Review: Bill Bailey, Dandelion Mind, York Barbican, Saturday (From York Press)

Review: Bill Bailey, Dandelion Mind, York Barbican, Saturday

7:55am Monday 14th November 2011 in Comedy By Julian Cole

THE stage is set for a rock band, with amps, lighting rig, keyboards and guitars. In to this loud space steps a man in a dark suit, his trademark fly-away hair closely following. Yes, here is Bill Bailey, comedian, one-man band and purveyor of extremely enjoyable lunacy.

He begins with a political outburst against the coalition government, in particular directing his colourful virulence at David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

There endeth the first rant, and after that Bailey mixes his usual mad routines, tunes, rap, poetry, short films and cover songs with explorations into horror films and further bursts of sudden anger: the Pope’s ears must certainly have been burning at one point.

If there is a theme to Dandelion Mind, the phrase itself only appearing as part of a lyric in a song about soppy female singer-songwriters, it is the exploration of doubt. Bailey professes himself a non-believer and recalls being at a family christening when the vicar asked the congregation what they would say to Jesus if he appeared right now. “Bad luck, mate, you’re in Croydon,” was Bill’s answer - to which his wife said: “You just said that out loud.”

This thread is eventually woven into comic tapestry in which Bailey has fun with Renaissance paintings displaying the Incredulity Of Thomas, complete with Terry Gilliam-style animations.

Too many inspired songs to mention including a joyous French pop version of Cars and the Wurzels singing Pokerface.

This show has everything: astonishing wit and invention, great musicianship put to mischievous use, all delivered by a comedian who appears to have a blow-away mind, but must really be as sharp as they come to produce something this surreally wonderful.

Bill Bailey plays Grand Opera House York on Sunday, Novermber 20 at 8pm.