It has been just over two years since The Stray Birds first
caught my ear, and the subsequent evolution of their sound is now gathering
pace. Essentially, a strong core of the band’s ethos will always be rooted in the
old time roots camp. However, the transition to blend in a finely tuned country
rock sound is taking hold to the extent of now being on the cusp of dominating
their live show. Whatever style they adopt, a stark talent shines through, and
a continual approach to have the UK on their touring horizon is reaping rewards
in growing a fan base. This latest excursion from their US homeland has included a
first Birmingham date, and a Hare and Hounds audience revelled in a performance
still rising to a peak when time was called on a fabulous gig.
For those who have had the privilege of attending a previous
Stray Birds show, the wandering thought from the early stages of the set was
when the vintage single mic would be utilised. This format had become a trademark
feature of Oliver Craven, Maya de Vitry and Charlie Muench sharing their
delightful musical talents with a live audience. Eventually it did take centre stage, albeit only
for a pair of songs including a version of Jimmy Rodgers’ ‘Blue Yodel #7’, a familiar inclusion into their live shows.
However, by this stage the mould had been cast in Oliver’s
guitar playing, particular the electric model, stealing the show. This aspect
of the performance had stiff competition from the exquisite fiddle playing from
both Oliver and Maya, often part of the continual instrument switch between
the pair that has been another popular trait to illuminate a Stray Birds show. During
this array of superlative musicianship, Charlie continues to hold the bassline
with the stand-up version and the ever-increasing presence of a drummer in the
line-up keeps up the rock beat, with for this tour Sean Trischka parading the
sticks and brushes.
Another key factor guiding the band towards acclaimed status
is the strength of their original songs. The soul-pumping ‘Best Medicine’ and infectious ‘Sabrina’
keenly retain prime position in any Stray Birds repertoire and the versions
heard first in Birmingham this evening further cemented this view. Two other
songs to leap up the appreciation ladder from this show were Maya’s beautifully
delivered personal piece ‘Birds of the Borderland’
and ‘Third Day in a Row’. The former
stretches all the way back half a dozen years ago to when the trio set out on
the recording road, while the latter proved an exceptional piece of divine
riff-laden cultured rock to close the overall show on a significant high.
Casting the mind back to previous Stray Birds shows, the overriding
resemblance of Maya’s vocal style to that of Gillian Welch never wanes from the
mind when listening to the emotive way she portrays the depth of the songs.
This always comes to a pinnacle when the band cover the roots standard ‘Make Me
Down a Pallet on the Floor’; an old song probably best defined by Gillian’s
version in recent times.
While the overall feel of this show lent heavily in a new
direction, it was first hearing the MAGIC FIRE album last year, which raised the
ear lobes to a jolt away from the sole domain of being an old time string band.
Cracking tunes from that release, including ‘Shining
in the Distance’, ‘Radio’ and ‘When I Die’, still play a huge part in
promoting the record and were welcome additions to the evening’s set list.
This was an evening that began in fine style with a splendid
opening performance from UK roots band SJ & the Flying Pigs. This
Cambridge-based quartet proved the ideal opening foil for The Stray Birds with
an array of catchy tunes predominately fuelled by the fiddle playing of Nicky
Terry and voraciously led by bandleader SJ Mortimer. Their enthusiasm for the
music of The Stray Birds also signalled a sound port of influence to call upon.
