The anti-folk comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis is an eclectically cavalier musician whose wilfully laconic oeuvre is littered with gloriously leftfield choices; from his abrasive debut album ‘The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane’ to recording a whole album of the anarchist punk band Crass’ songs, Lewis has always pushed the stylistic envelope further than his peers. The folk punk energy and attitude of his music reinvigorated a stultifying genre and, along with artists like The Moldy Peaches and Dufus, mocked its seriousness. His art has appeared in The Guardian, a gloriously anarchic comic strip ‘What Would Pussy Riot Do?’ and The New York Times. Latest album ‘Manhattan’ is a sublimely personal travail through his New York City life with stand out track ‘Sad Screaming Old Man’ being an uproarious and disturbing noisy ode to bad neighbours, like much of Lewis’ music it drags the listener into the dark nights of our heart and soul. With his Los Bolts backing band in tow the noise will be loud, riotous and sweet.
Thu 12 Oct 7pm at The Hare and Hounds, 106 High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ £11 www.skiddle.com
Words: Giles Logan
Published on: Fri 8 Sep 2017