"I’m only here for Joe Strummer. There’s no other way you would have got me to Bridgwater.” The crowd laughs and applauds but you can’t tell whether Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy is joking.
Tonight serves as a memorial to Strummer who lived his last years in Somerset – sadly the Clash frontman died in December 2002. It’s also a fundraiser for the Strummerville charity for new musicians, with those on the bill playing for free.
Gough needn’t worry about upsetting the locals. He’s already won over the majority with his impromptu earlier appearance, launching into a tenderly acoustic version of "The Shining" for his children, who are watching from the balcony, “before they go to bed”. Very cute, Damon.
Before Badly Drawn Boy’s main set comes the moody gothic rock of Yeovil’s Cogg 5, the Beck-at-the-Early-Learning-Centre ‘sh*t hop’ of Kid Carpet – two turntables, kids’ toys and samples of Tom Tom Club and Van Halen. Mick Jagger’s brother Chris meanwhile, wiggles the family snakehips to his bluesy pub rock, with the boogie woogie piano of PJ Harvey’s cousin Ben Waters. Fun but mind-numbing after a while.
Then, before you can ask yourself “is that Bez in the audience”, Gough slouches on. In trademark stubble and tea cosy hat he looks like a Matt Lucas character from 'Little Britain'. He sings the Jacksons’ "I Want You Back", complete with the rhythmic sound of steel drums. Marvellous entrance! The first half of the set is acoustic. The beautiful "Once Around The Block" segues into “All out of Rizlas so I go down the garage…” sung to the tune of Julie Andrews’ "Favourite Things".
Taken from the Boy’s forthcoming new LP, "This Is That New Song" and "Easy Love" are typical Badly Drawn fare. Then the band saunters on, the baseball-capped bass player looking like he’s just parked his rig outside a roadside diner. A fine version of "40 Days. 40 Fights", the gently tinkling piano of instrumental "Bewilderbeast", a tender "Magic In The Air" and the vaguely rocky "Have You Fed The Fish" are followed by other new ditties "The Year Of The Rat" – with its lovely classical piano and "Holy Grail" - a cross between ELO and Ben Folds Five. “You make me feel like I’m the new Bono” says Gough, falling to his knees, before he concludes: “Only younger and better looking.”
Occasionally, film director Julien Temple (director of 'The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle' and Strummer’s friend), stumbles on. He drunkenly mumbles something heartfelt about his lost mate which is utterly impossible to decipher. Disappointingly, that’s about all the recognition Strummer gets tonight. There are no Clash covers, no surprise guest appearances by Mick Jones. With the evening drawing to a close, Gough plays "You Were Right" adding the line “I remember doing nothing on the night Joe Strummer died”. The crowd roars.
“He was a real person. A humanitarian.” Says Gough “Not a bit like Johnny Rotten. There was no bullshit.” He’s got a point. Hard to imagine Mr Strummer appearing on 'I’m A Celebrity'.
