Stephanie Toronidis
Billy Bragg  Concert Review

All You Fascists Are Bound to Lose

“People around here are getting organized; all you fascists are   bound to lose.” This is the main idea Billy Bragg tries to convey through his latest project: “Pressure Drop.” In two words: Great success! This brilliantly witty and intensely captivating drama, is the lovechild of Bragg and talented director Mick Gordon. You’ll want to run,

The 4 mini-stages and small cast give the performance an intimate theatre experience. But what may be lacking in high-tech lighting, sound and props is greatly made-up for in big-time themes of racism, change and socio-economic issues.

Part play, part gig, part installation, the audience serves as much importance as St. George’s flag. One downside, there should have been a warning label for this standing-room-only show: Don’t forget your comfy footwear. Bragg introduces the show by saying, “although your knees might hate you, your heart definitely won’t.” Quite true. This promenade theatre- concert has the power to change where you stand, in more ways than one. It is a captivating account of “Englishness” and presents different stereotypes that exist in our society today: raging skinheads, the “better-tempered” BNP enthusiasts, the unprejudiced liberal. It sheds light on the feelings of the white middle class: while the rest of the country is moving and changing, they have been left

behind. Through all this seriousness there is still a light air either through reggae and punk classics, wonderfully performed by Bragg and his band or and comedic relief offered up by the actors.

The show ends with an encore performance of Billy Bragg’s “New England”. It’s almost ironic that this song is played as the close to such a show because Bragg claims, “I don’t want to change the world”, but that is exactly what his involvement in Pressure Drop and other such efforts are helping to do, albeit on a small-scale.

Speaking to a group of college students, Bragg revealed the play was inspired by his hometown in East London, who during the last elections was targeted by BNP. He helped petition against the party’s racist platform and hopes

As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Through his unfaltering efforts, Bragg is succeeding in rallying up such a group. Even through humorous, theatrical schema, the unfortunate message rings loud and clear: there is still an association between  nationalism and racism, violence and ignorance. And don’t  be too quick to judge, it’s not a purely English issue. One can’t help wanting to act after seeing a production like “Pressure Drop.” As the old Vet in the play says, “It’s not what you do, it’s what you do after.” Billy Bragg’s continued role as an activist shows just how true this is .