Frank Turner Being Kind At The Cambridge Corn Exchange

by | May 4, 2018

I had been looking forward to seeing Frank Turner for several months in the week that his seventh album, Be More Kind, was due for release. A diverse group of people amongst the Punks, Skins and Journeymen flooded into the Cambridge Corn Exchange. One excited group were those heading for the boxes, people with learning disabilities who had free tickets from Frank Turner, because of his support for the Stay Up Late charity.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

The venue itself was originally built in 1873 and is an impressive example of Victorian architecture with a rich history from hosting the first Motor Show in 1898, to the last public appearance of Syd Barrett in 1972.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Half an hour after doors opened, a geeky looking guy in a garish Hawaiian shirt appeared on stage performing some questionable karate kicks. He picked up an acoustic guitar and announced “Hi I’m Derek from Pittsburgh and this is a protest song”. Armed with a beaten up acoustic guitar, a quirky voice and a lot of humour, he then proceeded to sing songs for the misfits, weirdos and geeks. It turned out that every song was a protest song. Derek Zanetti, AKA Homeless Gospel Choir is well worth catching if you can.

The Homeless Gospel Choir (Paul Lyme)

Zanetti bowed out with a song called Normal for which he was joined on stage by Canadian rock outfit Arkells, the night’s second support act. After that song the stage was plunged into darkness, the only thing visible was a lit sign proclaiming Arkells Touring Band. Max Kerman, Arkells frontman, declared that they were going to “try our hardest for you” and invited an audience member on stage to play with them.

Arkells (Paul Lyme)

It was clear that Arkells, like the previous act and indeed Frank Turner, were not fans of their neighbouring country’s President saying “He was born on third base, go home and Google it”. Their set ended as it began with Homeless Gospel Choir returning to the stage with them. Arkells will be touring the UK in the Autumn and I for one will be trying to see them again.

Arkells (Paul Lyme)

By now the floor was jam packed and the atmosphere sultry thanks to The Victorians for not being too renowned for their consideration of air conditioning when designing buildings!

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Then the lights went down, the screens went blank and The Sleeping Souls took to the stage. Frank Turner joined them, dressed in his customary skinny jeans, white shirt and black pencil tie. He was ready for show number 2,162. Holding a red acoustic guitar and with his back to the audience he started furiously strumming and 1933 kicked off the 25-song set.  The Cambridge crowd joined in singing “we’re not dead yet” as the band played Get Better with Frank yelling “Are you on my side?”.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

The simple white lighting shifted to red and gold, diffused by smoke and the tempo slowed just a notch as the unmistakable opening bars of The Next Storm started. Three songs in and the rules were explained – Rule 1: Don’t be an arsehole, Rule 2: If you know the words you have got to sing!

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Turner sang a further twelve numbers taken from across his studio albums with The Sleeping Souls working tirelessly alongside. The repertoire varied from the new and funky, Make America Great Again, taken from Be More Kind, to the classic Reasons Not To Be An Idiot from Love, Ire and Song. At the end of Make America Great Again, he mused “Call me an old hippy, but I think racists should be  ashamed of themselves, wherever they are” a sentiment shared across the cavernous Victorian building. The assembled masses obeyed both rules and sung along, almost as one throughout, and continued right up to song number 25.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

The last of the twelve songs was Glorious You, which the 36-year-old explained had been written for his cousin who had had a tough year. This was the more soulful Songbook rendition which Frank sang beautifully and the audience fell silent for. Knowing the background of the song made it all the more personal.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Following a brief darkness, Frank Turner was centre-stage, alone with only his red acoustic guitar and just under 1,900 people in front of him for company. One of these people was at her 50th show and had a request which she deserved to have granted as Frank played Pass It Along, one of his rarer songs.

In what was a very connected and personal show Turner told us that his girlfriend was present and that he had written a song about her as she slept. Bathed in simple blue light, he sang There She Is full of emotion to her. The throng silently watched him serenade her, in awe. To change the mood a little he then performed the oldest song of the night, the brilliant Ballad Of My Friends with more than a little help from the now rested onlookers.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

The Sleeping Souls joined him back on stage for another three numbers. First  Blackout and then Out Of Breath, where he whipped those on the floor into a frenzy telling them to create a circle in the middle. This resulted in a heaving mass of rotation and jumping, like some giant plughole draining people. Finally the crowd-pleaser Photosynthesis was aired, the entire audience defiantly refusing to sit down, shut up, or grow up!

