Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: May 2017
Screw the election, have you seen the line-up of acts not just this month, but in the months ahead? It’s not just the Americana, Blues & Country stuff, some fabulous metal and prog (but watch out for gig clashes, one here and more elsewhere) and plenty of other stuff all over town, especially with Dot-to-Dot at the back end of the month. This month we have not one but two genuine giants of their respective genres; great VFM local bills; some scorching guitar nights at the Tunnels…so without further ado, dive in and plan your month. See you down the front.
Colston Hall: Wednesday, 03 May
is needed now More than ever
If you don’t have a ticket for this show, then it’s too late to score one as it sold out weeks ago, no surprise given the critical plaudits and commercial success he’s achieved despite a four year gap between his current LP Love & Hate and his debut Home Again. Although he’s had plenty of mainstream exposure via support slots with, amongst others, Adele; appearance at major festivals and tunes placed in prestigious telly programmes (Big Little Lie most recently), it’s pleasing to report that it’s not hype: this guy is selling records and selling out shows because he’s managed to make 21st century soul that appeals to aficionados and casual punters alike. Let’s hope it’s not four years ‘til the next record.
Regular readers (browsers?) will be well aware that it’s unusual for the picks not to have a guitar slinger in the list but what makes Dan Patlansky a little different is his country of birth (South Africa) and whilst that country is a hot bed of some fabulously exciting and challenging music, it’s not necessarily renowned for its blues musicians. Patlansky’s first visit was a belter of a show at the Thunderbolt, and he followed that up with a support slot at the Colston with Satch himself. This rather extensive European tour is in support of Introvertigo, which has been harvesting praise all over the place and you can expect well-crafted songs with plenty of fretboard fireworks and as much Hendrix as BB King in his solos.
Yep, let’s just forget the family connection and hop straight to Allman’s music. He’s been in and led bands (Honeytribe); helped found blues rock super-groups (Royal Southern Brotherhood) and guested with all manner of bands and acts (yes, including the old man’s outfit) as well as recording solo material. His style doesn’t wander far from his roots, but he takes those roots and blends them with a fresh, modern attitude (informed by early years spent avoiding the easy route by exploring more than just southern rock) resulting in classy song writing topped off with his smoky voice and smoking guitar – he can play a bit to say the least, with a delightful hint of Carlos Santana about his playing at times. Current album Ride or Die will no doubt feature but expect plenty from his extensive & varied back catalogue.
Colston Hall: Wednesday, 10 May
There should be no need to introduce this chap and to be frank the prospect of this tour has got fans salivating as it’s going to be an evening solely celebrating the music of Free (his last Bristol date, er, 2006 ?), had its Free moments but also Bad Co, solo and other stuff). Rogers has maintained his voice in prime condition during the 50 year since Free formed and has always delivered on stage so this will be a night to remember if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket. Given the attention the grim reaper has been paying to the rock community over the past coupla years this will be a poignant night too with Mick Ralphs on the road to recovery after a stroke and the demise of Andy Fraser still feeling like a kick in the balls.
It’s a family affair at the Louie with the Hammill family and a mate (Joseph Hammill & Helen Hammill the song writing siblings, joined by instrumental siblings Fran Hammill & Vin Hammill and instrumental chum Tom Chapman). The band have been around for a couple of years now, toured that Europe last year and have had all manner of mainstream media attention, some of it rather excitable, but all of it well deserved as they have a canny knack for infusing folk and Americana tropes with a winning yet saccharine free pop sensibility. Album number two Mirrors will be barely a week old for this date and its tunes will no doubt be accompanied by material from their debut Home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqoWGGuZels
Music isn’t a numbers game (as some Canadian bloke once said “numbers add up to nothin”) so whilst this fella has released absolutely bloody loads of stuff across several bands and projects; had oodles of songs featured in heaps of big telly programmes, what really counts is the quality of those tunes. Needless to say they are very, very good and Smith delivers them with a singular voice. Whilst probably unknown to many in the mainstream he’s something of a legend to rock connoisseurs and has the respect of his many peers, so this will be a damn fine night. This is his first solo tour since 2015, just six dates and the Tunnels have scooped the opening night with a promise of songs from his back catalogue and the possibility of covers.
