The relationship between Bob Dylan and John Lennon was certainly a complex one. This thorny friendship, with its tangled threads of respect, rivalry and mockery is the subject of Irish duo Brothers Broke’s intimate and informative show When Judas Met John. After the show’s success at last year’s Fringe, twin brothers Tom and Hugh Adams have brought their delicate vocal harmonies and pristine musicianship back to Edinburgh for another year.
With Tom’s intricate guitar-work and Hugh expertly juggling bass guitar and harmonica, the pair perform each song with a lightness of touch that barely resembles either original artist; they sound more like Simon and Garfunkel than either Dylan or Lennon. On one hand, this makes for a fairly sedate performance; their version of Like a Rolling Stone, perhaps Dylan’s most famous track, comes across a little pedestrian compared with the exuberant original. But on the other hand, the brothers’ sense of subtlety shines on their tender rendition of Roll On John, Dylan’s poignant 2012 tribute to Lennon.
At other points, the duo weave the two artists’ music together. The Beatles’ Norwegian Wood, for example, is intercut with Dylan’s Fourth Time Around. The latter song, the brothers argue, was Dylan’s response to the former, which he felt unfairly appropriated his own signature stylings. Similarly, Dylan’s formidable condemnation of the arms industry, Masters of War, is spliced with Lennon’s own protest song Working Class Hero. Emphasising the relevance of their political messaging today, the brothers drive home the righteous, unforgiving anger of both songs in one of the show’s most powerful moments.
When Judas Met John is simply a delight for music fans. Relishing the many nuances and contradictions of the two artists’ unique relationship, the brothers highlight the songwriters’ commonalities – word-play, surrealism, biting political commentary – as well as exploring their differences, such as Dylan’s aloof obscurity compared with Lennon’s raw, introspective honesty. But while far more in-depth than a simple tribute concert, the show never alienates its audience. Whether you’re going along for a thoughtful analysis of two legendary songwriters, or simply to hear some classic melodies reinterpreted in blissful, chilled-out folk, Brothers Broke have got you covered.