Music > Live Reviews

Steve Ignorant @ The Owl Sanctuary

19/10/15

Ex-Crass frontman Steve Ignorant has been a musical idol of mine for a looooong time but tonight is the first time I get to see him live. After a shite day, I need this to be good. 

First off, The Future of Music. This acoustic duo are not the future of music but they are entertaining, enthusiastic and amusing. They play bouncy tunes with great, if sometimes, downbeat lyrics, frequently referencing our fine city. (8/10)

The six piece Hedge Monkeys Skiffle Troupe, are exactly what they say they are: a skiffle group, albeit one that peppers the set with rock, punk and oi standards.  Of course, for this audience, the highlight is Crass' Do They Owe Us A Living. (8/10)

Talking of Crass, Steve Ignorant is here with his Slice of Life acoustic band. He may be 57 but the righteous anger still burns within Ignorant. From the opening rant about politicians, he spits, chants and shouts the lyrics in a way that gives Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson a run for his money. 

Between songs, Ignorant is an engaging raconteur, with tales from his childhood, through Crass up to today and the Sea Palling volunteer lifeboat crew. Behind Ignorant, Carol Hodge, Pete Wilson and Pete Rawlinson play music from the great Love And A Lamppost album and beyond. This may be gentler on the ear than Crass, Schwartzeneggar, Paranoid Visions or pretty much anything else Ignorant has done but it is no less intense or cathartic. (10/10)