Music / Previews
Americana, Blues & Country Picks: Jan 2017
Hello and welcome to the special first birthday edition of the ABC picks. Whether you’re a regular or a newbie it’s worth revisiting the introduction to that first broadcast to get a handle on what you can expect from the picks during 2017: “There’s a lot of damn fine music heading our way in 2016 that’s quite difficult to pin to a particular genre, which is a very good thing as we don’t want to get in to that whole genre ghetto trip. Thus we’re gonna have a pretty flexible definition of what constitutes Americana, Blues & Country. There may well be rockabilly featured (think of it as fast aggressive country music for ne’er-do-wells) and soul too (which is the blues you can take home to met your mum). Oh and things may get folky…after all the blues is distorted folk music and country is really an iteration of European folk traditions eh? If you disagree, then leave a comment telling us why, and if we’re missing a great band let us know too – especially if they’re an up and coming local act.” All of the above still applies and as well as a chocka January the rest of the year is shaping up very nicely. So have a read, pick up a party bag on the way out and see you down the front.
Louisiana: Friday, 06
is needed now More than ever
Harry & the Gondolas are a fresh young outfit – acoustic: the folksier end of the americana spectrum – and are launching their new EP Peter’s Orchard at the Louisiana. The first week of the New Year is always a come down after the festivities, back to the real grown up world for many so this is an ideal pick-me-up to help shake off the back to reality blues. The band have a knack for catchy uplifting songs and are guaranteed to put both a smile on your face and a wiggle in your hips. Support comes from Mary Spender, a solo outing from a promising local song writer (inspired by the blues, informed by country and with a plenty of soul) who pleasingly releases a shred of the day – check this out. A great way to kick off the New Year and to support up n coming talent. Indeed a much more positive alternative to spending hours on social media mourning dead pop stars. Yes, they were great, yes lots of them died too soon and yes we all miss them – but get out there and support the next generation instead of wallowing in all this self-aggrandising lamentation.
Cheese n Grain: Saturday, 14
This is a great night if you’re an aficionado of blues rock, as you’ll either be already a fan of King King and know what to expect or if not you will be after the show. It’s also a great night if you think that blues rock is something that atrophied in the 20th century and isn’t worthy of your time here in the 21st, because you’ll have a chance to get your prejudices smashed (so do bring an open mind). The headliners do that excellent thing when a band of talented musicians grab the blues and meld it with soul and deliver it with passion and heft, making it sound fresh and modern yet timeless. They’ve been doing this a while now, they tour incessantly so are tighter than a Tory council and they’ve got the tunes to match their skills. Support comes from Broken Witt Rebels, a youthful outfit that have been building a reputation both onstage and via the release of a couple or three EPs, which have gained a lot of national radio play. Their music is full of piss and vinegar but equally full of emotion, get their early, they’re going places. What a great double header and a cracking way to spend a Saturday night (they serve a wicked pint in the Cheese).
Lantern: Tuesday, 17
So just over two weeks in to the New Year and the gods of rock scoff as they inflict their first gig clash on us…but that said both Beth Rowley and Messrs Bragg and Henry have sold out so if you’ve been prevaricating you’ve lost out big time. Rowley has toured with all sorts of big hitters but is also a talented writer and performer – a big soulful voice (“…more deserving inheritor of the Dusty Springfield mantle than either Duffy or Adele” according to The Independent). If you got tickets, you’re gonna have blast – if you didn’t, keep a closer eye on our listings and have a listen to some of Rowley’s music so you’re primed for her next show.
St. Georges: Tuesday, 17
The Shine a Light project was all over music media during the back end of 2106 (just in case, BB & JH travelled round the US by train making railway related field recordings and released a record of the same). This sold out show will feature tunes from said project along with solo cuts from the fellas’ back catalogue and will no doubt also feature a fair amount of banter and the telling of tales. Hands up anyone who doubts Br*x*t and D*n*ld Tr*mp will feature at some stage (well, every US performer I saw last year either apologised for D*n*ld Tr*mp or slated him, or both. And no mention of Br*x*t from BB? Yeah, right). NAd hands up anyone who thinks they considered this mighty train song for the project.
Exchange: Thursday, 19
Yep, another gig clash (and don’t forget we’re only looking at ABC here), what a pain in the arse. The Cactus Blossoms are weathering a storm of hyperbole from media commentators and critics enraptured by their harmonies and traditional approach to country song writing. This praise is not surprising as in this case you can believe the hype – a genuinely fresh sound and some delightful songs promise an enchanting evening. The value for money bill also features The Hot House Four (an enticing blend of all sorts of blues / jazz / western swing) and Mark J. Lee (debut outing of a new venture for Lee, a talented and decent bloke: new tunes and a new band set up soon come) so if this is your choice remember the first rule of ABC Club is get yourself to the venue early and check out the support bands.
