If you want a modern singer-songwriter to personify the
famous 1940s song ‘Deep in the
Heart of Texas’, then you need to look no further than the mesmeric poetic
anecdotes of Sam Baker. In some respect the vocals and music are mere accomplices
as Sam is very much a wordsmith able to deliver his thoughts with an alluring
appeal. Once again the guys from Hot Burrito Promotions did a tremendous job in
rallying close on 100 people from near and far to Elford Village Hall in the
Staffordshire countryside. Although when you’re promoting an artist as good and
popular as Sam Baker then you’ve got a pretty good head start.
Sam was making a return to this rural venue, although for
the first time since SAY GRACE was released last summer. However he gauged the
knowledgeable audience well and successfully carried out an all request second set to
what was a near 2 hour show. As you would expect from an experienced Texan
troubadour the songs were interspersed with relaxed humorous audience banter
and the stories behind some of the songs. Whether or not you had seen Sam live
before, keen fans would have heard or read about his incident in Peru many
years ago and true to form the track ‘Broken
Fingers’ followed the heart breaking tale of the people he met and lost on
that fatal train trip in South America.
While you can reel off a multitude of contemporary artists
operating out of Texas in the same vein as Sam such as Robert Earl Keen, Tom
Russell, Slaid Cleaves and Ray Wylie Hubbard, it is probably James McMurtry who
is most alike in sound. Sam made reference to a couple of his heroes in the set
by revealing how ‘Migrants’ had a
similar theme to the Woody Guthrie song ‘Deportees’.
Also he chose to open the evening with a version of a 1994 Johnny Cash track ‘Drive On’ but this is where the covers
ended as Sam has so much rich original material from his four albums that have
surfaced since he got his break as a recording artist in 2004.
Sam gave a nod to Bob Harris, who has championed so many
Texan/Americana artists in the last decade, but like so many inspirational song
writers he doesn’t forget his roots and in particular his days working in
construction as highlighted in ‘Ditch’.
Over the course of the evening, which received stand up rapturous applause at
the end, Sam featured songs from all his albums but particularly focussing on
MERCY, PRETTY WORLD and SAY GRACE. The highlight from the first set was ‘Slots’
as Sam took a little time to get into his rhythm. The second set saw Sam get
right into the groove as he reeled off requested song after song with notable
performances being of ‘Baseball’, ‘Say Grace’,
‘Signs’ and ‘Angels'.
Obviously a travelling troubadour eventually has to say
farewell to their temporary home and Sam had the perfect sign off track in ‘Go in Peace’. No doubt many in the
audience will keep their fingers crossed for a return in the future but Sam is
the sort of artist who attracts individual fans to more than one of his shows.
Texas has long been a fertile ground for singer-songwriter talent and Sam Baker
does his home state proud. For a brief couple of hours on this Saturday evening,
Elford was well and truly transported to ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’.
Set List – Drive On: Slots: White Heat: Isn’t Love Great:
Sweetly Undone: Psychic: Migrants: Ditch: Baseball: Boxes: Thursday: Say Grace:
Kitchen: Signs: Waves: Broken Fingers: Angels
Encore – Mennonite: Iron: Go in Peace
www.sambakermusic.com
