While I briefly popped to get a breath of fresh air during Mark Eitzel’s set, a fellow punter offered the opinion that he couldn’t be quite sure what mood Mr. Eitzel was in. Whether he was into it or not, and if he was pissed.

There couldn’t be much doubt that whatever mood or level of inebriation he was actually in, Eitzel is a real pro, one you could imagine could be on his death bed and still turn on the passion. He would, I’m sure, write a glorious swansong. And whatever his mood – often downbeat – he demonstrated time and again tonight what a consummate artist he is. Beginning with ‘Blue and Grey Shirt’, a typically melancholia-imbued beauty from the California album of 1988, one he made with his band at the time, American Music Club. His guitar sounded a little out of tune (he is not a great musician, but instead uses it well enough as a tool to construct songs), but it didn’t matter. By the second song – another American Music Club song, this time 1994’s ‘What Holds The World Together’ – he was in full flow: neck veins protruding, face creased in some kind of sufferance, gripping the mic tight, and utterly lost in the sentiments of the words he so eloquently writes.

It is a voice that speaks of pain and sadness; both on the level of personal relationships and on a more existential level, perhaps best epitomised by the title of new song ‘Nothing and Everything’. But he has that rare ability to inject touches of acidity and humorous self-deprecation within the often sad and reflective outpourings. As he does on the atmospheric electric-folk grooves of ‘The Road’, one of several tracks from his new solo album, the Bernard Butler produced Hey Mr. Ferryman, interspersed with tracks from his extensive back catalogue (‘Mission Rock Resort’, ‘Jesus’ Hands’).

And his passion extends to that of world affairs and society in general. A gay man, and quite possibly the veritable black sheep of the family, he royally gives it to Donald Trump, and voices his utter contempt for fascism (“fascism starts with the hatred of women“) whilst generally giving himself a hard time. “I spent the last ten years trying to waste half an hour,” he sings on album highlight ‘The Last Ten Years’, whilst at the same time showing what a fighter he is, and how true to himself he is. “If you’re not afraid of what’s in your heart, you can make a difference,” he says to the audience during the course of the gig, before he launches into new song ‘In My Role as Professional Singer and Ham’. He then namechecked his boyfriend as the inspiration for ‘No Answer’ (“He hates this song”), and John Inman (aka Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served) who is behind the song ‘Mr Humphries’, and whom Eitzel watched as a young whilst growing up in England (Eitzel is English by birth and, in fact, didn’t move to the States ’til his late teens).

For over 30 years now, Eitzel has made a difference. By being honest, by not being afraid to let people know what is buried deep inside, and by voicing through the emotive power of his songs made over a productive 30 year period, Eitzel’s catalogue is simply stunning. As is his total commitment to song and performance, no matter what state he may be in. “I’ve got a thirst that would make the ocean proud,” he sings on final song tonight ‘Jesus’ Hands’.
Jeff Hemmings

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