John Cooper Clarke reviewed
Marcus Waldron • Published 29 Jun 2012 09:30
0 Comments
Share this
HAILED as The Bard Of Salford for his witty social commentary, Manchunian poet John Cooper Clarke performed spoken word and poetry at Sub89, in Reading, last Friday.
The unexpected compère, The Clash's former road manager Johnny Green, was the first of many welcomed surprises within the brilliant two-hour set.
Used to attending gigs and DJ sets in the Friar Street venue, it was nice to see Sub89 show its eclectic side with a chilled sit-down set-up and moody blue lighting. Dressed in his standard smart skinny suit, with matted black hair and token dark shades, the still night was interrupted when the iconic speaker took to the mic to captivate the crowd.
Swigging on a drink throughout, he seamlessly weaved poetry with anecdotes and observations with jokes. Dubbed the Poet Laureate Of Punk, John Cooper Clarke is truly a master of his craft, blending classic critiques with a modern take on society, affirming his relevance in modern culture.
From his emergence in the 70s, and from looking at the crowd demographic, it is clear he is still appealing to a cross-section of society.
Personal highlights came with 'Hire Car', 'Things Are Gonna Get Worse', 'Rotten Here In Jail' and an impromptu Simpsons recital.
Overall, a revealing evening from a living legend who is still top of his game.
This article appeared in Slough Observer 29 Jun 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Whats On archives.
