Music / americana
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: February 2018
January may have a had a paucity of ABC gigs but February is better served alas two gig clashes temper the pleasures of both the breadth of music and depth of talent in town – a bugger of a quadruple whammy and a swine of a double header in fact. No recommendations to help resolve your dilemma here mind, too busy working on cloning myself. So big gigs & small gigs; bluegrass, country & country soul; difficult to categorise & traditional but cool; established acts and new outfits – it’s all happening this month. My clones and I will see you down the front.
is needed now More than ever
The quadruple whammy kicks off the month and it’s a difficult one to call, first up veterans Terry & Gerry bringing their unique take on skiffle to the ‘bolt. There can’t be too many bands championed by the mighty John Peel who went onto support Status Quo (although didn’t The Fall once open for Wishbone Ash…or was it Foghat?) making T&G somewhat unique. They first came to prominence via Peel (apparently The Pig’s best friends were also called Terry & Gerry) and supported the festive five at the Royal Albert Hall. Described as Brum cow-punk, their music was rooted in the past but lyrically was grounded in life in the 80s, and occasionally rather gritty. This will be a bit of a raucous night in a cracking venue renowned for rambunctious nights.
The second part of the whammy features a band that have been around for a quarter of a century (Jebus, that sounds so much longer than 25 years), although not operational for all that time. They’ve carved out a bit of unique niche with their “Cuban grooves and Bakersfield-inspired twang” and pleasingly their new material is tackling some of the issues facing the home of the free and the land of the brave head on. The set promises both old and new material but if want to dance the night away bear in mind it’s a seated gig with a few tix left.
The third component of the whammy is rather intriguing – a bunch of studio honchos that made their debut as Kris Kristofferson’s band, enjoyed how they sounded and recorded their debut LP Texas Jelly in a mere four days at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals (RIP Rick Hall). Said LP is rather singular – a mix of southern rock / country / Americana / soul and has as its centrepiece a version of Shakin’ All Over that is as technically adept as it is frankly bonkers. This will be a night of hirsute rockin’ and a distillation of all that’s best about music of southern origins.
Kingsdown Vaults: Friday, 02 Feb
The final component of the whammy features local heroes The Rosellys, not just one of the hardest working bands on the scene but one of the nicest bands you could meet – not only do they tour relentlessly (home and abroad) but they also ensure the bands they meet with and play with get a chance to hit the boards in our fair town – often in conjunction with The Golden Lion. The guys know how to put on a show and it’s a damn shame that so many fine acts are playing on the same night.
What better way to spend the first Sunday of the month than enjoying some fine swampy Cajun Zydeco at one of the finest pubs with a BS postcode. This is an opportunity to dance away the January blues with a pint or three and some of the finest hip shaking dance music and it’s free…oh,and who is that handsome fella on Fiddle?
Seventeen years ago (no really, it’s been a while – hands up if you saw their gig at St Bonn’s back then?) these guys released a hilarious but (mostly) sincere tribute to AC/DC, and they’ve built a rather decent career out of it ever since. Not because they have a massive management machine, or because they’ve been hyped but rather by playing loads and loads and loads of gigs and releasing several LPs of originals and covers, all in their own inimitable style. In their element live, what better way to spend your Valentine’s night than shaking a tail feather a night of raucous rockgrass? Well, as this is a gig clash night (couldn’t Cupid have sorted this better?), there’s the alternative of more traditional fare across town.
Yep, the second gig clash of the month features Jess & the Bandits. They are a cracking little live outfit (but then again, they’re not too shabby on vinyl either). They specialise in a lively country rock hybrid spliced with pop nous and are massive fun on stage (they kicked ass at the Louie on their first visit to town). This is a rescheduled gig and a chance to hear new material from the most recent waxing Smoke & Mirrors. Jess is an engaging and entertaining focus but the band are no slouches and the on stage banter makes for plenty of laughter, a night of carefree escapism is guaranteed.
