I grew up in the sixties, the offspring of parents who were economic migrants from Ireland, so I was weaned on a diet of mainly Country and Irish with artists such as Val Doonican, Slim Whitman, Frankie Laine, Jim Reeves, Hank Locklin and Johnny Cash. I have an eclectic palate and have championed all genres of music throughout my life such as Rock n Roll, jazz, classical, Reggae, punk, soul, funk, blues, folk, heavy metal and indie but country is seeped deep within my soul.
In the early nineties when the first wave of Country hit these shores redefined as Americana I got to see and love bands like Green On Red, The Long Ryders, The Rockingbirds, The Jayhawks, Lone Justice, The Cowboy Junkies. Later artists like Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Richmond Fontaine, Slaid Cleves, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Calexico, Handsome Family, Lambchop and Marah all entered my psyche and moved me. I`ve kinda lost touch with the scene a bit but when I heard Brown Horse, a sextet from Norwich not Virginia, USA but Norfolk, UK, I was really blown away.
They released their debut album `Reservoir` in January and it was stunning and tonight they play their debut show in my hometown.
First up tonight though is a local DIY Alternative Rock/Folk Artist from Wolverhampton, Ollie Cook who released his second album `The Boy with Pearls for Eyes` last August. This evening, he shares five songs in a half hour set accompanied by four other musicians. Amongst the numbers are three new tracks with `Home Video`, a song I think was named `Etta D` and `Six Eight` which was shared on an acoustic guitar. The set closed out with `Candy Moon` from back in late 2021. The numbers were well received, and the newer cuts sounded more Americana tinged as opposed to his more introspective folk compositions to date. It appears that Ollie is back next week at the same venue supporting Mr Ben and The Bens.
As to the headlining band, this six-piece which features Patrick Turner, alongside original members Rowan Braham , Emma Tovell and Nyle Holihan, with the most recent recruits being Ben Auld and Phoebe Troup take to the stage and open with the dreamy `Stealing Horses` from the latest album. Title track `Reservoir` follows and there`s a delicate fragility about the track.
We understandably enjoyed a fair selection of songs from the latest release during this seventy five minute set with the questioning `Sunfisher` with fiddle accompaniment, vulnerable `Shoot Back`, more forceful `Bloodstain`, mid-tempo `Silver Bullet` and `Outtakes` a more introspective listen which reminded me a little of The Counting Crows and I have to say I dearly love. One submission `Paul Gilley` had the crowd mesmerised and is a song commemorating Kentucky born country music lyricist Herbert Paul Gilley, who wrote a number of wonderful songs which included the heartbreaking “I’m So Lonesome I Can Cry” covered by Hank Williams but more widely known from Elvis Presley`s version. Paul died tragically young.
Although this hard working band were in essence here to promote the latest release, Birmingham being the thirtieth date in thirty four days, the group who are rooted in a collaborative approach to songwriting share a few songs that are yet to be recorded. Amongst them were the delightful `Holy Smokes`, `Dog Rose`, `Corduroy` with its shared vocals and `Wipers` which closed out this stunning evening.
There`s something about this band but having tipped so many to achieve great things only to be proved wrong, i`m keeping my powder dry. Get to see this band if you can as they share self-penned numbers that have such an emotional and overwhelming beauty. They have another nine dates of this current tour and return to Birmingham on September 1st as part of the Moseley folk & Arts festival. ReplyForward
