The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown / The Dukes Of Bordello - Corporation, Sheffield, Thursday 4th April, 2024
The Dukes Of Bordello opened up the night who feature local boys and the not so local boy anymore since Frontman/Guitarist, Andy Barrott co-runs a campsite with his wife in Wales! But who wouldn't speed up to Sheffield to support a true Rock Icon of the late 60s?
Plenty of classic Punkabilly/Psychobilly sounds and the folk of Steel City love them with the well known cut about Wilko Johnson and much, much more with even a hint of Quo in there too to please Steve Cooper!
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The main act needs no introduction at all since Arthur Brown is the God Of Hellfire and if you don't know who he is, then where have you been for the last 50 odd years. He still plays out his Crazy World which is a far out variety of conceptual oddity and deep thought provoking idealisms.
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What else can be said about this absolute legend that hasn't already been said. Him and the band are on 'Fire' - 'scuse the pun and both puzzle us with the Prog Rock and Psychedelic songs from a few yesteryears ago. We get a strong 90 minutes or so of his catalogue but the thing that utterly amazes me is that he is playing the small room and not the big one? Where are all the fans from Sheffield and South Yorkshire or even beyond our pastures?
There is poetry, a fabulous instrumental section and overall a dark, vaudevillian voodoo essence to the show that Mr. Brown has become extremely renown for over the years. His material can be rather baffling to many and it takes a special kind of soul to really tap into where he is coming from, since it's not what you'd call accessible and overtly commercial that will attract the ten-a-penny masses. Some get it in here whilst some don't. One of those presentations where you often have to leave everything else behind and take in what's spiritually going on before your very eyes and ears.
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Arthur is very much a one-off and they probably broke the mould after, so to speak. It's little wonder that he has so often been linked with bands like Hawkwind. His compositions, avante-guard style and narrative make him pretty unique and I personally don't think there will be anyone quite like him again but I am up for being corrected. As can be seen from the photographs, a lot of work and time into his costumes and overall visuals - in fact he introduces both of his designers onto the stage - one of which being his wife.
After the gig itself, Arthur was only too happy to sign a few autographs and have a photo with some of the fans who made the effort to come and see him tonight! I even bought a signed copy of 'Galactic Zoo Dossier' on vinyl which is a rare feat for me.
Words & Photographs by Glenn Milligan