Wednesday 13/09/06 Badly Drawn Boy @ The Zodiac, Oxford

It was a hot evening in a full room of people with no air-con. Like the Slipknot masks and the crown, you have to wonder what the inside of Damon Gough's woolly hat smells like? Badly Drawn Boy is different to Slipknot, but Liz got acknowledged with chord's of the national anthem slipped into 'Born in the UK'. Broken Social Scene did the same here a couple of weeks ago with one of their songs. Like B.S.S. Damon Gough also struggled with the sound quality: two false start's for 'Born in the UK'. "I can't hear the guitar" It was like the 'It's all gone Pete Tong' movie, in the flesh. "Get on with it" At least he heard that... "Sorry mate, I just can't hear the guitar" Hopefully, whatever happens to the Zodiac, the sound will be sorted out.

There's been a lot of gossip about the venue lately, but gossip about brick's and mortar is no good. Gossip about people is more interesting and what's to be reported from this gig is that most of B.D.B's new songs are about breaking up. 'Promises' was the pick of the bunch... "Sometimes it's best to walk away" The song is so sad, those walking away step's sound like they'd be heavy enough to sink into the ground, like Damon's fingers stepping on the piano keys.

Mr Gough had some funny stuff to break up the sadness, like party trick's with a cigarette. "I've been trying to teach my kid's that all week" The crowd were only receptive to the comedy. We were told that one song was about a suicide note and most people laughed. Did you hear how he said that? It was just like Peter Kay. He really is a northerner. Probably drinks gravy. Some of the crowd were bad 'un's. Gough was telling us about how his new record was due to be put out on his birthday, but now has been put back a week. Then came the sarcastic heckle "Life's so hard, isn't it?" "This song's about a friend of mine that died a couple of year's ago." Badly Drawn Boy is a class act.