"Next up is (or indeed are) Glyn Bailey And The Many Splendid Things, and I love the way the bassist is standing reading The Financial Times while the rest of them do a quick line check. Now I first encountered Mr Bailey playing at a David Lynch tribute night, which does seem oddly appropriate. I vaguely remember reading a biography that claimed he (Bailey, not Lynch) once worked as an egg delivery man, for instance. At least I hope I didn't imagine that. Bailey is from Blackpool, I believe, and with his rugged middle-aged good looks and smart attire could easily be belting out standards for easy cash in any of the resort's terrifying hotels, but chooses instead to play originals informed by David Bowie and The Divine Comedy in basements like this.
Although I have no idea exactly what's going on tonight as I've seen him live a few times and I don't recognise any of the songs here. Not only that, but there seems to be a theme threading them together, narrated by the shadow of a humanoid with a bird's beak projected on a screen behind the band. The voice of this peculiar creature is not dissiliar to that of... Nick Alexander. They've had some fun putting this one together. And as if that's not enough, in between songs Bailey approached each member of his band with a battered leather packing case, from which they are each inviited to take a trinket. The drummer chooses a plastic Oscar. Only at the end does Bailey reveal that he once sold his soul to the dark side in return for his musical talent, and that by accepting these gifts the musicians have traded theirs in too.
And then he brings the case around the crowd, giving us each a fortune cookie...."
Cath Aubergine Blog