Beans on Toast / Rescue Rooms / Nottingham
It’s been a long week. A very long week, but it’s Sunday night and I’ve got a trip in to Nottingham and to the Rescue Rooms to look forward to, and the visit of Beans on Toast on his “The Toothpaste and the Tube” 2024 tour. I love a bit of Beans on Toast, who is always guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Beans often performs as a solo artist, but on this tour, he’s got a whole backing band with him. Early in his set Beans explains that he met them all at Glastonbury last year and talked them into tagging along to learn a few of his songs for a tour. What was brilliant tonight, was instead of having a local or full tour support, Beans has given support slots to his band, to showcase their individual skills to a wider audience. Each one got about 20mins solo time to showcase their wears…. Love it !
First up is guitarist Memphis Gerald with a short acoustic set. He delivers a gorgeous but short set of folk songs, starting with a great version of the Workers Song. There’s also a really moving number entitled Despite it All (?) a song about his uncle. The final number was Red Rocking Chair a delightful dose of Americana. Memphis has a great voice and style and I loved it.
After 20mins, Memphis invited King Killership up onto the stage, who delivered a short set of honky-tonk style piano with harmonica songs. From the laid back, slow folk style of Memphis, King ramps up the tempo with a rockin set. The room is filling up and everyone is nodding along and tapping their toes. For the final number, he’s joined on stage by drummer Abbi Phillips for a rousing fast paced, foot stomping finale.
Next up, is the third and final support in bass player Bassie Gracie. I thought this could be interesting, a solo bass performance ? Ha ! I couldn’t have been more wrong ! Gracie delivered a brilliant spoken word, poetry set ! A great style of delivery as after each piece she would bow and then start talking to the crowd about the poem, but then you realise the talk has morphed right into the next piece. The link up between performance pieces was brilliantly done. Her poems covered subjects like being a poet, working a customer service job at Gatwick Airport handing out whiskey samples, about her time travelling dad and how he met mum, and one about boys growing wings from their backs and the emotional and social pain. Funnily she explains how people ask what the socio-political meaning is, such as about living in a body you don’t believe you belong in….. and she smiles and tells us…. ‘nah…. Its about X-Men!’
A great experience and a chance to experience new music and styles I wouldn’t have normally.
Then, it’s time for Beans and his band to step out. Beans has been to Nottingham many times and has ties to the city, and has set up the summer ‘Foolhardy Folk Festival’ in the city’s arboretum park, which has been a great hit. First up is Back Out on the Road and when Nottingham is mentioned in the list of cities the crowd cheers loudly.
I’ve seen Beans before, and I have to say he is always so happy and positive, with a smile on his face. I don’t know if it’s having a full band behind him or what, but Beans seemed super relaxed….. and just loving it ! There is a real fun, relaxed and engaging atmosphere and it feels special.
There are several tracks from the new “The Toothpaste and the Tube” album including the aforementioned Back Out on the Road along with The Dragicorn, Send Me a Bird, The Greenwash and The Chicken Song.
Beans interacts so easily with his audiences as he gives explanations of some of where the songs come from, such as The Golden Lion, a song about the pub in Todmorden well known for hosting live shows.
There are some of his classics in there too from his extensive back catalogue, such as a brilliant version of The War on War and my favourite song of the night, a wonderful version of A Beautiful Place from 2021’s “Survival of the Friendliness”.
Memphis, King, Bassie and Abbi are exceptional musicians in their own right and feel a perfect fit for Beans. As always Beans has the crowd in the palm of his hand, from the moment he stepped out, until the final bow. A great professional and a humble guy too, it’s a delightful night, and if you can get along to a show, I recommend you take up the chance !
