It happened. With the return of the much-beloved Welsh powerhouse Euros Childs, last week a ‘roogie boogie’ gig took place at Gullivers in Manchester.
Support band Simon Love and The Old Romantics certainly warmed the crowd up with their repertoire of comedic musings. Simon Love’s rakish charm seemed to smile through the black humour of songs on subjects such as Elton John in a three-way, and love songs involving brutal murder. It was almost as if the crowd couldn’t quite believe such a debonair man in polka dots could be singing about all manner of smut. The band topped off the proceedings by calling their accomplice to join them on stage in the less than melodic chorus chimes of Christmas B-side single ‘Mother Fuckers’. Obviously.
Once the giggles had subsided it was on to the wonderfully diverse array of harmonies and genres Euros Childs does so well. Childs’ latest album Sweetheart was recently recorded with band members Stuart Kidd on drums, Marco Rea on guitar, Rhydian Jones on bass and Laura J Martin on flute at his studio/family home in Barafundle Beach, Freshwater East in Pembrokeshire. The sheer volume of albums produced by the former Zygotic Mynci man’s label National Elf is astounding. As one gig-goer at the bar commented, “I’ve been away for the last year and I come back to find Euros has produced another three albums in that time!”
This steady stream of quirky folk enables Euros to draw on multiple facets of his own musical history on stage. Each gig of his is a unique experience, adapted to suit each place and mood of the city. And this sense of intimacy and individuality on stage is what makes each of his performances a rare and beautiful thing.
Kicking off with a few catchy tracks from his latest album, Euros treated the audience to his usual anxious wit between songs. At one point, as things heated up, he warned onlookers that he would have to follow medical advice and calm the music down for a while, so his piano temperature gauge didn’t overheat.
It is the constant dichotomy of soft tunes and more complex darker songs that informs a Euros Childs set. With interplay of country-infused melodies and big hits, such as ‘Daddy’s Girl’ (or the ‘monkey on the back’ tune as Euros himself described it), the audience were left feeling they had been dazzled and entertained by a man who never stops moving. Rounding things off on the appropriately titled ‘Roogie Boogie’, Childs and his fun troupe kept the momentum in what was a heartfelt and joyous performance.
For more information about Euros Childs’ tour and his latest album click HERE.
Photo credit: Steven Sibbald
