Comedy

Trust Me #51 Comedy by Shack

Last year's Michael Head shows at the Strathaven Hotel for FRETS were truly incredible. It felt like a real honour to watch a master craftsman at his work in such a warm, friendly and intimate setting. Hearing some of Head's string drenched songs stripped back made me appreciate them even more. 

One in particular stood out for me. Comedy, from Shack's 1999 album H.M.S Fable. When Michael Head tilted his head back, battering his acoustic guitar with all his worth and sang when you cry it pulls me through, a bolt of electricity was fired into my heart. It was spine tingling.

That line seemed to take hold of me. I played the song again and again after the performance.

Comedy begins with a beautiful instrumental. Lead and rhythm guitar in tandem; a gorgeous riff backed by a great groove. Head's naturally gifted voice comes in, instantly sounding soothing, melodic and dreamy. Then there is a rise for the chorus, the harmonies are to die for;

Fifty million reasons, loving in the seasons

Fifty million lovers, sitting at the doubles

Fifty million reasons, loving in the seasons

There is a little break where the music builds before the next line;

When you cry it pulls me through

Listening to Head and his band mates harmonising on headphones is a dream. The closing instrumental is sublime; an electric guitar solo cuts through the air like a knife as strings swirl and soar. I could listen to this section for days on end. Someone should do a 12-inch mix!

Check footage from the FRETS below. 

Comedy

Comedy (live at FRETS in Strathaven)

Michael Head is in a rich vein of form and tonight he plays with his Red Elastic Band under the guise of A Scouse Is Not A Motel in his home city of Liverpool to support community food spaces.  I'd love to see Head playing songs by his beloved Love.

You can donate here

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below, along with links to each blog. Comedy join them.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy