You read it here first: this media release has just been finalised and approved by Universal Stranger’s public relations office:

Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK, January, 12 2016—Welsh punk folk legend Nigel Philip Davies has confirmed that he will play for Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President on January 20.

“I admit I had some reservations,” said Davies, who was trolled by Trump supporters when, during the election campaign, he released Mr Tangerine Man, an anti-Trump protest song based on Bob Dylan’s classic Mr Tambourine Man.

“But when I saw the impressive line-up of musicians, movie stars and other celebrities who won’t be performing at the inauguration, or even watching it on TV, I thought ‘Chwarae teg[1], it’s his first day on the job, I’ll cut him some slack.’”

Because of his other commitments, Davies will limit his set to just one song, Unfinished Business, from his most recent solo album, Songs from a River.

“It’s kind of appropriate, as it can be interpreted as making the point that now that Trump actually is President, he’d better start delivering for all the people who put him there.”

The point is underlined by the video, in which footage of Davies playing and singing is interspersed with harrowing photographs of poverty in modern-day America.

“It cuts both ways—as a reminder to Trump to pull his finger out and do something for the people who voted for him, and as a reminder to the Democrats that the social evils they claim to be fighting still very much exist.”

Clearly Davies’ anti-Trump position hasn’t softened, so how does he think his performance will be received by the President?

“Well, it’s not like I’m actually going to be there,” said Davies. “I’ll be at home in Wales watching the inauguration on the telly and at some point in the proceedings—probably when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir start singing Oh Happy Day!—I’ll turn the volume down.

“Then I’ll play Unfinished Business on the stereo, with the sound all the way up to eleven.”

[1] Welsh for “fair play”.

Well, sort of. Ever since Nigel Philip Davies and I signally failed in our attempt to prevent the Donald adding the White House to his property portfolio, we’ve been looking at other ways of getting up his nose. Nigel is working on a follow-up to Mr Tangerine Man which he aims to release before the inauguration. Meanwhile, here’s a note he sent a few days ago to fans of his band Moongazer, which might give you a taste of things to come.

Happy new year (despite everything).

Rody

Happy New Year to you all. Hope you had a great New Year’s Eve. I saw the New Year in on the M4 just outside Cardiff with a handshake with Craig, the bass player in Moongazer.

We’d been playing in a Brain’s pub in Cwmbran. We’d been booked in by an agent and had never played there before. The pub management had done their homework, looked at our site and focused on “Pirates”. When we got there, they’d decorated the pub with canvas sails, billowed out by balloons. All the staff were resplendent in pirate outfits. It got even more surreal when the customers started to arrive and they too were dressed as pirates. In fact everyone was dressed as pirates except us …..and a party of nine who turned up as eight Mexicans and a Donald Trump, complete with their own cardboard wall.

The night got even more surreal as Pirates mixed with Mexicans trying to dance Irish jigs and reels.

In the interval we got into a huddle and put together a quick version of “The Mexican Hat Dance”.

Source: Hollywood Toys and Costumes

We started the second half with this and the Mexican party went nuts, the wall got trampled underfoot and Donald Trump was knocked over. Somehow all seemed right with the world….

Peace

Nigel