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

It had been a monumental night, but the encore was still to come. The mass karaoke continued with Love, Ire And Song and I Still Believe. Turner then crowd-surfed to Four Little Words, demanded a circle be cleared, walked through the crowd to the middle of the floor, danced with a female fan, after reminding her that he was taken before crowd-surfing back to the stage.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

The final song, the Songbook version of Polaroid Picture, was poignant and gloriously sentimental. Six spotlights lit the band and six more lit the 1,900 impromptu backing singers as everyone gently sung the song’s climax lyrics over and over. I suspect everyone was thinking of someone close to them as those words echoed around.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Show 2,162 re-affirmed that Frank Turner’s honest and personal lyrics combined with his authenticity make him one of the leading storytellers of his generation. He is not just a Punk-Folk artist but has crossed boundaries both musically and demographically. The back stories he tells during his live shows, including the fact that his Nan – Peggy of Peggy Sang The Blues fame – gave him his first taste of whiskey, demonstrate that there is a bit of him in every song, and most fans of Frank Turner can relate to that. He contemplated that there were nearly 2,000 in the Cambridge Corn Exchange, who all treated each other as equals, 2,000 strangers just sharing the experience of a rock ‘n’ roll Show. He challenged everyone to go out the following day and interact with people in the same way. Perhaps we should all try to Be More Kind.

Frank Turner live at Cambridge Corn Exchange (Paul Lyme)

Live Music Review by Tony Creek and Photography by Paul Lyme of Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls live at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 30th April 2018

 

https://rockshotmagazine.com/207880/arcade-fire-deliver-everything-now-at-wembley-arena/

The Boojums (Christine Latter)

Nova Scotia Trio The Boojums Announce Debut Album And Release First ‘Single Wings Of Fire’

Nova Scotia rock trio The Boojums have announced details of their self-titled debut album, set for release on 31st October via Having Fun Records, a new imprint of Toronto’s We Are Busy Bodies. The first taste of the record arrives with lead single Wings Of Fire, out now.

Will Linley (Press)

Will Linley Shares New Single ‘Up At Night’ Ahead Of Debut Album ‘Don’t Cry Because It’s Over’

Rising South African singer-songwriter Will Linley has released his brand new single Up At Night, the latest preview of his forthcoming debut album Don’t Cry Because It’s Over, which arrives on 5th September via Island Records.

Andrew Spice (Miss Moço)

Andrew Spice Returns After 22 Years With New Album ‘With Animals’

Canadian singer-songwriter Andrew Spice has released his long-awaited second album With Animals, arriving an astonishing 22 years after his 2002 debut Pretty Demons. While the obvious next step would have been a quick follow-up, life took Spice in a different direction: instead of chasing a music career, he trained and built a practice as a clinical psychologist. Now, more than two decades later, he has found his way back to music with a record that fuses both sides of his journey—artist and healer.

Infinite Coles (Robot Moonjuice)

Infinite Coles Unveils Self-Love Anthem ‘BGM’ With Vibrant Puerto Rico-Shot Visuals

NYC-born singer, performer, and model Infinite Coles returns today with his new single BGM, a soulful, house-infused...
Florence + The Machine (Autumn de Wilde)

Florence + The Machine Announce Sixth Album ‘Everybody Scream’

Florence Welch has never been one to shy away from the visceral, the theatrical, or the spiritual. With the announcement of her sixth studio album, Everybody Scream – out 31st October – she once again invites listeners into a world that feels both intimate and unearthly. The news arrives today with the release of the record’s title track, accompanied by a striking video directed by Autumn de Wilde. IDLES’ Mark Bowen, who also contributed musically to the project, appears in the surreal visual, hinting at the collaborative spirit underpinning the album.

Kanadia (Andy Ford)

Kanadia Unveil Darkly Mesmerising New Single ‘Slide Off The Earth’

Oxford alternative rock outfit Kanadia have shared their brand-new single Slide Off The Earth, the latest glimpse into their forthcoming third album The Fire That’s Tearing Through Our Home, due to drop on 26th September.

Charles Kelley (Press)

Charles Kelley Steps Into Bold New Era With Second Solo Album ‘Songs For A New Moon’

Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter and GRAMMY®-winning artist Charles Kelley – best known as one-third of country trio Lady A – has embarked on what he calls a “bold new creative chapter” with the release of his second solo album, Songs For A New Moon.

The Wild Things (Press)

The Wild Things Unleash Cathartic New Single ‘I Can’t Wait’ And Announce September UK Tour

London-based pop-rock firebrands The Wild Things return with their blistering new single I Can’t Wait, out now, marking the second chapter in the band’s summer-long sonic love story.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing