poetry had us all guessing  --poetry is indeed a strange language  -why not have in Russian?

Sophie Cameron – shock and awe – what can I say – Sophie?  what can I say ?– is there a column in the Sun or the Daily Star for you?

Harmonica Lewinski captivated us with his acrobatic interpretation of the Ian Drury classic, Billericay Dickie,   His words danced the taut acoustic tightrope as we swayed from side to side with his re-telling of adolescent sex in the back of the Cortina, ramming her hymena…oh the night was worth it just to hear that one song!

And a hard act to follow admitted our Lesser Spotted Derry Wordsmith, Mervyn Cooke, shades of Heaney, shades of Hughes, words hewn from the heart.. “ Very poignant , very humbling “   commented a fellow RRRanter.

No notes, no props, no idea how Rural Ireland 1950-1960’s would appeal to the younger audience- there are universal themes of love and loss,  toil and tenderness that touch all our heartstrings.  Watch out for the next gig , a unique rendition of Ted Hughes ‘ February 14 th – a lamb could not get born’

Richard Frost– the Shamen of the North – strode Gandalf like, Noggin the Nog and foretold the future, a King Arthur of the Northern Line – God could I do with that pair of oven gloves he wore! ..100% inspirational and original.

Robert Auton is the poet sniper among us – he picks us off with his tales told through the prism of the absurd.  Very creative and delivered with verve.  Pizza Poetry –what’s your topping?

Ant Smith – shock and awe too!  – I was gobsmacked!

Philphy Phil –– the troubadour,  the wandering minstrel of the shires, the ballader with cheer…tongue in cheek – we love it!

And finally Poeterry – nervy in preparations,  his words slide of the page like the lavish women he lusts after, oily and willing all over. 

And there you have it a unique mix of the avant-garde, the luscious  and the lavish – you get what is says on the tin , Rhythmical, Ravings & Rants.   Catch it again on the 31 March at the Goat in St Albans.

Rrrants Bard-Aid

at The Etcetera Theatre

28th January 2010

Review by Christine Adams

My brother had a punk compilation LP called ‘20 of Another Kind’. I’m sure if you looked at side 1, track 8 under a microscope, you would notice much more wear and tear to the groove here than on any of the tracks on that record.

That track was ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’ by The Adverts. I didn’t really understand the lyrics but to a gangly 13 year old they were suitably sinister and subversive.

Some thirty years later, Ant, my husband, asks me if I fancy going to see TV Smith in Camden.

I pause.....Never meet your heroes.

It’s Thursday 28^th January and we head to the Etcetera Theatre above the Oxford Arms, Camden. We are greeted by the lovely Donna who could be a shampoo model and makes us feel like old friends. In fact, the atmosphere was of an intimate party full of fun, sweet, anything goes characters - Rrrants events are clearly about inclusiveness.

The evening begins with the Antipoet - a double-bass/vocal duo that performs a far too short set of wickedly funny and brutal satire. I can’t really compare them to anyone else but the piece ‘Artists’ is bugging me as it reminds me of a track that was continually played on Annie Nightingale’s request show in the ‘80s and I can’t remember the artist or the title.

They are followed by the sartorially elegant Terence whose confidence in his dress is sadly not matched by confidence in his material. The rhythms of the words sound great but because he seems afraid to project I can’t get a clear grasp of his message. Shout up Terence mate – we want to hear you!

Rachel Pantechnicon is up next. Goodness me, she is fantastic. I can’t hear all her jokes and cracks as I’m laughing too much but, for me, the highlight is her children’s book about the lion with cheese grater legs - I am bent double and gasping for breath when she reveals the cover for adults.