Purveyors of laid back cosmic country type stuff (or “western expanse music” as they describe it), this gig is unlikely to require your dancing boots but it may well exercise the old grey matter. Their singer-guitarist Dylan Sharp told Pitchfork that the sandstone butte (is) “…the only stage on which our kind of puritanical decadence can successfully perform the irony of its existence.” So not too many songs about cheatin’, drinkin’ and more cheatin’ then – indeed the opening cut on most recent LP Out of Range is entitled Ontological Intercourse. Actually it’s a delightful up tempo number so maybe feet and mind will get their groove on.
St. Georges: Sunday, 24 Feb
Yola C has played some blistering gigs in town over the past few years (in between making one hell of a splash internationally – read more here), the solo career launch at the ‘bolt was a corker and the Wardrobe show was superb too and who can forget the outstanding big band show at the Lantern? This is a welcome opportunity to see an arena sized talnet in an intimate (and delightful) venue and pleasingly is free form clashes. Support comes from Ewan McLennan a fine player, a fine singer and a more than fine songwriter so it’s a quality bill and highly recommended.
Further ahead:
Before you glance at the coming months, pop over to the metal & prog picks and check out The Temperance Movement show, great headliner and killer ABC support. Meanwhile March is a mammoth month – seventeen shows but alas the rock gods mock us from upon high, just under half the gigs are involved in clashes with four double headers to exercise the mind and frustrate the discerning fan. Of course many of the gigs will sell well so book early and at least the volume means plenty of second choices and we’re spoilt for choice in terms of musical styles and size of gigs. There’s the usual mix of local, national and international acts so grab a brew and plan your month – whatever selection you make, a good time is guaranteed.
Grahams, Tunnels: Thursday, 01 Mar
Bluegrass Festival, Folkhouse: Friday, 02 Mar
Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, Lantern: Friday, 02 Mar
Karl Blau, Station: Friday, 09 Mar
Bob Log III, Lantern: Wednesday, 14 Mar
Jason Ringenberg, Thunderbolt: Thursday, 15 Mar
Dan Patlansky, Tunnels: Sunday, 18 Mar
Bellrays, Lantern: Monday, 19 Mar
Handsome Family, St. Georges: Thursday, 22 Mar
Police Dog Hogan, St. Georges Friday, 23 Mar
Red Ray & the Reprobates, Kingsdown Wine Vaults: Friday, 23 Mar
Sarah Darling, Lantern: Tuesday, 27 Mar
Secret Sisters, Tunnels: Tuesday, 27 Mar
Calexico, Trinity: Wednesday, 28 Mar
Ladies of the Blues, Tunnels: Thursday, 29 Mar
Beth Nielsen Chapman, St. Georges: Friday, 30 Mar
Ron Picott, Tunnels: Friday, 30 Mar
The White Buffalo, Academy: Sunday, 08 Apr
Blitzen Trapper, Fleece: Monday, 09 Apr
Tom Paxton, St. Georges: Tuesday, 10 Apr
Ian Siegel, Tunnels: Monday, 16 Apr
Josh Rouse, Lantern: Tuesday, 24 Apr
Grant Lee Phillips, Lantern: Wednesday, 25 Apr
Dead South, Anson: Saturday, 28 Apr
Red Ray & the Reprobates, Old Duke: Wednesday, 02 May
Eric Bibb, St. Georges: Friday, 04 May
Brothers Osbourne, Academy: Monday, 07 May
Deep Dark Woods, Tunnels: Tuesday, 15 May
I’m with Her, Station: Wednesday, 16 May
The Shires, Colston Hall: Wednesday, 16 May
Red Ray & the Reprobates, Golden Lion: Saturday, 19 May
Elles Bailey, Tunnels: Thursday, 31 May
Red Ray & the Reprobates, Old Duke: Thursday, 30 Aug
All Pix by John Morgan
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