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| James Wilson |
Let’s get the name cliché out of the way first. Yes they are,
well at least three-fifths of them. Onto more important matters and Sons of
Bill demonstrated in Birmingham tonight why their star is set to shine a lot
brighter in the UK in years to come. The five-piece band from Charlottesville,
Virginia are only on their second UK tour but the growing audience numbers, continuing
positive universal reception and enhanced wider press is making that spotlight
brighter with each gig and record. A versatility to successfully sway between
tender harmonies and fully optimum amped up rock while calling at many points
in between give Sons of Bill a massive head start when either hitting the
studio or the stage and what emerges is one of the finest alt-country bands
plying their trade on both sides of the Atlantic.
Bill Wilson’s three sons – Abe, Sam and James – once again
show how sibling integration can be a vital ingredient in a successful music
act and thus join a long list of family artists who have graced one genre of
influence for the band in country music. Each brother brings something diverse to the
band whether vocally and musically on stage or creatively within the organic
development of their songs. Sam excels on lead guitar including a stunning solo
piece in this evening’s encore and he also stepped forward to sing a song he
wrote, ‘Radio Rewind’. James fronts
the band on vocals, electric and acoustic guitar displaying a flexible style to
suit the mood of each track, while Abe settles to flourish behind the keyboards
alongside adding valuable, and possibly under used, vocal contributions.
The band shared their enthusiasm for the new album with this
Birmingham crowd who were vociferously eager to make up for those not wanting
to venture out on a Tuesday evening. LOVE AND LOGIC has not been short of
critical acclaim and there were plenty of opportunities to hear why during this
set approaching an hour and half in length. ‘Brand New Paradigm’ is the stand out song on the record and was
well received tonight being played alongside other tracks from the album such
as ‘Big Unknown’, ‘Bad Dancer’ and ‘Fishing Song’. From their back
catalogue, ‘Virginia Calling’ was a particular
highlight and one of the less intense songs amongst a smattering of beat driven
guitar anthems perfectly constructed for the live arena.
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| Paul McClure |
However the final word must reside with Sons of Bill and not
forgetting the two non-Wilson band members in bassist Seth Green and
percussionist Todd Wellons. James rounded the evening off with full appreciation to
Cosmic American promotions for believing in the band and introducing them to a
UK audience with the compliment returned via a glass of bourbon to help him
through the final songs. The abiding memory of Sons of Bill is their
exceptional way of weaving delightful two and three part harmonies into superb
guitar and keyboard fuelled songs. The lineage for such bands in the US stretches
back decades but Sons of Bill are very much the present and no doubt the future
as well.
www.sonsofbill.com
www.paulmccluremusic.com
www.clubhouserecords.co.uk
www.cosmicamerican .com