So, finally, TV Smith takes to the stage. He is a bouncy, grey-haired chap who wears his place in music history with pride. Considering that many of the songs in his energetic, acoustic set were written when he was a teenager, there’s no navel-gazing angst or cod-intellectualism but pretty sharp and well-constructed lyrics. During the set he makes a mischievous comment about Iggy Pop starring in the adverts and then before I know it we’re at the penultimate song. The hit. Ok, it’s an acoustic version but that doesn’t matter, he sings the quite strange melody in the chorus perfectly and, all of a sudden, I feel tears streaming down my face. I am so relieved that I am not as bitter and world-weary as I thought when a 30 year-old (plus) song about a murderer can still affect me.

The night is over. TV Smith is stood at the end of my row chatting to Donna. I want to gush effusively but I’m covered in teary snot so I shuffle out of the little theatre on a beautiful high.

Brilliant.

Review of "Splat That Spider"

For anybody who has ever regretted buying an album on the strength of a solitary hit single, Jammie Sammy's 'Splat That Spider' should rank as a welcome antidote. If, like me, you have already become addicted to her Youtube smash 'The Kitkat Song', but were not expecting her to have a whole album of catchy, sarky and laugh out loud funny, yet nod'n wink poignant songs up her brightly coloured sleeves, then think again! 'Splat That Spider' is a studio recording of her infamous 2009 live set, which although benefitting from the odd overdubbed backing line and a sharper vocal mix, still manages to retain the raw edge of her live performances. Every track is classic Sammy! I quite liked Aberdeen when i went there, but then i didn't grow up there and i now know why they hounded her out of the city! Buy it from the rrrants shop priced £5 with £1 from each disc kindly donated to Bardaid! Go Sammy

Paul Eccentric Jan' 2010

Rrrants Bard-Aid

at The Etcetera

28th Jan 2010

Review by JammieSammy

Video highlights of this event can be found at

Rrrants

at The Camden Eye

8th December 2009

Review by Ant Smith

Video highlights of this event can be found at

'Sevenths:

twisted tales for sinners'

by Danni Antagonist.

(Available now @50p plus p+p. See her link on the 'performers' page.)

RRRants. The Watford library

12th November 2009

Review by Heather Merrison after her first ever performance in public

I found last nights gig to be really intellectually phenomenal. The RRRants company are by far the most warm, laid back and profound performers ever. Not to mention hilarious, I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. They made me feel really welcome like part of a very large weird, wacky, wonderful and talented family, I was quite nervous about making a mistake but I quickly learnt that all cock ups were embraced with laughter and light heartedness, nor did I think I’d ever find a place that I felt like I belonged, I couldn’t have been more wrong! I felt more at home with the RRRants group than a child in a 3 story sweet shop. They have something really amazingly special that I don’t think you would find with another performance company. I would love to perform, grow and learn with RRRants for as long as they’ll have me.

– Unplugged

Review - Wendover Library 8 October 2009

 I arrived at Wendover library expecting to see the regular and engaging assemblage of vaudevillians that gather for an Antipoet performance, but goodness, was I surprised. Before me sat an audience looking way out of their comfort zone as two rock stars stood either side of a Stand-Up-Bass preparing to perform. I soon learned that the audience were a local writer’s group who were most likely expecting an evening of genteel poetry reading followed by a question and answer session, but to their horror, found they had inadvertently booked a Rock-n’-Roll band. Take it away.…The Antipoet.

 I watched eyebrows rise, jaws drop, and bemusement dissolve into total engagement as Paul Eccentric, an accomplished performer with a touch of ‘attitude’ about him, delivered his perfectly written observations with just the right mix of anger, angst, irony and pathos.  Alongside him, Ian Newman, whose magical bass playing floats out notes that entwine, caress and when called for supply a powerful counterpoint to Eccentric’s words. This evening The Antipoet’s collective genius wove a magical dance, showering the audience with unique sensual delights; sweet, light and some beautifully dark.

 Many in the audience I thought had had their perceptions of ‘creativity’ deconstructed in an instant. I could see though, they were hugely entertained and some I noticed moved by the experience. Invited to operate in a different world of consciousness by The Antipoet experience, the group had been offered exciting new possibilities and unlimited creative horizons. I’m sure they will take up the challenge.

