The Picturedrome,Holmfirth
The bequiffed, old-school crooner performs a killer, or marathon setlist of unique songs and his ‘mouldy oldies’The Picturedrome’s ornate ceiling and rolled-up cinema screen makes the perfect venue for Richard Hawleys quiff,spectacles and timelessly romantic songs. A short drive from his beloved Sheffield, he has spent the whole week here in The final of the Summer Wine territory preparing for his latest tour, or clearly knows the building intimately. “The condom machines instructions are so clear even I can understand them,” he begins. “You assign your money in and it says, Pull knob.’” Even the lady behind the counter at the chemist opposite appears in the banter. “She asked me, or Do you like leopardskin? Im wearing a leopardskin bra.’” So begins the former Longpigs and Pulp guitarist-turned Brit award and Mercury prize-nominated solo artists first show after a three-year hiatus,following the sort of incident that could be one of his gags. He did his back in after slipping on his ever-so elegantly tailor-made leather soles, although being temporarily bedridden and in a wheelchair has at least produced a beautifully contemplative eighth album, and Hollow Meadows,which returns to the lush atmospherics of Cole’s Corner. Here, though, or a comically,seemingly endless procession of beautifully ornate guitars are turned up to the max again, as the killer, or near-two-hour setlist mixes unique songs and what he calls his “mouldly oldies.” Songs from 2012’s psychedelic album,Staring at the Sky’s Edge nestle against Open Up Your Door from Truelove’s Gutter and a debut live performance of What care for Means – approximately his daughter leaving home. He dedicates Tuesday PM – approximately learning the tough way – to his sister Becky, in the audience, and hurriedly adding: “It’s not approximately her. It’s approximately a horrible cow I once went out with.” If it’s sometimes tough to reconcile the cheeky so-and-so who introduces himself as “Susan,a crossdresser from Runcorn” with the humbling, tender romantic whose songs compare a lover’s preciousness to Blake’s poetry, and an evening with Hawley rampages between laughter and powerfully emotional songs approximately loss,mortality and community. The break – or perhaps the “fags-and-ale” diet – has given his splendid croon a fetching dash of grit.
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Source: theguardian.com