MARIA DUARTE recommends a remarkable study of the friendship between a Palestinian and a Pakistani, broken by a hostile state
Latest editorial
Spirited outing from Devant and crew
Magic: David Devant
[The Vessel/Wikicommons]
MATTHEW HAWKINS rakes through un-fancy words and flair-free summaries to find who and what might be flamboyant
PETER MASON is exhilarated by an exciting, well-considered and historically minded tribute to the great Trinidadian instrument
Reducing historical lives to ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles, we lose the nuance of those lives and a clearer understanding of past societies, suggests CLAIRE ISABELLA GILMOUR
CHRIS SEARLE relishes the genius of pianist Alexander Hawkins, his many ensembles, and his new album
David Devant and his Spirit Wife
100 Club, London
BURSTING on the scene back in the heady days of Britpop, David Devant and his Spirit Wife were known for mixing music with mirth and truly coming to life on stage.
Their success was down to a combination of magic tricks, theatrical folly and cracking tunes with pun-driven, fun-filled lyrics that drew a dedicated following.
You don’t so much go to a Devant gig as experience the musicianship, lyrics and personality shining through. Led by The Vessel (Mikey Georgeson), who channels the spirit of early 20th century magician Devant, the band includes Foz Foster on guitar, The Colonel on bass and Professor Rimschott on drums and they deliver a set, sometimes verging on the surreal, that's as whirlwind as its whimsical.
Similar stories
MIK SABIERS revels in a band that ploughs an idiosyncratic furrow of expletive laden, guitar-driven alt rock
CHRIS SEARLE urges you to listen to two new albums by the US Indian pianist VIJAY IYER
New releases from Shearwater, Florry, and Navy Blue
New releases from Kneecap, Sam Blasucci, and Juni Habel