The Men of Gwent
Thee Faction
The Existential Angst of Dunstan Bruce
The Islington, London N1
4/5

The struggle to understand life’s meaning in an absurd world has taken Dunstan Bruce — formerly of Chumbawamba and now of Interrobang?! — on a journey of “full of punk philosophy” while “spouting cod psychology” but don’t hold it against him.

These spoken word “pieces” are a captivating mixture of recent song lyrics and pure, heartfelt emotion about life and death and everything in between, recited over entrancing musical agit jazz improvisation from the brilliant Phil Whaite and Kate Dornan on saxophone and keyboards. It was quite simply stunning.

The new Thee Faction album cannot come soon enough. Playing their greatest hits it is testament to their genius how they still sound powerful and so relevant now. But they do, and their songs all are.

With a vivacious brass section, a wizard on guitar and a rhythm section to die for they deliver another superb set that has everyone rocking and singing along with fists clenched aloft at the end.

The Men of Gwent swagger onto stage. The incomparable workaholic Jon Langford spent the early part of the week recording a new album with the original line-up of the Mekons, then gigged with the original Three Johns, before heading to London to share his talents with this incredible band of brothers. Beer-savvy talent oozing out of their pores they play songs of heritage Wales, songs of real life and working class history.

Everyone shares vocals and all are incredible musicians in their own right but it is their camaraderie that shines out from the stage in a way that is both funny, witty and politically meaningful.

With songs from their debut LP The Legend Of LL especially the gorgeous Pill Sailor sung by Guto Davies, and the modern sea shanty Coves of Aberystwyth sung by Julian Hayman, they also play covers of Mekons, Skull Orchard and Joe Strummer songs.

It exponentially got better and better and by the end of the night this was a truly classic MOG set and one that the packed crowd loved.

Bob Oram

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