The Nightingales | Ted Chippington | Blue Orchids

THE LEXINGTON

96-98 Pentonville Road,
London, N1 9JB

The Lexington is Le Document’s favourite music venue in London. We were excited to see that not one but three interesting acts were performing and that the tickets were cheap. 

Michael Cumming and Stewart Lee’s recent King Rocker documentary is well worth a watch. It’s funny, sad, thought provoking and tells you everything you need to know about tonight’s headline act, Robert Lloyd and “The Gales.” The band’s line-up now includes guitarist James Smith, Andreas Schmid from Faust on bass, and ex Violet Violet wonder drummer Fliss Kitson.

The general consensus is that they are better now than they have ever been and that last year’s 'Four Against Fate' is the best Nightingales album yet. Male music critics of a certain age adore writing about how Robert Lloyd is "the misfits’ misfit" and that The Gales are "consummate sore thumb of pop."

When I listen to chubby chaps over 50 (who look like they work as supply teachers) talking about The Nightingales it reminds me of Jeremy Clarkson talking about cars on Top Gear — and it is slightly odd being in a room in one of Europe’s most culturally diverse cities in 2021 where everyone looks the same — but c’est la vie. 

Blue Orchids

Not long after 8.15pm Blue Orchids take to the stage. They’re confident and start to pound out some cool indie sounds. In a stark contrast to the audience members, the talented keyboard player looks like he’s stepped out of a stone circle wearing a red cloak, the electric ukulele player seems a bit nervous but holds her own throughout the gig.

The band’s singer, Martin Bramah, knows how to get the most out of his guitar and voice. Bass and drums are locked in holding everything together. It’s a short set but perfectly formed, not a beat out of place. The band’s recent album Speed The Day is very good. The new songs sound like they were written and recorded in 1979 – but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. If you enjoy listening to the classic early albums of bands such as; The Buzzcocks, Echo & The Bunnymen, and The Stranglers, it’s a safe bet you’ll love Speed The Day.

Ted Chippington

Next up is “Top comedian” Ted Chippington. His opening line is "Any racists in tonight?" and he his anecdotes about slugs, spiders, rugs and washing machines that trundle on for about 30 minutes. One of his jokes ("Have you ever wondered what it's like to live in Buenos Aries? Well, you should move there for a couple of years and find out for yourself") doesn’t get much of a response. A kind fan throws him a bone by shouting out a feed line for one of Ted’s old classics ... Fan: “Are we far from Camden Ted?” Ted: “Not far enough.” Maybe the point of Ted Chippington was that he was supposed to baffle the hell out of people or annoy them by being an anti-comedian. Tonight everyone in the audience knew who he was and what to expect but I guess it doesn’t really matter.

9.45pm arrives and the headline act make a start. Without wanting to sound like Jeremy Clarkson ... We thought Blue Orchids were tight but this band have been practicing and they’re match fit. Fliss Kitson can really bash out the rhythm. After about 20 mins or so I get the impression these songs bleed into each other. There are no breaks, it’s pretty relentless. Robert Lloyd plays the harmonica badly and keeps saying that “Jesus Christ was a refugee” but it doesn’t matter. The riffs come thick and fast, half-time, then full speed. Some odd time signatures creep in here and there but Kitson continues to hold it together. There is a bit of a Beefheart quality to the Nightingales, hard to pin down but there is something going on here that’s intense and good. 

Outside the pub Ted is having a fag and telling us most bands just want to be The Velvet Underground but that The Gales are special. Le Document enjoyed the evening. The combination of Blue Orchids, Ted and The Gales is a winning formula. Respect is due. 

For more on Blue Orchids: https://www.ledocument.com/issue-sixteen/martin-bramah 

For more on Stewart Lee: https://www.ledocument.com/issue-eighteen/stewart-lee