Songwriter takes awards shows to Manchester
09 Feb 2008 - The performance by the king of retro rockabilly, Richard Hawley, at Manchester Academy last night was the second in a series of NME Shockwaves Awards Shows to take place in the city over the next couple of weeks.
Hawley’s brand of kitsch rock 'n' roll was a slightly controversial booking in the run up to the NME Awards, considering the magazine’s typically teenage readership. Hawley acknowledged the unusual scheduling just before the gig when he told 6 Music how he felt honoured to have been chosen to play.
"It’s been really nice to be asked to do this especially me as a 41-year-old father of three," he said. "I find it quite funny. It’s a case of NME Brute not NME Brats [the awards used to be called the Brats]."
Hawley’s audience might have had an average age above the magazine's other gigs, but they were treated to some top class northern banter as Hawley made this not so intimate venue seem much cosier with his down to earth, razor-sharp wit and anecdotal interludes.
“Right then, let's ballad,” he joked at the beginning of the show, before launching into a set list which consisted mainly of songs from his latest album
Lady’s Bridge
.
There were a few covers and special solo performances, but highlights for the audience included Hawley’s rendition of Lonesome Town by Ricky Nelson and his popular upbeat skiffle number Serious. Hawley was also joined on stage at different times throughout the gig by special guest and local Mancunian Clive Mellor, whose virtuosic harmonica playing helped bring the set to life.
"It's a case of NME Brute" -
Richard Hawley
These NME Awards gigs come ahead of this year’s Brit Awards ceremony where Hawley will be battling it out with Mika, Mark Ronson, Newton Faulkner and Jamie T in the Best Male category. The pressure is on but it doesn’t seem to phase the Sheffield songsmith.
“Everyone around me is more arsed about the Brit Awards than I am," he said. "I’ve been before to the Brits and its kind of like watching people that you take seriously every day make absolute fools of themselves. And I find it quite funny to watch people get that hammered.”
"London's rubbish"
In fact, Hawley is a self-confessed cynic and especially when it comes to music awards.
He said: “You never think of awards when you’re making a record. The funniest one was Arena Man of the year. I got nominated and I won it. So me wife kept texting me saying, ‘Oy, Arena Man of the Year, get some milk will you? We’ve run out.’ Or, ‘Oy Arena Man of the Year, pick the kids up will you? I’m getting my hair done.’ I don’t know, as long as they don’t detract from the music and don’t make me a big head [awards] are okay.”
He might not be precious about awards then, but it’s good to see he is still precious about his northern roots. Hawley told 6 Music how pleased he was that this series of NME awards shows will showcase talent in cities other than London for the first time.
He said: "What’s really good about it is that they are taking it out of London and that it's not London-centric. So we’re in Manchester tonight and we’re in Glasgow tomorrow and that’s good because London’s rubbish isn’t it?”
Elizabeth Alker