The Colston’s Americana festival is back for its third year (now re-branded: read all about it here) and whilst the main event is July the event is officially launched with an absolute corker of a show. Carleen Anderson, yes, Carleen bloody Anderson, is playing St. George’s. (Just in case…daughter of Vicki Anderson and stepdaughter of Bobby Byrd; singer with Young Disciples; collaborator with Paul Weller, Brand New Heavies and Incognito etc.). This isn’t just a gig mind, it’s the third part of her multimedia Cage Street Memorial project – live music that compliments the autobiographical book and album describing “The consequences of (her) flight from toxicity”, and it’s gonna pretty special. You can discover more here after you’ve snaffled up a ticket. But what a shame it clashes with….
Anyone lucky enough to have caught Yola Carter last year will have been impressed by the musicians onstage with her, and tonight is a great opportunity to catch them at their day job, or rather night job if we want to be pedantic (and avoid that grammar vigilante – dont want his correction’s) . Sheelanagig specialise in a balls out yet funky folk hybrid performed with skill and swing. You may find yourself innocently tapping a foot but before you know it you’ll be a sweaty dancing fool. Support comes from the hardworking Newton Country a band well worthy of your attention, and one that is gaining traction on a national level – catch ‘em now before the mainstream steals them away from us.
Golden Lion: Tuesday, 23 May
This is a pretty fabulous proposition, Jody Stephens (Big Star’s drummer / vocalist and only surviving member) and Luther Russell (out of the Freewheelers, songwriter and producer of the excellent Richmond Fontaine amongst others). They’ve put together Those Pretty Wrongs and with their pedigree do you really need any encouragement to get down the Lion? Seriously? And whilst we’re at the Lion, as it were, check out the line-up for their Backyard Bash….it’s gonna be a blast.
This band are a force of nature and a genuine people’s band, having toured their arses off playing towns that bands normally just drive thorough; supported on massive tours (even winning over the normally partisan AC/DC audience); worked their way up to headlining decent sized venues and managing to release a batch of recordings that match the quality of their live show. They are a phenomenally exciting band to watch live, insisting on maximum audience participation, guaranteed from the band’s fifth member – The Troublemakers – and ensuring that very few leave unconverted to their “live-wired, straight-shootin’, dirty mouth’d, pelvis pushin’ R n B.
Further ahead
Hollywood stars clashing with purveyors of sleazy rambunctious rock n roll; the return of our very own Americana festival for a third year; blues & punk blues, country & blues rock…the coming months have plenty to suit all tastes and plenty to tempt you if you’re jaded with listening to the same-old, same-old. So have a look, check the acts out on the internet video channel of your choice and score some tickets. Oh, please do shout out if we are missing any local band gigs or cool stuff full stop.
Guadalupe Plata, Louisiana: Saturday, 10 Jun
Dan Baird, Thunderbolt: Tuesday, 20 Jun
Kiefer Sutherland, Bierkeller: Tuesday, 20 Jun
Justin Townes Earle, Tunnels: Monday, 26 Jun
Sam Baker, Tunnels: Thursday, 29 Jun
King King, Fleece: Saturday, 01 Jul
Darlingside, Lantern: Sunday, 02 Jul
Pierce Brothers, Thekla: Monday, 10 Jul
Riverside Festival, Colston Hall: 14 Jul
Sam Outlaw, Tunnels: Monday, 24 Jul
Indigo Girls, Bierkeller: Tuesday, 25 Jul
Rev Peyton’s Big Band, Tunnels: Tuesday, 15 Aug
Kirk Fletcher, Tunnels: Sunday, 24 Sep
Slaid Cleaves, Tunnels: Sunday, 01 Oct
Brandy Clark, St. Georges:Saturday, 21 Oct
Pic: Catherine Bradley
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