'Sweet Home Quaratine' online show on StageIt.com
Part celebration of Nick Lowe's and Eric Clapton's birthdays

Review by Adrienne Meddock from Zub Records
Nick Lowe and Robyn Hitchcock are longtime figures on the British music scene. RH describes him as his “oldest froleague.” He calls the Soft Boys getting a break opening for Elvis Costello, a high point in their careers. A good gig in the late 70s for sure. Of that gig, he recalls Nick dropping his Senior Service cigarette, which RH picked up and used to light his own. The Stiffs were traveling by pack in those days I suppose, NIck and EC.

Incidentally, I believe I am attending on a rare (for me) Friday (note: this was actually a Wednesday night show), the afternoon show geared for the European Groovers. My notes are bereft of clues, so I am relying on my fickle pandemic brain for that detail. But this was one of the birthday shows, I am certain of that!

So now we launch into the Cream song ‘Badge,’ as they are noting Eric Clapton’s birthday as well. “Add phasing in your head,” urges Robyn. Next Nick’s birthday celebration checks in on RH’s ‘My Favorite Buildings are Falling Down,” a request from I Often Dream of Trains. Robyn tells us the country side of Lou Reed can imagine Nick Lowe singing it. He assures us we’ll be in Nickland soon.

But oh no--sound trouble! Emma comes in and tends to the tech, while RH mutely mugs to the camera with Perry the Lobster. She gets the sound back and it’s Black Snake, Diamond Role’s ‘A Skull, A Suitcase and a Long Red Bottle of Wine.”

Now we’re “moving into Nicksville, and moving to a guitar with different tuning.” RH is wearing his “Nick Lowe spectacles in honor of Nick Lowe” and it’s ‘Endless Grey Ribbon’ off of the UK version of Labour of Lust. RH introduces the next song, noting “this song could have been written by Nick” and describes how they moved in West London as sort of mirror images of each other. Are they still mirrors? RH is still mistaken for Lowe. He asks Em, “Do you think he has mad old lady hair like me? He probably has a secret barber.” They imagine Nick Lowe is more put-together in quarantine than they have been. Emma notes “You’ve taken the Crosby ‘I Almost Cut My Hair’ approach to Covid.”

On to ‘Detective Mindhorn,’ but Robyn is a bit off, and Emma, trying to sing along, quips, “Pitch! Should we try that again?” RH: “Might be best for them if we don’t.” But they do, and the next time through it’s perfect. RH sums it up. “See, that was easy.” Love these two.

Robyn tells us he always felt he was Nick Lowe’s “younger, hippie brother.” He notes that “there’s been more than usual a man at the bottom of the garden playing emotive piano ballads.” Emma asks eagerly if they can play “Elton John songs for his birthday?!?” Robyn is chagrined, “Tell me you don’t like ‘Tiny Dancer.’” Em’s love of rock’s schmaltzier moments is rearing its head.

Fight averted as Emma must sing ‘I Knew the Bride,’ and it's a fine version but I can’t believe how tired I am of this song. Not your fault, Nick, Em, or RH. (It was the cue music at my dinner theater workplace that tables needed to cash out. Stress!) Interstitial banter turns to Dylan’s “old guy, Vincent Price moustache.” Perhaps it is more of a Chuck Berry. At any rate, this leads to “the twangy side of me,” Robyn Hitchcock’s ‘I Pray When I’m Drunk.’

Robyn introduces the next song as “requested by me, one of my favorite Nick songs, from The Convincer, ‘Lately I’ve Let Things Slide.’ It’s less morose than Nick’s “too much fucking perspective” versions I’ve heard live; the song is almost upbeat in Robyn’s hands. Nice job.

Emma returns with snacks, and the conversation turns to truckers “talking cheese” and specifically to Kris Kristofferson in Convoy wearing trucker hats. You know, patented, au courant SHQ banter.

Robyn introduces the next song as one that “Nick really likes” and that they’ve sung together. ‘So You Think You’re in Love’ from Perspex Island, another personal favorite, I’m with you, Nick.

Emma wonders if they should add 5 minutes time onto the StageIt hosted show, RH cautions, “only one of us is a great singer, and neither of us is a great guitarist…” but the button IS pushed and it is time for Emma to lead on the perfect Nick song, ‘Cruel to Be Kind,’ RH joining the chorus as they play it “mid-tempo, like The Eagles!”

The banter resumes with an exuberant “Pub rock! High-five!” This is a call back to the discussion of a bad CSN and possibly Y documentary that closes with a goofy “High-five!” Emma goads RH: “say something Nick Lowe would say, ooh, can you do Lou doing a Nick song as a gift to me?”

The ensuing ‘I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass’ (Pure Pop for Now People/Jesus of Cool) IS sung by Robyn cum Lou Reed and it is the platonic ideal of such things. He even throws in a little Johnny Cash, appropriately, at the end (recall Johnny was step-father to Nick’s one-time wife, Carlene Carter). Robyn describes this version as “The late, great Pisceans do Nick Lowe.”

Time runs down with ‘Mr. Kennedy’ and the sun sets on The Basher’s birthday bash.

--Adrienne Meddock, American, Squirming