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Razorlight, The Rev and MPs play a gig surrounded by planes

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Razorlight

Unlikely bill play Science Museum for Friends Of The Earth

Razorlight and Reverend And The Makers' John McClure lent their musical talents to climate campaign the Big Ask last night(June 3) by playing the aviation section of London's Science Museum.

The acts performed at the gig, the final push in Friends Of The Earth's petition, in the museum's aviation room, surrounded by vintage planes and other airplane memorabilia.

Introduced by a Friends Of The Earth representative as "an outspoken environmental champion", John McClure took to the stage first.

Clutching a white acoustic guitar, the opinionated frontman launched into 'The Birds Of Prey'.

Then, after playing a new song called 'Professor Pickles', McClure introduced the next track, also a new one, with a nod to the gathered MPs watching the show and supporting the Big Ask cause.

McClure said: "This is a song called 'Politics & Pogosticks' and I know there's a lot of politicians here... but I think you're a long way off from what most kids think."

Before launching into the final track of the set McClure said: "It doesn't seem very cool to care about the planet nowadays, it used to be in the '60s."

McClure then introduced his partner for the final song - rapper Lowkey and the duo, with The Rev still strumming his acoustic guitar, launched into another politically infused rap number.

The Aviators took to the small stage next.

The one-off band, made up of politicians including Lembit Opik, SNP's Peter Wishart, Conservative Anne Milton and Labour's Emily Thornberry and Ian Cawsey, performed a rendition of 's 'Leaving On A Jet Plane'.

Opik - Gabriela Irimia of The Cheeky Girls' fiancé - demonstrated his harmonica playing talents by doing an elongated solo near the end of the track.

After a short break all the members of Razorlight sauntered on stage to perform a short set.

Initially billed as being a solo gig by Borrell, the surprised crowd cheered as the band picked up their instruments.

Wearing all black, and sporting some circular framed John Lennon type glasses, Borrell and co launched into a muted version of 'Somewhere Else'.

However the band's excitement at being back on stage fresh from the studio was obvious as throughout the short set drummer Andy Burrows and band became louder and louder.

Watched by Opik and a nodding John McClure, the four-piece rocked into 'Fall To Pieces' - complete with an instrumental breakdown at the end that saw Borrell slashing his acoustic guitar and Burrows pounding the drums extra hard.

Before finishing the set solo on acoustic guitar Borrell said: "Thanks everyone for supporting this - it's a fucking great thing. This is the last track off the 'Up All Night' album -it's called 'Fall Fall Fall', and it seemed rather apt."

Razorlight played:

'Somewhere Else'
'Vice'
'America'
'Fall To Pieces'
'Fall Fall Fall'


John McClure played:

'The Birds of Prey'
'Professor Pickles'
'Hidden Persuaders'
'Politics & Pogosticks'
'Lies
'with Lowkey

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