Review: The Lone Bellow, The Fleece

Every so often a band knocks you off your feet with an immense performance and I shit you not The Lone Bellow did that and more on a rainy, chilly grey Tuesday night at the Fleece. But before their set Sam Brockington took to the stage armed with a guitar, one pedal, two cans of Bud and a collection of absorbing songs delivered with understated accompaniment and a powerful voice. His guitar playing was unfussy but pretty; minimalist unless fancy or louder was demanded by the tune. His voice though was loud & expressive, launching himself into choruses and crooning through the verses with falsetto passages filling the space traditionally taken by a lead break. The delivery was clever too, repetitive phrases used as percussion and percussive scatting for rhythmic drive.

His lyrics entertained and intrigued – affairs of the heart covered without cliché and stimulatingly oddball perspectives, with many charming couplets: “Let me down gently cos I’m coming up empty this time around”. His new single Fools is out in March and like the rest of the set was received with delight. Well the set went down well for the crowd at the front but alas the bane of the solo singer songwriter were in attendance. Yep, the ignorant noisy knuckle-draggers indulging in loud self-absorbed conversation throughout the set to the distraction of those discovering new music and enjoying the performance. That said Brockington wasn’t fazed, his performance assured throughout and he entertained with some choice comments, closing the set with a request to follow him on Twitter, follow him on Instagram and follow him on Facebook before playing Follow.

The Lone Bellow are Zach Williams (guitar, mostly lead vocals), Kanene Donehey Pipkin (mandolin, bass, keyboards and quite a lot of co-lead vocals) and Brian Elmquist (lead guitar, plenty of co-lead vocals) ably supported by Jason Pipkin (bass & keyboards) and Rico Allen (drums). The band powered through an hour and half’s worth of material from their three recordings so far and oh boy, did they deliver a stellar performance. Opening with Deeper Water the band owned the audience from the first chorus and the tune epitomised their style – exquisite vocal harmonies, beautifully crafted and catchy songs delivered by ridiculously skilful musicians, playing with both passion and playfulness.

Americana doesn’t capture the band really, sure there’s a mandolin on stage along with beards and twangy solos but the band aren’t constrained by any genre. Deeper Water for instance not only shared its structure with Chains (slow first half; joyful verses & soaring choruses; faster second half) but the harmonies were reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac too. Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold brought to mind the pop rock nous of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers but there was plenty of Stax too. Diners a heartfelt southern soul ballad infused with a gospel vibe and Time’s Always Leaving hitting the soul backbeat for a thumping feet pleaser.

The band aren’t just a collection of influences and reference points though, their gorgeous harmonies glued the set together and their songs are their own, far from formulaic and free of platitudes. They sang tales from real life: of real love and real heartbreak; the vocals uplifting whether the subject material was joyful or melancholic, and tunes anthemic without bombast. The heart of the show was a three song acoustic interlude, with Williams, Pipkin (K) & Elmquist gathered round the mic, each taking lead vocals for an inspiring ten minutes of vocal virtuosity lit by simple white light.

Comfortable on stage, the band encouraged and enjoyed back and forth with the crowd, orchestrating sing-alongs, acknowledging long-time fans and acknowledging the posse from over the Bridge, amusingly asking the natives present “You like the Welsh, right?” And then equally entertainingly slating Georgia and praising Virginia whilst admitting confusion about The Old Fish Market and its lack of fish compared with its preponderance of American beers. But then it was that kind of night, inclusive and raucous with even the ignorant noisy knuckle-draggers rapt for the quieter passages.

It would be difficult (and churlish) to pick out favourites but Tree to Grow stood out early in the set, a folky quiet tune to start before big drums led in to a big solo for a tumultuous crescendo. Feather was muscular whilst May You be Well was arguably the crowd favourite. The band were admirably in touch with their inner rocker too, plenty of swagger and some pleasing riffs; railroad hard solos and the odd bit of duelling lead from Elmquist and Williams.

Back in 2015 Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats played a blinder at the Fleece, they went on to sell out the Academy and then the Colston Hall. The Lone Bellow have the talent to do the same and if there’s any justice you’ll be joining us at a larger venue next time they hit town.

The Lone Bellow: The Fleece, Tuesday 30th January 2018

All pix by John Morgan