I first heard David Thomas Broughton on record a couple of years back, his The Complete Guide To Insufficiency, and was impressed by the songs themselves: melancholy folk songs of a modern flavour, licks of guitar and smudges of found sound woven into swirling loops, all presided over by Broughton in his mannered, faintly precious croon. What I wasn’t prepared for, seeing him for the first time at Plan B’s inaugural show at Corsica Studios last week, is what an excellent physical comedian he is: engaged in a lengthy struggle with his microphone stand, flopping around the stage trying and failing to pull his trainers on, or interrupting a song about how his heart is cold as snow with a big, mannered yawn and a glance at his watch (well, it was nearly curfew). He can break your heart and make you laugh as well, and that’s a rare trick. This here YouTube video can only approximate the fullness of his abilities, but here, at least, you see an example of how tics, twitches and in this case, a cough feed into Broughton’s grander designs.

Thanks also to Bishi and the Wave Pictures, also captured here for your enjoyment.

Next Plan B show at Corsica Studio takes place February 20 with Vialka, Safetyword, and Shimmy Rivers And And Canal - tickets on sale soon.