Paxton rolls back the years with a wistful singalong
own songs in the second half, bringing that fluent infusion of folk, jazz and world music to The Field of the Cloth of Gold and a burst of Brexit rage (as well as nods to Public Enemy and Kool & The Gang) to the intense and dramatic heavy metal flamenco of Building Our Own Temple/lies! Lies! Lies!
Elsewhere, he exhibited a Jeff Buckley-like sonorous soul and tenderness which was every bit as impactful before powering down with the ever-soothing Moon River. FIONA SHEPHERD country singer” Kathy Mattea.
At the age of 81, Paxton defies the march of time – or perhaps his material never ceases to be relevant. What If, No Matter imagines life in a society with adequate gun controls, and he exuded a practical, rational rage on If The Poor Don’t Matter.
He may have cause to wonder why he must return to the same themes time and again down the years, digging out his 1970 eco anthem Whose Garden Was This?
But the mood throughout was blithe and breezy, whether the light western swing touch of Susie Most of All, a comic ditty on his ageing fanbase which contended that “all my stalkers use walkers” or a climate change denial ditty in the irreverent style of Randy Newman.
Another new song Uke N Play was a Sesame Streetstyle slice of edutainment. Throwaway as this was, Paxton has always injected humourthroughhiscatalogue – his mischievous mid-60s singalong Bottle of Wine