Dan Ward-Murphy @ The Alexandra Sunday 11th October 2009

Dan Ward-Murphy @ Lazy Sundays at The Alexandra Sunday 11th October 2009
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The Bill:-
Dan Ward-Murphy
Rebecca Hope
Ben Goddard
Paul Claxton
Matt Rivers

Dan’s Set List:-
She’s A Knockout (w Jen)
White Decay
The Sun Is In Your Eyes (f Jen)
The Liberation Of The Female Kind (w Jen)
(New Track)
So Simple (w Jen, Prav)
Act Of Defiance

First off, what a nice pub! I sure wish there was a place like this in Kingston – a proper old-style pub! Magic!

Dan’s first on tonight and was hoping it’d be “downstairs” to be heard by more people – the main thrust of ‘gigs like this’ is to be heard, to spread the word, so it is with a little disappointment at being in the less crowded upstairs that Dan takes to the stage. This was billed as a “solo” session but Jen Delany rocked up (on her birthday no less) and it appeared as though she became an unplanned accessory as Dan got a second mike setup.

Whilst I totally love the DWM sound-of-old (Jen, Milo, Helen, Prav) it is great every now and then to get back to basics and this was an excellent reminder of where Dan started his “solo” sessions – albeit with some backing vox (which, to be fair, he often had from the V. early days). She’s A Knockout has always been a good track to start a set with and tonight’s no different. Stripped back it’s a reminder of what a great track this is. Jen steps down to let Dan do his thang on White Decay. I think the first time I heard this was possibly at the "Songs From Soho" recordings and it’s great for it to have an outing again.
Jen returns for The Sun Is In Your Eyes which is definitely one of my favourites with the haunting “All of my winters ...” verse ringing in my ears. Following Liberation is a new, as yet unnamed, track Dan throws in for its first public performance. With such a large number of songs it must always be difficult to pick what to play and I’m always more than happy to hear a few new ones – I look forward to this one being named and hearing it again!

Pravin also turned up and was dragged kicking and screaming onstage to play a “shaker” of some sort – minimal percussion – to accompany the excellent So Simple and Dan finished solo with the rabble rouser Act Of Defiance, which is always a great way to end a set.

So all done and looking forward to seeing, and hearing, the new lineup on Thursday at The Den ...