FEEDING OF THE 5000
London Shepherds Bush Empire
November 25th
5/5
In 1977 a group of anarchists called themselves CRASS released an album called 'The Feeding Of The 5000'. Soon after they were investigated by the CIA, MI5 and the KGB. During their seven years as a band they attempted to change the world. For the millions who listened to the message they articulated with such brutal precision - they did.
While much had been made of Steve Ignorant's decision to perform 'The Feeding Of The 5000' from the Guardian newspaper to punk messageboards, the electricity of the anticipation in the run-up to tonight soon gave way as the military drumbeat of 'Do They Owe Us A Living' cut away all concerns as nothing less than a political juggernaut burst through West London. With tracks such as 'Banned From The Roxy', 'Punk Is Dead' and 'So What' within the setlist, how could tonight ever have failed? As the brilliant punk masterpieces 'Bloody Revolutions' and 'Big A Little A' found themselves aired later on in the set they also found themselves with a backing choir of four thousand belligerent punks who, by the looks on their faces, could still not believe both their eyes or ears as the music of CRASS through Steve Ignorant once again filled the airwaves. Steve Ignorant achieved what many thought impossible tonight. A virtuoso delivery and performance found itself coupled alongside the unconditional love felt for the songs that channeled through to the faces in the crowd and somehow beyond. It was nothing less than perfect in every way. Billed as a night of love, music, film, performance and anger, tonight transcended all of those emotions and in an age where we have been accustomed to homogenized corporate punk charlatans became nothing less than magical. If there is no authority but
Yourself, let’s hope Steve Ignorant performs again. It’s rare nights like these that do change people’s lives. Gig of the year.
John Damon
