Musical satirist Andrew London delivers a new show called ‘True Stories’, with original songs from his extensive canon, dating back to 2001.

‘We’re often kidding about how there’s an autobiographical element to most songwriting, and it began to dawn on me that many of my comic and satirical songs are based directly on personal experience, albeit with a little literary licence. That’s another term for outrageous exaggeration.’

Andrew began writing, performing and recording his uniquely quirky songs about 25 years and 25 albums ago; firstly with Wellington swing trio Hot Club Sandwich and Kapiti country-rock band The Cattlestops, then, from 2012,  with his own Andrew London Trio. This lineup introduced bass guitar-playing partner Kirsten to the stage - an unexpected bonus for a struggling self-employed musician.

‘I had a McCartney-style Hofner violin bass guitar hanging on the wall for years and one day Kirsten said ’What’s that?’ I told her all about how McCartney used it in Germany in the early ‘60s because the Beatles were poor and Hofner guitars were cheap, and because it had a symmetrical shape so he could switch it around and play it left-handed. ‘How do you play it?” She said. I taught her a couple of songs and she took to it like a natural; having a good ear and excellent sense of rhythm, and now I very seldom share the stage with other bass players’.

The ‘True Stories’ show features reflections on showbiz like ‘Enjoy Yourself or get Out’ and ‘Set Me Up By The Bar’, songs about social mis-steps like ‘I Mowed My neighbour’s Berm Today’, cynical condemnations of our consumer culture like ’I’ve Got to Get Myself Some New Friends, rants about the state of the music business with the advent of streaming, and although Andrew has never been one to wear his heart on his sleeve, even the odd romantic theme.

With Kirsten providing bass guitar, backing vocals and occasional prompt duties, ‘True Stories’ sees the focus solidly on Andrew’s ‘wordsmithery’.

A Radio NZ technician quipped recently: ’I’ve never seen anyone sing so many words, so fast, without swallowing his own tongue. You guys are like Flight of The Conchords for Rest Homes’ .