MATTHEW HAWKINS applauds a psychotherapist’s disection of William Blake
Preaching revolution, solidarity, change and equality
Bob Vylan at the Electric Ballroom
[Mik Sabiers] 
New releases from Christina Alden and Alex Patterson, Odette Michell, Clementine Lovell
JOHN GREEN is fascinated by a very readable account of Britain’s involvement in South America
Strip cartoons used to be the bread and butter of newspapers and they have been around for centuries. MICHAL BONCZA asks our own Paul Tanner about which bees are in his bonnet
GORDON PARSONS acknowledges the authority with which Sarah Kane’s theatrical justification for suicide has resonance today
RON JACOBS welcomes a timely homage to one of the IWW and CPUSA’s most effective orators
Bob Vylan
Electric Ballroom
GRIME punk rock duo Bob Vylan have had an incredible 2022.
An acclaimed support slot with Amyl & the Sniffers across the US and the UK, winner of Kerrang’s album of the year for The Price of Life, most recently awarded the Mobo for Best Alternative Music Act, Bob Vylan’s year is topped by this sold-out gig at London’s Electric Ballroom, the band’s biggest headline show to date.
Formed back in 2017 the duo’s musical edge is rap punk rock driven social commentary visualised in a mix of action, anger and outrage all set to a rapacious beat.
Opening the set with Big Man, it is literally just seconds before the whole room is rocking. Lead singer Bobby Vylan thrusts and punches his way through the track while waxing lyrical about why the pursuit of money is not the route to happiness, drummer Bobbie Vylan pounds out a visceral beat, and buzzsaw guitar echoes round the room.
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