The extended Seeger family’s importance cannot be doubted. Allied to many causes, including unionisation, feminism and antiwar stances, the Seegers were part of the broad left vanguard and they laid the groundwork for making it acceptable to put a political and social consciousness to music.
This concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall brought together Peggy, her brother Mike and halfbrother Pete for their first recording in years, along with many other family members from the MacColl side, and friends such as Billy Bragg, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson. To say it was a historic occasion would be undercutting it a bit. Peggy requests no applause after playing the post- 9/11 Caveman, simply because she believes there is nothing in the content to applaud. Gonna Be An Engineer gets a warm response, as do the massed voices on Careless Love and the simplicity of Love Call Me Home. Pete Seeger’s solo contributions vary from the instructive Take It From Dr King, to the gentle humour of English Is Cuh-ray-zee and, of course, Where Have All The Flowers Gone. This is more akin to a impromptu family gathering in a folk club than a major show, but that’s probably how many would wish it.
