I love Bill Bailey. He looks funny, he says funny things and he’s a great musician – all things I can admire in a person.
Now there was a bit of a mix up with the PR company that sends these review discs out; they were convinced that Dandelion Mind hadn’t been sent even though I told them that I had received it. Curious, I thought, but I didn’t let it concern me anymore, mainly because I was distracted by Bill Bailey’s quizzical keyboard soundtrack of my life.
Because that’s what Bill does – he makes music funny but also accessibly, subtly illustrating just how it is used in TV and movies while at the same time making us laugh.
Anyone expecting anything new from Bailey in Dandelion Mind will be disappointed – but then, who wants Bill to drop the music and tell working men’s club blue material? This guy performs well thought-out and considered material, with a nicely surreal edge. Witness the moment he challenges the audience to name a stringed instrument, to which one member uttered “oud” with such reverence that the comedian took the show in a whole new direction for five minutes.
With the potential horrors of 2012 and James Blunt also dealt with in true Bill Bailey manner, this is possibly the comedian’s best live DVD to date.
This is why comedy fans love Bill Bailey.
Extras
With the main feature running to 90 minutes there is just enough space for a couple of extras.
Scenic Roots – the obligatory tour diary extra, running for 45 minutes, this sees Bill working on some warm up shows.
Nemesis of the Insect Nepenthes Bill Bailey sees Bailey at “the Glastonbury of plants”, also known as the Chelsea Flower Show, where the performer is visiting to see a plant named after him. Apparently Bill Bailey does a lot of work for conservation and the plant has been named in honour of this work.
You can pick up Bill Bailey Live: Dandelion Mind on DVD for just £12.92 on Amazon
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