Beans on Toast: no-nonsense, heartwarming, and underrated

Jay McAllister, better known under the stage pseudonym Beans on Toast, is much like the classic student staple dish he goes by the name of; hearty, underrated and solid. His recent gig at The Rainbow in Birmingham, promoting his new album Rolling Up The Hill, was true to this description.

With this album displaying a move away from songs of his earlier back catalogue that revelled in the ecstasy of sex, alcohol and, well, ecstacy, it is clear that the newly married Jay has settled down, changed his ways, and is now appreciating different things in life: “This album is definitely more based around friendship, travel and art. I’ve travelled a lot this year; different locations more than ever have been my biggest inspiration – especially America.”

Rolling Up The Hill was recorded in August in Kansas, home town of husband and wife country duo Truckstop Honeymoon, who worked with Jay on instrumentation and joined him on his UK tour. The inclusion of the double bass, fiddle and percussion sets this album and the individual songs apart. There is a fuller sound and definite Americana vibes, notably on the single track ‘The Great American Novel’, in which he speaks of his US travels, although does so with his trademark loveable Essex twang.

“I’m not a politician – saying that, even they’re often not qualified to speak on these things either”

Jay’s warm wit is something which shines through on stage, as well as in this album and in conversation. He greets me with a cheeky but earnest smile and names the crowd at The Rainbow venue the “rainbow warriors”.

Despite his charmingly honest humour, Rolling Up The Hill also has a political edge, especially on the track ‘God is a Terrorist’: a bold tune referencing religion, terrorism and racism in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack – something which now assumes additional poignancy so soon after the Paris atrocities.

When asked about using his position to discuss politics, Jay places importance on conversation rather than stance: “I’m not saying my opinion is the right one, or anyone’s [opinion] is right. I’m not a politician – saying that, even they’re often not qualified to speak on these things either. Music can be a vehicle for social protest, yeah, but that’s not my main intent, it is important to get people talking about these things though.”

Jay skanks barefooted in the middle of the crowd and he quietly confesses out loud his self-reminder to move the capo so you can’t tell it’s the same song

Despite a couple of drunken heckling ‘backing singers’ in the crowd which many performers may have found distracting and annoying, especially when they light up a cigarette indoors towards the end of the set and offer one to Jay, he handled them well. Jay finally says what the rest of the room are thinking: “I hate people who are boring, but you lads are over doing it”. Rather admirably, he explains that he thrives to create this sort of chaos, and preaches love, as he does in his new album, so he can’t complain.

There’s something about the way Jay skanks barefooted in the middle of the crowd and how he quietly confesses out loud his self-reminder to move the capo so you can’t tell it’s the same song. His raspy vocals, honesty and simplicity are key attributes in all previous Beans on Toast material, yet despite the slight maturation in theme, Rolling Up The Hill is not a radical change of direction – simply because it doesn’t need to be. It’s another no nonsense heart-warming delivery for fans to tuck into, showing that complexity isn’t always needed – as ever loyal to his stage name.