Simon Rushworth
@Newcastle The Cluny, November 24 2014
Self-titled drunken folk singer, Beans On Toast, is the man of the moment. Not the most successful man of the moment, but the man who preaches the truth.
He speaks of modern day current affairs and doesn’t waste time with fantastical notions of future plans. His political outrages are up to date and in the moment.
Throw in the drugs, and the beer, and you can see why this Essex lad is a cult crowd’s dream.
Opening his show with Folk Singer, a narrative tale documenting how the night will proceed, from his fabulous new album, The Grand Scheme Of Things, a chord is immediately struck. With a venue filled with young, impressionable, beer drinkers, the combination of one of Newcastle’s best venues and a folk singer spinning out a series of inebriated anecdotes was a match made in heaven.
Touring and promoting his latest album, a number of new tracks were to be expected, with the audience being treated to a fine selection including Fuck You Nashville, Lizzy’s Cooking and The Chicken Songs. The real highlight from The Grand Scheme Of Things came from a track that almost didn’t make the album – the anthemic Whole Lot Of Loving – with the crowd roaring out the chorus ‘We need a spiritual revolution, I believe you Russell Brand!’.
While everything went down a treat, nothing quite got the response of fan favourite, MDM-Amazing, a track doused in drug-fuelled festival love. Despite claiming to have given up class As, you can still see the enjoyment each time he performs this poetic gem – even with the horrendous performance from the young poser he invited on stage to sing the chorus!
As the show rolled on, and persistent cries for the Price Of Rice were ignored, the crowd was rewarded for their efforts close to the end with this great singalong. And, to finish off, and show he is no mug to the mindset of music fans, he sent his mate into the crowd, walking around with T-shirts and CDs, cashing in on the crowd’s enthusiasm as the entertainment continued on stage.
Adam Keys