Hank Wangford has been a long established cult figure on the
UK country music circuit for many decades and now into his 74th year
he still continues to entertain folks up and down the land with a show that
succeeds in grasping the reality of the genre. The shows are billed as
discovering the dark underbelly of country and through tales, songs,
recollections and insight, Hank truly achieves his objective leaving the audience
splendidly entertained in the midst.
He may be a confirmed urbanite but Hank has spent many years
taking his shows around the rural village halls that are sprinkled liberally across
these isles. For this evening, he is in more familiar territory or at least in
a city environment but the intimacy of the Kitchen Garden Café fits his ideals
perfectly of total connectivity with a like-minded audience. The sold out café enthusiasts
were more of a Ray Price country persuasion than Blake Shelton and this suits
Hank well as there is a defined traditional stance to the theme of his sermons.
Any stereotypical view of a UK based traditional country act
is blown away after two hours in the company of Hank Wangford. The originality to
his cliché-free act is a refreshing experience as both humour and acute
observations are interspersed with a mix of self-written and carefully selected
cover songs. In the presence of his sidekick, Brad Breath aka the very talented
multi guitarist Andy Roberts, Hank has found the perfect foil to lead the
audience on a journey filled with divorce, pain, loss, cheating, drinking and all
other aspects of misery that have been the bedrock of country music for
eternity. Yet all this is done in a style of delivery which is unique, thought
provoking and totally absorbing.
There were several inspirational covers during the evening
which struck at the heart of Hank’s discovery objectives including Webb Pierce’s
‘There Stands the Glass’, Louvin
Brothers' ‘Must You Throw Dirt In My Face’,
‘Brown to Blue’ by George Jones
and Willie Nelson’s ‘Half a Man’.
Throughout his multi -dimensional career as both artist and rock n’ roll doctor
to the stars of the sixties such as Gram Parsons and The Who, Hank has gathered
an armful of tales and this evening was appropriate to share some of his encounters with Willie
Nelson.
While he has arguably not been the most prolific recording
artist, Hank was still mightily proud of his latest release, a record inspired
by his love of waltzes, containing waltzes and aptly titled SAVE ME THE WALTZ.
Amongst the popular songs during the evening, many requiring little invitation
to joining in the chorus, ‘Lonely
Together’, ‘Simple Pleasures’ and the ‘Ballad
of Bill Picket’ were the most enjoyable. The latter containing the story of
a unique rodeo star denied the trappings of Hollywood stardom due to the
non-white ethnicity of his origin.