The enigmatic Mr Bewlay keeps us guessing with new film ‘The Blackness & The Ending’, recorded at Sustainable Studios in Cardiff last month. In it, he declares the termination of his Black Reason phase by performing the EP from earlier this year, in full.
In a room resembling a cold war underground bunker, he morphs from a black hatted and cloaked contemporary Zorro, into something quite different. A mysterious figure serves as Mr Bewlay’s valet, disrobing and redressing him in – and one does hate to be shallow here – but a gloriously pretty kimono. ‘The Samurai Dancer’ pop tart emerges, before the absolute bop and ode to older women ‘Live, Life, Love’.
Our hero is flashes the flesh – towel around his waist – and kneels on bare cold concrete; Jeeves returns, hacking off Mr B’s blond locks. His hair shorn to the skull reveals him a brunette. A metaphor in itself; there are layers to this artist we have not yet discovered.
This dramatic death of the old and promise of the birth of something new is what keeps any creative endeavour exciting; after all, in nature if anything stays in the same place for long enough it starts to stink.
The performance is a brief window into the world of Mr Bewlay, giving an idea to those outside Wales about what his live show is like. Raucousness and true showmanship a mere two qualities. He has expressed a keenness to do shows further afield, touring Scotland and England already – and plays Liverpool twice in the coming weeks, the November date in the city already sold out.
Mr Bewlay shows:
Round the Corner, Liverpool – 29th September
The Moon, Cardiff – 4th October
Carnival Brewing Co. Liverpool – 25th November
Filmed at Cardiff’s by the talented duo Redbrck.
Credits:
Curated & Produced – Mr Bewlay
Guitar – Tom Emlyn
Bass – Sam Duval
Drums – Karl Horanszky
Filmed & Edited – Redbrck
Sound – KINGKHAN
Location – Sustainable Studios
Stage Assistant – Max Winchester
Costumes – Marigold Costumes Ltd
Photography – Stephane James
Additional Assistance – Ewa Palka, Mari Northal