Billy Jenkins: When the Crowds Have Gone

As I mentioned before, I saw Billy Jenkins three times last year, and I bought this at The Spitz last April at the second of those gigs, which Billy was headlining with Paul the Girl and others. At the first gig, however, he was already on stage when we arrived. Seeing us handing over our cash, he grumbled, "Come in, come in — you haven't missed anything". The audience was 'light' that evening. One person got up to go to the lavatory, and Billy broke off: "Please don't leave". Like the title of this album, the crowd was going.

Billy plays the clown, playing sad. Sometimes I wonder if, as clowns are supposed to be, he truly is miserable. But on this album the songs are pantomime blues, or, in the spirit of the cover photographs of deserted English seaside resorts, Punch and Judy blues.

Unlike the other albums I have of his, this one has him mostly just playing solo. I think it was insinuated that he couldn't afford a band any more. Again, I have no idea whether this is an authentic reason.

There are reviews and 30-second samples of three of the songs on the official record label page for this album.

MusicBrainz entry for this album

Comments

[Oliver]

Billy always gets one thinking, and of course it can be hard to divine whether he's being serious or humorous. He tours in the autumn with a larger band - could it be that he can now afford one or is it just because that's the balance he wanted all along.

[David]

Oliver, I suspect your question is rhetorical, because I would imagine that you know the answer? I look forward to seeing the band again. I hope that Billy can afford one whenever he wants to — and that you both profit from releasing more of his albums.