Within a couple of songs, Rebecca had quickly got into her
stride and the awe-inspiring sound soon filled the smaller of the Hare and
Hounds music rooms, which was well attended on the evening despite the next
door counter attraction of Ian McNabb. The perfect balance of subtle twang from
husband, producer and general musical sidekick Rich Bennett on electric guitar and
the acoustic strumming from Rebecca, including a delightful 1936 tenor, complemented
her first class vocals moulded from a touch of folk and urban indie. The
immaculately presented Rich created a sound which conjured up an image of Twin
Peaks. While on the evening his presence was a subtle accompaniment which
occasionally flirted with an inspired solo, you sense a full ‘Memphis Sun-style’
unleashing could have been just around the corner.
Not surprisingly Rebecca was keen to share a fair number of
tracks from the new album to those present and as per usual, it helped enhance
the mid break CD sales. Of these new songs, the self penned ‘Rise Up’, ‘Better that Way’ and ‘Cold
Hard Cash’ came over the best although these were closely matched by the
only cover on the record, the appropriately named ‘Glenn Tipton’. Rebecca had to explain that the song, originally
written by fellow American Mark Kozelek, had little relevance to the Judas
Priest band member who hails from just outside the city of Birmingham.
Right from the outset, Rebecca was at perfect ease with the archetypical
quiet UK audience offering entertaining banter about her tour experiences to
date and explaining the background to the song ‘Aberdeen’, the Scottish version not the birthplace of grunge, from
her 2011 album VIEWFINDER. The excellent ‘Hard
Times’ from this record was also featured. The growing admiration of
Rebecca’s music amongst those present was felt when she successfully encouraged
audience participation to ‘Big City
Lights’, a song from one of her earlier albums.
For me the absolute highlight of Rebecca’s set was her
fantastic rendition of the Lucy Wainwright Roche song ‘Mercury News’, almost twelve months on from listening to the original
in this very room. It also indicated how the New York singer-songwriter
fraternity interlink and celebrate each other’s work. The Big Apple theme
brought the set to its close with the song ‘Best
Game in Town’ celebrating the magical mystique of that crumbling yet iconic
Brooklyn attraction Coney Island. Rebecca and Rich had lived up to full
expectation but their contribution to the evening had one final twist.
Over the years The Toy Hearts have evolved from a bluegrass
outfit to one who now bases their sound on western swing. This is exemplified
by their recent album WHISKEY which was a magical box of originals and songs
spanning the generations of this sub genre of American roots music. The core of
the band consists of the Johnson sisters’ Hannah and Sophia, alongside father
Stewart and for me the switch has taken them up a notch or two. Unashamedly
retro, the sound of Hannah’s mandolin has retreated a little while the driving
force is now Stewart’s Triple Neck steel guitar and the more orthodox but
equally exquisite finger picking of Sophia. Like so many of their recent shows
including numerous at their adopted Hare and Hounds base, the trio are joined
by the talented Spike Barker on upright bass and it remains unclear as to how
their current sound can be bettered. Although their impending stint in Austin, the
cradle of the genre, may provide an answer.
For this evening, the old Toy Hearts tunes have been shelved,
as focus is switched almost entirely to the album as well as a handful of old
classic country tunes that Hannah has sourced via drink fuelled vinyl listening
sessions with her father, referred to affectionately as ‘Daddy Cool’. From the
album we heard the band’s own take on swing with the impressive ‘Stutter Blues’, ‘Mary Jane’ and the
highly infectious ‘Bring on the Swing’. They spanned the generations with the covers
selected, from the classic Bob Wills
number ‘I Hear You Talking’ to a more
modern choice of Wayne ‘The Train’ Hancock’s ‘Thunderstorms and Neon Signs’.
While Hannah’s mandolin may have been toned down a little, her
husky vocals still decorate all the songs including the brace of new offerings
exclusively served during the set. Ray Price is still a relevant figure in
country music today following his exchanges with Blake Shelton, and the band
covered his song ‘Sitting Thinking’
as well as Wade Ray’s ‘Too Late To Cry’.
A Toy Hearts’ set rarely excludes a Hank Williams’ number and the evening ended
with a version of ‘Sweet Love Around’,
not one of his more familiar songs but still carries all the trademarks of his
sound. By this time, Rebecca and Rich had joined the quartet on stage for an
impromptu jam starting with one of her older songs ‘Million Days’.
While they operate at slightly differing ends of the wide
Americana genre, there is so much synergy between the music of Rebecca Pronsky
and The Toy Hearts. The warmth and affability between the acts contributed to
an enjoyable evening. The Toy Hearts have one more Hare and Hounds’ swansong
before their Lone Star adventure begins while hopefully the positive reaction
heading Rebecca’s way will lead to a return visit in the not so distant future.
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| Rebecca joins The Toy Hearts for a jam. |