Barry J Macey

Sir Lobby Lud

 At The Cock in Sarratt, Herts, 27th of July- reviewed by Nobby Thorts for

'Hubble Bubble: Poetry In Potions' magazine, issue #6 summer 09

Leading the vanguard of 1930s kitsch revivalism is Watford's own, Sir Lobby Lud.
Surely it is time that we saw a return to ukulele based pop? Lobby seems to think so, and after being transported back through a hookah smoke portal to an English seafront pier in 1933 by his anachronistic melodies and halcyon lyrics, I'm forced to agree. These were the days when popstars were cravat wearing gentlemen who knew how to dress, had proper diction, wouldn't even dream of smackin' their bitches up and sang sanguine dittys about custard creams and wireless sets. But is it poetry? It is if i say it is and i do.

'And isn't that the Basswhore on loan from The Antipoet slapping some feisty rhythms, adding a new dimension to an already damn spiffing act? Top hole!!

Review of The NakedPoetryFestival',11th & 12th July 09 by Fawn Kate for KultureShock.

    Fifteen poets in three venues over two days. The first annual RRRANTS NakedPoetryFestival was a storming success!

    From the cramped and sultry confines of Covent Garden's iconic Poetry Cafè, through the rock concert excesses of the Marquee stage of Boxmoor's Music On The Moor Festival to the bawdy barroom blitz of The Horns in Watford,

    RRRANTS did what RRRANTS does best: promoting an eclectic mix of straight and comic poetry to an equally diverse blend of punter over a variety of different venues.
Each of the three shows forming the core of the festival gave it's audience a unique smorgasbord of heartfelt emotion, comic observation and surreallist weirdness.
Tears flowed throughout the weekend, some from empathy, but others from humour. If you haven't caught a RRRANTS performance yet, then get yourself to the next one!!

Ilia Avroutine is that man.
I Taste The Rain takes the reader on a journey from one culture to the next, told through the eyes of a Canadian educated Russian now living in England. For the full experience, find the man himself and hear him reading it in the accent that fits the text!

REVIEW OF POETERRY at The Maltings Arts Theatre, St.Albans, 20.5.09 by Jim Reaper~

WET AS A FISH TANK!

 Anyone who saw Poeterry's live debut at The Flint Cottage in High Wycombe exactly one year ago would be astounded by his recent form. No more the shy fumbling heckler fodder of those early open mic' performances, the Poeterry that supported the great Francesca Beard at Wednesday night's Oral Cabaret is now a bubbling cauldron of rhythmic passion and Caribbean soul. From his opener, 'My Dad', the heartrending story of the three words that he was never able to say to his father, to the flagrant sexual imagery of 'Untitled', (though I think it should be called 'Masterpiece'), his current 'love' set will undoubtedly leave you "as wet as a fish tank"!

REVIEW OF 'DEMO TAPE' BY MAT LLOYD Published 2.4.09 - ISBN: 978-1-4092-6270-1 priced £5.

 The book is entitled 'Demo Tape', a knowing nod to the fact that Mat's words are written to be spoken aloud. But that's not to say that his poetry doesn't work on the page. In fact, particularly with pieces like 'This Town' and 'Blokes Poem', there is even more to be gained by seeing the stories laid out in front of you. The pieces in this collection are more than just poems. They read like individual novellas; tightly crafted short stories cast with characters that you are bound to miss once their tales have been told. It's a dark dystopian dimension that they inhabit and then you realise that it's the real world and you're living it too. Mat wants to make poetry cool, but with this book we think he could raise those expectations and make poetry rule!

Rrrants Fairness & Respect Policy

The Owners of Rhythmical Ravings & Rants' operate a strict anti bigotry policy for individuals work, but at the same time are firm advocates of free speech and the right to reply. We do however reserve the right to make a decision about submissions to this forum based on our own opinions and will remove inappropriate content, without debate.