Robyn and Emma's house
Details
- Date
- September 23, 2020
- Venue
- Robyn and Emma's house London, England
- Billed As
- Robyn Hitchcock & Emma Swift
- Gig Type
- Online
Set List
- Granny Hobsbawm Part 1 - story written and read by Robyn
- Belltown Ramble Robyn solo
- Dedicated Follower Of Fashion The Kinks Robyn solo
- Things We Said Today The Beatles Robyn solo
- Trams Of Old London
- Love Hurts The Everly Brothers
- Mr. Kennedy
- Autumn Sunglasses
- Sickie Boy Robyn solo
- Autumn Is Your Last Chance Robyn solo
- Famous Blue Raincoat Leonard Cohen Emma vocals
- Executioner
- I Wanna Destroy You
Reviews
Review by Steve McGowan from Zub Records
Robyn started off reading a story about “the Three Directions,” surreal and very British and very Robyn. After a portion of the story, he picked up the guitar and did a pretty version of ‘Belltown Ramble’ from Ole Tarantula!, a song I’ve never heard him play live. This was a take on Dylan and very good. He had a minimum of chat and went into The Kinks ‘Dedicated Follower Of Fashion,’ Reg was totally able to channel Ray Davies, and this was a special cover choice. Then it was right into ‘Things We Said Today,’ by The Beatles, Robyn reminiscing about seeing A Hard Day’s Night in 1964. His version was peppy and more than workmanlike. Emma Swift was introduced, they discussed Perry the Lobster, and then played ‘Trams Of Old London,’ from I Often Dream Of Trains. As usual, their voices were great together. Robyn seemed to be on a real nostalgia kick tonight. Emma talked about how Robyn loves museums and those who work in them. Robyn did a silly Kate Bush voice, and the duo had a good laugh.
Reg and Em did ‘Love Hurts,’ which was surprisingly good, originally written by Boudleaux Bryant for The Everly Brothers. “Written in 1999, after an exhaustive tour,” Robyn introduced ‘Mr. Kennedy,’ a very straightforward and melodic song, helped tremendously by the two voices. Robyn did a fingerpicked, different approach on ‘Autumn Sunglasses,’ with Em singing, this is one of my very favorite songs from Robyn Hitchcock, and the delicate version tonight was astounding. Emma went to wrangle a cat after discussing the comments section.
Reg, alone now, did ‘Sickie Boy’ from Propellor Time. This is a typical Reg meditation on the state of life, with a lyric “and a loser is someone who wins once in a while.” Next Reg did ‘Autumn Is Your Last Chance,’ a sad, beautiful, so melodic song. From I Often Dream Of Trains, this is unquestionably one of his best songs. I felt privileged to hear it.
Emma returned, saying “We’re gonna celebrate Bruce Springsteen’s birthday by playing a Leonard Cohen song.” Emma sang ‘ Famous Blue Raincoat,’ and it was stunning to hear her superb voice on this one. Another inspired, nostalgic cover.
Emma said “that was your nightly bummer,” and the duo did ‘The Executioner,’ from EYE. It was dark and a great slow burner. They ended up the show with The Soft Boys and ’I Want To Destroy You,’ which Robyn dedicated to Mitch McConnell. It was wonderful and due to time they stopped early. This was another great show, I’m not sure how they keep doing it, but I’m glad they did!
----Steve McGowan
Robyn started off reading a story about “the Three Directions,” surreal and very British and very Robyn. After a portion of the story, he picked up the guitar and did a pretty version of ‘Belltown Ramble’ from Ole Tarantula!, a song I’ve never heard him play live. This was a take on Dylan and very good. He had a minimum of chat and went into The Kinks ‘Dedicated Follower Of Fashion,’ Reg was totally able to channel Ray Davies, and this was a special cover choice. Then it was right into ‘Things We Said Today,’ by The Beatles, Robyn reminiscing about seeing A Hard Day’s Night in 1964. His version was peppy and more than workmanlike. Emma Swift was introduced, they discussed Perry the Lobster, and then played ‘Trams Of Old London,’ from I Often Dream Of Trains. As usual, their voices were great together. Robyn seemed to be on a real nostalgia kick tonight. Emma talked about how Robyn loves museums and those who work in them. Robyn did a silly Kate Bush voice, and the duo had a good laugh.
Reg and Em did ‘Love Hurts,’ which was surprisingly good, originally written by Boudleaux Bryant for The Everly Brothers. “Written in 1999, after an exhaustive tour,” Robyn introduced ‘Mr. Kennedy,’ a very straightforward and melodic song, helped tremendously by the two voices. Robyn did a fingerpicked, different approach on ‘Autumn Sunglasses,’ with Em singing, this is one of my very favorite songs from Robyn Hitchcock, and the delicate version tonight was astounding. Emma went to wrangle a cat after discussing the comments section.
Reg, alone now, did ‘Sickie Boy’ from Propellor Time. This is a typical Reg meditation on the state of life, with a lyric “and a loser is someone who wins once in a while.” Next Reg did ‘Autumn Is Your Last Chance,’ a sad, beautiful, so melodic song. From I Often Dream Of Trains, this is unquestionably one of his best songs. I felt privileged to hear it.
Emma returned, saying “We’re gonna celebrate Bruce Springsteen’s birthday by playing a Leonard Cohen song.” Emma sang ‘ Famous Blue Raincoat,’ and it was stunning to hear her superb voice on this one. Another inspired, nostalgic cover.
Emma said “that was your nightly bummer,” and the duo did ‘The Executioner,’ from EYE. It was dark and a great slow burner. They ended up the show with The Soft Boys and ’I Want To Destroy You,’ which Robyn dedicated to Mitch McConnell. It was wonderful and due to time they stopped early. This was another great show, I’m not sure how they keep doing it, but I’m glad they did!
----Steve McGowan