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| Steve Bell and Fred Gregory |
An Englishman, a Welshman, a Scot and an American is often
the cue for a gag but tonight it was one facet of the Porchlight Smoker
line up, that had ventured north to promote their excellent new album WATER INTO
SAND. Such is the comradery and interchangeability of like-minded bands, two Porchlight
members were making a return visit to the Kitchen Garden Café after fellow
Brighton-based band Hatful of Rain had graced the same venue with their presence
last year. Just as Hatful impressed with their 2014 gig, Porchlight Smoker
displayed in their versatile entity, the wealth of song writing and musical
talent that exists within the UK’s Americana-tinged folk and roots genre.
With Hatful’s Phil Jones filling in on stand-up bass, it was
left to the three remaining core Porchlight members to showcase their sound and
share a bunch of well-written original songs sitting comfortably alongside some
more illustrious covers. From the opening strains of ‘Mary Mary’, replicating its album position in tonight’s set list to
a hypnotic version of Bob Marley’s ‘Stir
It Up’ proving a suitable finale, the songs came thick and fast with an
almost entire airing of the new album. As per usual, a moderately rated album
track comes to the fore in a live set and ‘Instead’
fitted that bill this evening, even without the pedal steel that spices it up on
the record.
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| Fred Gregory and Scott Smith |
All the way from Kansas, USA, Scott Smith was the architect
of this track raising its album profile during the show as well as providing lashings
of very welcome twang in the form of lap steel, dobro and guitar. Scott’s vocal
style and American connections obviously add a stateside slant to Porchlight’s
sound which is further aided by covering songs from such esteemed artists as
Steve Earle and Gillian Welch. Sitting back and enjoying the playing of Scott
was hardly an arduous task.
Likewise the Celtic influence of Steve Bell further flavours
a melting pot of tasty transatlantic servings. Predominately on influential banjo,
Steve’s vocal contribution to grand songs such as ‘Maria Kennedy’, ‘US75’
and ‘Flowers on the Sea’ rose above
the dreaded seasonal ailments to take a rightful centrepiece role in the
evening’s twin sets.
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| Steve Bell |
The Kitchen Garden Café was familiar surroundings for Fred
Gregory, who shares his Porchlight duties with Hatful of Rain, displaying his
skilled guitar and mandolin playing acumen at the venue last June. The
Porchlight set up gives Fred a slightly higher profile live role in what is
still a very much egalitarian band in terms of input. ‘If I Had a Way’, ‘I Don’t
Mind’ and ‘Man in a Boat’, all
from the new album, had Fred in full flow, who also showed a little coy pride
in announcing the latter’s video.
2015 is likely to be a busy year for Porchlight Smoker in promoting
the new album and this will undoubtedly be aided by the return of regular
bassist Scott Warman alongside their tie up with the guys from Brighthelmstone
Promotions. What you will see from Porchlight Smoker is a group of highly capable
musicians, exquisite architects of both highly effective originals and cool
covers, intuitive band playing and a total understanding of the music they
excel in performing. All round, a great
band to add to your live menu of folk, roots and Americana music with a UK
twist.
www.porchlightsmoker.com
