Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: April 2017
The clocks have gone forward, article 50 has been triggered, the world’s still being run by nutters (just say no to the psycho right-wing capitalist fascist industrial death machine kids) but Bristol is still attracting quality bands offering us some fabulous distractions from the so-called grown up world. We’ve got a nice tempting set of shows so have a gander, buy a ticket and support live music. Crunchy southern country, a founding father of Americana and more blues than you can shake a bottleneck at this month. Please do shout out if we are missing any local band gigs in the Further Ahead section and never mind article 50 see you down the front.
is needed now More than ever
Where do you start with describing this dude’s career? The Nuns supporting the Pistols? Rank and File? Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams? The whole hepatitis-c thing? Etc. etc. This guy is a genuine musical force of nature and well worthy of the attention of anyone with even a passing interest in Americana, roots music and either rock or roll. The latest recording Burn Something Beautiful will no doubt feature along with any number of tunes from his illustrious career, but (sorry, there is a but) there is a gig clash with a concept band made flesh: the Moonlandingz at the Thekla. Yet another blow from the gods of rock. The buggers, they mock us truly and laugh at our anguish.
Of course a band like Blackberry Smoke deserve a place here in the ABC picks, after all southern rock was built on the blues (both domestic and the imported second generation blues from the UK invasion bands) and country; and certainly contributed to what we now know as Americana. Blackberry Smoke are several albums into a career that is doing very nicely, building up a loyal family of fans using ye olde fashioned tour ‘til ya drop to support damn good LPs business model and their success has even been recognised by an appearance on Later… (the fashion police were presumably away on a team building event when that was suggested). Their music is certainly crunchy and packed with riffs, but there’s much more of a country vibe than, say, Blackstone Cherry and they’ve a knack of writing catchy choruses and memorable melodies; their lyrics stand up to scrutiny too – funny as fudge, free of cliché and both delightfully thought provoking (check out One Horse Town) and endearingly soppy (try Pretty Little Lie). The bill is enhanced by the addition of Biters, an outfit that filter English glam & punk through their rawk influences for a rather entertaining mash up of sounds (“Electric Playboys in the Disposable Age” indeed) and have previously headlined The Thekla. Alas the rock gods have seen fit to force you to choose between this lot and…
St. Louis, Missouri native Zito is a dozen albums deep in to a career as a blues musician – whether solo or as a founding member of soul-blues rock super group Royal Southern Brotherhood. His blues are steeped with the southern thang, so plenty of heft and muscle and he knows his way around a tune, so expect some instantly catchy songs. Incidentally he’s also an accomplished producer and has worked with Laurence Jones, who will be appearing at this venue later this month. What a swine of a choice though between Zito and the Smoke though. Any wizards out there able to put me in two places at once?
Fairhurst is a fabulously guitarist who’s been playing under the mainstream radar (and arguably under the blues radar too) for a decade or so and yet he and his trio are playing some of the most innovative and exciting blues music you’ll hear or year. Don’t think it’s an academic exercise in boundary pushing either, their shows are ridiculously entertaining and whilst superb technically the trio groove and jam out the blues in a foot tapping, hip swinging, pelvis pushing (and at times) head banging vortex. You will not be disappointed, and if you’re still not convinced, find out what happened last time they were in town.
Thunderbolt: Fri 21 Apr
Two blokes walked in to a pub, one looking for a vocalist and the other looking for an instrumentalist. Blair Chadwick and Charlie Bateson found each other and spent three years working up a raft of songs. They recorded said repertoire at Chris Clarke’s Reservoir Studios to record the album, with Chris (Danny and the Champions of the World) in the producer’s chair joined by drummer Jamie Shaw (ex-Dan Raza and the Shrouds, current Hallelujah Trails); pedal steel and dobro legend Darren Buddell, (Atlantic Sons); Andy Fairclough on Hammond organ, Wurlitzer piano and keyboards (ex-Secret Affair and current Danny and the Champs) and Siobhan Parr (former Alabama 3 and current Siobhan Parr Trio) on vocals along with the aforementioned Clarke on bass. They are now touring the resulting LP – Holy Smoke – and you can hear the fruits of their labour (classic Americana with a seventies singer / song-writer vibe) at the ‘bolt. Support will be from Newton Country, easily one of our best local up and coming acts, making this a splendid opportunity for you to support new artists in a great venue.
This outfit are no strangers to the ABC picks, they seem to be on the road constantly, have been building up a loyal following and seemingly having a whale of a time. If you’re not familiar with the band but fancy a night of quality blues rock then this is the band for you. Being perpetually on tour means they’re tighter than a sand-crab’s arse and they’ve got plenty of good tunes (they’re songwriters, so the tunes aren’t just an opportunity to show off) and have a pleasing soulful touch. Support comes from Bad Touch a young band who also hit the blues influenced rock but with a bit more of a classic rock vibe (Tommy Vance would have loved ‘em). This is a good night to be reminded that blues rock is still a vibrant force and source of a bloody good night of carefree musical mischief.
Much like King King, this guitarist has been touring his arse off all over the world and had none other than Mike Vernon sat in the producer’s chair for his most recent LP Take Me High. He’s a young fella with a bag of talent – great smoky voice and the blues he plays is nimble and funky – thoroughly modern and yet with a classic sound. Tunnels gigs are always a blast and Jones comes in to his own live, so a great way to finish the month.
Further Ahead
Last month’s picks ended at May so it’s pleasing to now see gigs stretching out to November, and yes, that really is that Kiefer Sutherland at the Bierkeller (hah! Bauer in the Bierkeller!) but what a stinking slice of luck that the gig clashes with the mighty Dan Baird. Great to hear the Bristol Americana Festival is returning to the Colston & sister venues (re-branded, preview interview soon-come), so get your diary, grab your credit card and plan out yer gigs, some certain sell outs expected:
Michael Kiwanuka, Colston Hall: Wednesday, 03 May
Dan Patlansky, Tunnels: Friday, 05 May
Devon Allman, Tunnels: Tuesday, 09 May
Paul Rogers, Colston Hall: Wednesday, 10 May
Cattle & Caine, Louisiana: Friday, 12 May
Carleen Anderson, St. Georges: Friday, 19 May
Newton Country, Exchange: Friday, 19 May
Vintage Trouble, SWX: Wednesday, 31 May
Dan Baird, Thunderbolt: Tuesday, 20 Jun
Kiefer Sutherland, Bierkeller: Tuesday, 20 Jun
Indigo Girls, Bierkeller: Tuesday, 25 Jul
Brandy Clark, St. Georges: Saturday, 21 Oct
John Mayall, Colston Hall: Sunday, 05 Nov
Joanne Shaw Taylor, Colston Hall: Tuesday, 14 Nov
Tom Russell, Thekla: Thursday, 23 Nov
All pix John Morgan
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