The Good The Bad & The Queen
The Good The Bad & The Queen
2nd February, 2007

View: right at the front

In keeping with their resurrection of all things music hall, the four men known (against their wishes) as TGTB&TQ are supported by a string of slightlyskewed 30s-style cabaret acts: a contortionist; “That’s shit!” magic courtesy of The Great Blondino; and a man on a Jew’s harp. The main act take the stage to play The Good, The Bad & The Queen in its entirety. The live show loses nothing without Danger Mouse’s production and, if anything, is slightly more intense than the record. Three months on from a Roundhouse appearance, the group are much happier, backed by a four-piece string section. Simonon prowls the stage like Albarn’s Gorillaz bassist, Murdoch, using his bass lead as a whip and jerking about as if it were 1977. Simon Tong’s understated guitar is now clear for all to hear and Tony Allen fuels the engine. But it’s Albarn’s baby and he pulls the performance in every direction: whipping up the crowd and band for Three Changes and baring his soul on Green Fields and The Bunting Song. With an encore of Herculean B-sides and a swift exit, it’s over in 50 minutes – a perfect moment in time, making it somewhat sad to think that it probably won’t last long.

Reviewed by Jason Draper
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