I have just seen Paul Heaton perform at the Norwich Art Centre. It was a good gig: Heaton was in fine form, performing new and old material and bantering like a stand up comic in between songs.
The new material is largely bombastic up-tempo fare, more reminiscent of his later Beautiful South records than his early South and Housematins period. Even if the beat reflects a mellowing of mood, the lyrics are sharper than ever.
Acid Country, the title track of the new album, eviscerates the socio-political culture of the UK and leaves the anti-establishment slogan "Fight a war on greed, not poverty", ringing in your ears.
Welcome to the South critiques the north-south divide, painting a picture of "mealy mouthed", crass southerners in what is effectively a cautionary tale to northern folk: stay where you are!
Perhaps it is Heaton's own fault then that he is not more commercially successful: writing lyrics which slag off the buying public certainly can't help.
This is inspirational, in its way. Heaton has rejected conformity throughout his career, instead remaining true to his principles. It is inspirational and it is admirable.
It is though, I think, also depressing. It is depressing because of the result. Here is Paul Heaton, middle-aged, talented, unfashionably northern in both geography and attitude. Hull is scarcely regarded as a cultural hotbed.
Heaton is an easy idol for someone like me - we have a lot in common, and his lyrics have always struck nerves with me. I could aspire to be like him, not musically of course, but in my chosen field, whatever that may be.
But then what? What would my equivalent of playing in front of a couple of hundred fans in the Norwich Art Centre be? What would his 2010 Pedals and Pumps tour of the pub circuit be in my life?
Heaton himself is evidently bitter about his somewhat fallen stock. "Have any of you actually bought the album?" he asked the crowd, before going on to thank them for their support: "I get none from the radio, TV or the press," he pointed out.
He was being honest, as ever, but again not courting popularity in doing so. That's another thing we have in common then.
I mentioned that he is talented. I knew that much beforehand. His songwriting is unique and, in my opinion, he is a genius for that alone. What I hadn't realised was how good a singer he is.
If you ever get the chance to see Heaton live, go. His acapella-harmonied performance of the Housemartins classic Caravan of Love was mesmeric. The strength of his voice is astonishing.
While jumped up X Factor nobodies are performing recycled, commercialised pop crap on the world stage, Paul Heaton is doing pubs. Yeah, that is depressing - there's no 'think' about it.
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