It's hard not to warm to BC Camplight when you read quotes like these in his interviews,
So many times I’ve written a perfectly gorgeous song and gone (sighs), Its so boring...why don’t we do this in the middle of it seven times – he mimes slamming his hands on an instrument.(The Guardian 2015)
Its also slightly baffling as many of his songs don’t seem to veer that wildly from the path of well-crafted songmanship. Reading about his life is diverting too. Drugs, hypochondria, nasty injuries, escaping Philadelphia to Manchester, getting deported, boxing, being madly competitive, being accidentally Italian, these are all quite refreshing surprises. There’s a thing I’ve seen up close where getting known as a musician in Manchester means getting 20 extra knowing nods from strangers with every visit to the Dry bar, it’s fun to imagine BC turning up (it was a desperate attempt to avoid US homelessness and also his friends were all getting fed up of him), getting chased down by local drummers etc, and then telling them all that what they were doing (‘dreary psych Manc thing’) was shit. Self-sabotage is not great viewing when it’s your friends but among artists we can call it the path of most resistance, and it becomes admirable. Let’s finish this paragraph on a truly Manc note by throwing in the snippet, ‘He has to be contrary,’ which I once heard DJ Justin Robertson say whilst doing a Mark E Smith impression.
Possibly the most perverse thing about all this is what I said above. He might want to do this (mime hand slamming) seven times during his songs, but it sounds like he’s reined himself in by the time we hear the finished item. I’m Alright In The World is a great example, there IS a pretty bonkers bit that works to shake off any boredom, but it’s not THAT bonkers, and also boredom is hardly a likely complaint. There’s a stately elegance but it’s never dull. The lyrical optimism is shrouded in a tatty bearded resignation (plus dog and suicide humour), making it sound earned, and seasoned with doubt. Just like the songs’ catchy bits are tempered by hands bashing instruments slightly less than seven times. Plus the catchy bits are brilliant.
Tuesday was my interview, but I only brought my tennis shoes
They said ‘Don’t worry, we’ll all wear them too.’
I’m alright in the world
THIS WEEK
BC Camplight – I’m Alright In The World
3,588 views since 25th May Weekly Average Views – 810
LAST WEEK
Little Simz – Rollin’ Stone
Weekly Average Views – 61,717 Blog Week Views – 34,642
EXTRAS – Years of Camplighting
BC Camplight - You Should’ve Gone To School
BC Camplight – Blood And Peanut Butter
BC Camplight – Deportation Blues