October
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Billy Bragg@Danforth Music Hall-Wed.,Oct.13th,2022
Photography By Edwin Luk
Billy Bragg performed at the Danforth Music Hall as part of his Canadian & USA Tour 2022. Jacob Stoney accompanied Bragg on the keyboards. Bragg’s music is centred on bringing about change and involving the younger and older generation in activist causes.
During the concert and before each song, Bragg spoke about many of the world issues and cynicism. His activist thoughts were shared on views regarding: sexuality, England, fascism, Queen Elizabeth, recycling, libertarians, the climate, the USA/Trump, global warming and labour unions. He also talked about the importance of compassion, empathy, love and understanding in the our world.
During Bragg’s almost two and a half hour set in Toronto, he played songs from many of his albums. Some of the highlights were: “A New England”, “The Milkman of Human Kindness” and “To Have and to Have Not” from Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs Spy, which were the early years of Bragg’s album catalog. The song “A New England” , also from the same album, became a huge hit In 1985, with a cover version by Kristy MacColl. Lastly, the song”All You Facist Are Bound to Lose”, a cover of a Woody Guthrie song. An anthem for crusaders from yester years and today.
His latest album, The Million Things That Never Happened, features songs written in the last couple of years. The Million Things That Never Happened is somewhat based about the pandemic with the highs and lows of what everyone has been through. It provides the premise for the album, and for people’s lives over the past two years during our unique times. Bragg’s music spans over the last four decades. His songwriting is relevant, insightful, eye opening, topical and beautiful, he says what’s on his mind on issues around the world. You may not agree with everything he sings or speaks about, but the audience was in agreement that the concert was entertaining and the message was well done.
The two song encore included: Tank Park Salute and Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards. The tour continues in the USA, The U.K., New Zealand and finally in Australia til mid 2023.
The Set List:
1-A Lover Sings
2-The Million Things That Never Happened
3-Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key
(Billy Bragg & Wilco cover)
4-Ten Mysterious Photos That Can’t Be Explained
5-Levi Stubbs Tears
6-All You Fascists Are Bound to Lose
(Woody Guthrie cover)
7-The Buck Doesn’t Stop Here No More
8-Sexuality
9-Mid-Century Modern
10-Valentine’s Day Is Over
11-Freedom Doesn’t Come for Free
12-Greetings to the New Brunette
13-King Tide and the Sunny Day Flood
14-I Will Be Your Shield
15-The Milkman of Human Kindness
16-To Have and To Have Not
17-A New England
18-There Is Power in a Union
Encore:
19-Tank Park Salute
20-Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
BKonthescene 