Trinity: Thursday, 19
Jake Smith aka The White Buffalo played an absolute blinder during the Colston Americana Festival last year and really is a force of nature onstage. He’s a nuanced song writer, vignettes of modern American life as lived by the folk on the receiving end of trickle down economics and the victims of the relentless onward march of pure unbridled greed, sorry, free enterprise. On stage Smith and his trio whip up a righteous racket – fast and furious, but capable of subtly and tenderness on the ballads; with his powerful careworn voice echoing the Man in Black at his rockin’ best it’s a killer package. Tickets are still available at the time of posting and the show is highly recommended.
Tunnels: Sunday, 22
The Tunnels is a great supporter of the blues, plenty of exemplary acts over the past few years – traditional and nu blues alike and this month’s offering is Peter Nathanson a Paris based Bostonian playing just three dates in the UK on this run. By contrast with King King, Nathanson is more of a traditional blues player in terms of his starting points – so expect fluid lead work and less of a rock feel but with soul nonetheless. If you can make it to both shows then you’re gonna have all your blues derivatives covered and a pair of gigs guaranteed to satisfy your pure six-string needs.
Alma Tavern: Tuesday, 24
Various line-ups of Special Concenus have been playing Bluegrass for over four decades, but whilst faithful to the style and respectful to the traditions of that style and its practitioners, the band play “bluegrass with an attitude”. With a reputation for rambunctiousness this will be a riotous evening – instrumental dexterity; clever, witty song writing and some heavenly harmonies. And a chance to hear how well one of the oldest roots of country & americana can be adapted and made totally relevant decades after its inception.
Fleece: Friday, 27
The Felice Brothers are celebrating ten years of making exemplary roots music this year and will no doubt be playing songs from their recent LP Life in the Dark (a premonition of the US election result?) along with material from their enviable back catalogue. Given the ramshackle folksy approach to their music and some lyrical / vocal tics stolen from Dylan, it’s easy to make comparisons with The Band and Bob, but the Brothers are more than the sum of their influences and justly renowned for their live sets. Support is provided by Horse Thief: new to B24/7 but perhaps we glean some clues about the band from the fact that they are out of the same town as Midlake and released their debut LP on Bella Union. But then again Def Leppard are from the same town as The Human League whilst Amazing Blondel and Bob Marley shared the same label so perhaps not. Naturally the first rule of ABC club applies once again so we can find out for ourselves and see if The Guardian’s assessment (“…panoramic americana …”) is accurate.
Tunnels: Monday, 30
Yes Darlingside may have been a massive hot at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year – stepping up to cover for an ailing Charles Bradley and as a resut wowing the crowd and selling out of CDs, but check the top of the page. No genre fascism here, the boys have plenty of good tunes, a sweet four part harmony thing and a sound that will appeal to fans of ABC for sure. They’ve also got a penchant for twisty humorous lyrics (exemplified by the origins of their name).
Tunnels: Tuesday, 31
If you jump over to James McMurty’s bio page, then you’ll find a yard of compliments from the likes of Steven King, Jason Isbell, John Mellancamp and more, with particular emphasis on his lyrics (no surprises as his father is a novelist and his mother an English professor who also taught him guitar). He’s been at this game for a long, long time and has a dozen LPs to draw from for his shows, and it’s a rare treat to have him and his band at the Tunnels. Expect a fiery night and to hear some superb dissection of modern America nestling in uplifting and passionate tunes.
Further Ahead
If you’re looking for more Beards, Blues & Twang, then here’s a look ahead to some shows that will satisfy your hankering for roots music, but note the gig clashes that will force some harsh decisions and make sure yuo get your tickets early, some tasty nights out on the horizon and tix will shift:
Sarah Jarosz, Tunnels: Thursday, 02 Feb
St.Paul & the Broken Bones, Colston Hall: Thursday, 02 Feb
Joey Landreth, Tunnels: Sunday, 05 Feb
King Blues, Fleece: Sunday, 05 Feb
Mary Spender, Lantern: Thursday 09 Feb
Ruzz Guitars, Tunnels: Friday, 10 Feb
Mastersons, Tunnels: Sunday, 12 Feb
Karl Blau, Louisiana: Thursday, 16 Feb
LeAnn Rimes, Colston Hall: Thursday, 16 Feb
John E Visitc, Thunderbolt: Friday, 17 Feb
Lewis & Leigh, Golden Lion: Sunday, 19 Feb
Chuck Prophet, Tunnels: Monday, 20 Feb
Handsome Family, St. Georges: Tuesday, 28 Feb
Caitlin Koch, Bierkeller: Wednesday, 01 Mar
Drive by Truckers, Anson: Thursday, 02 Mar
Albert Lee, Lantern: Tuesday, 07 Mar
Blues & Jazz Festival: Colston Hall: Thursday, 16 Mar
Danny Bryant, Bierkeller: Wednesday, 22 Mar
Alejandro Escovedo, Tunnels: Sunday, 02 Apr
Blackberry Smoke, Academy: Thursday, 06 Apr
King King, Fleece: Sunday, 23 Apr
Michael Kiwanuka, Colston Hall: Wednesday, 03 May
Sheelanagig, Exchange: Friday, 19 May
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