The Betsey Trotwood
Details
- Date
- July 01, 2023
- Venue
- The Betsey Trotwood London, England (Clerkenwell)
- Billed As
- Robyn Hitchcock
- Gig Type
- Concert
- Guests
- Ruby Wright
Notes
Matinee show, 3pm.
Performed in the main part of the pub downstairs.
First set on acoustic. Second set on electric except as noted.
Performed in the main part of the pub downstairs.
First set on acoustic. Second set on electric except as noted.
Set List
- The Shuffle Man
- Serpent at the Gates of Wisdom
- Queen Elvis
- The Inner Life of Scorpio
- The Cheese Alarm
- The Man Who Loves the Rain
- Trilobite
- Trams of Old London with Ruby Wright on musical saw
- I Often Dream of Trains with Ruby Wright on musical saw
-
Flavour of Night
on piano with Ruby Wright on musical saw
- set break
- The Man Who Invented Himself on piano
- Somewhere Apart on piano
- Ted, Woody, and Junior on piano
- Ghost in Sunlight on piano
- The Lizard
- Queen of Eyes
- Sally Was a Legend
- Madonna of the Wasps
- Mad Shelley's Letterbox
- I Am This Thing
- Airscape Dedicated to his daughter Maisie
Reviews
A really enjoyable and intimate matinee gig at The Betsey Trotwood yesterday afternoon. The last time I saw Robyn here it was in the upstairs room but this time it was in the pub itself which is one of London's finest. Around fifty of us lucky enough to get tickets gathered round in front of the bar as Robyn played, with buses passing by behind him down Farringdon Road.
There were two sets featuring first acoustic and then electric songs plus the bonus of a four song piano interlude in the middle. He was also joined by Ruby Wright on saw for two songs. There was loads of chat and stories from Robyn who seemed to be in really great form (only he could introduce a song about ancient fossils by namechecking 1960s comedian Jimmy Tarbuck or compare the characters in Ted ,Woody & Junior to Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol and Brian Jones). No guitar or shirt changes. Highlights were one of the best versions of Queen Elvis I've ever heard, Ted, Woody & Junior on piano and two new songs (to me at least) I Am This Thing and Ghost In Sunlight (?).
Full setlist:
Acoustic: The Shuffle Man/Serpent At The Gates Of Wisdom/Queen Elvis /The Inner Life Of Scorpio/The Cheese Alarm/The Man Who Loves The Rain/Trilobite/Trams Of Old London/I Often Dream Of Trains (last two with Ruby). Piano: Flavour Of Night (interval) The Man Who Invented Himself/Somewhere Apart/Ted, Woody & Junior Electric (polka dot guitar): Ghost In Sunlight/The Lizard/The Queen Of Eyes/Sally Was A Legend/Madonna Of The Wasps/Mad Shelley's Letterbox/I Am This Thing/ Airscape.
As ever a wonderfully diverse set although I don't think I've ever been to an RH gig that featured fewer Soft Boys songs. Also a great pleasure to meet Matt Ellis and James A Smith of this parish. I grabbed a few words with Robyn himself afterwards and managed to clear up one issue which has always bugged me. To my dismay he never actually lived in Guildford (my home town) but knew people there and occasionally stayed with them. Apparently the song is a hybrid of things of which memories of Guildford were a component.
Check out the forthcoming UK shows if you can, especially the full band sets which will be fantastic.
John A
There were two sets featuring first acoustic and then electric songs plus the bonus of a four song piano interlude in the middle. He was also joined by Ruby Wright on saw for two songs. There was loads of chat and stories from Robyn who seemed to be in really great form (only he could introduce a song about ancient fossils by namechecking 1960s comedian Jimmy Tarbuck or compare the characters in Ted ,Woody & Junior to Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol and Brian Jones). No guitar or shirt changes. Highlights were one of the best versions of Queen Elvis I've ever heard, Ted, Woody & Junior on piano and two new songs (to me at least) I Am This Thing and Ghost In Sunlight (?).
Full setlist:
Acoustic: The Shuffle Man/Serpent At The Gates Of Wisdom/Queen Elvis /The Inner Life Of Scorpio/The Cheese Alarm/The Man Who Loves The Rain/Trilobite/Trams Of Old London/I Often Dream Of Trains (last two with Ruby). Piano: Flavour Of Night (interval) The Man Who Invented Himself/Somewhere Apart/Ted, Woody & Junior Electric (polka dot guitar): Ghost In Sunlight/The Lizard/The Queen Of Eyes/Sally Was A Legend/Madonna Of The Wasps/Mad Shelley's Letterbox/I Am This Thing/ Airscape.
As ever a wonderfully diverse set although I don't think I've ever been to an RH gig that featured fewer Soft Boys songs. Also a great pleasure to meet Matt Ellis and James A Smith of this parish. I grabbed a few words with Robyn himself afterwards and managed to clear up one issue which has always bugged me. To my dismay he never actually lived in Guildford (my home town) but knew people there and occasionally stayed with them. Apparently the song is a hybrid of things of which memories of Guildford were a component.
Check out the forthcoming UK shows if you can, especially the full band sets which will be fantastic.
John A