Gig Diary: Jacob and Drinkwater - Thimblemill Library, Smethwick. Saturday 24th September 2022

 

www.jacobanddrinkwater.com

The last time Jacob and Drinkwater paired up for a West Midlands show their latest album was a month away from seeing daylight. Life seems to travel quickly when MORE NOTES FROM THE FIELD is now only days away from its first anniversary. That show was at the Kitchen Garden in Birmingham when live music was tentatively re-emerging and the courtyard location partially reflected the times. Almost twelve months later the venue switched to Thimblemill Library in the neighbouring West Midlands borough of Sandwell as Tobias Ben Jacob and Lukas Drinkwater reunited for what will ultimately prove a lengthy stint of twenty five dates. Outside of their casual duo outfit, the pair are ultra active in other spheres and you feel a sense of shared, and sometimes mischievous joy, when back in tandem.

The challenges mount for live music at grass roots level, but dedicated teams like those persevering with a low key arts agenda in Smethwick continue to pull gems out the hat and deliver a stellar service to communities keen on experiencing new acts. For every wise old owl au fait with this music, newbies will always spring up from new venues. For an enterprising and enjoyable ninety minutes, Jacob and Drinkwater teased, entertained and sank their teeth into a multiple array of roots music drawing on facets of folk, singer-songwriter and good old observational pop music. Material started with the current record before stretching back. Songs stuck to an original template before ending like twelve months earlier with a walk around unplugged version of 'Bird on a Wire'. Splendid stuff.

Those new to the pair soon realised that Lukas Drinkwater is a talented multi-instrumentalist. Stand up bass is the usual gig go-to, but tonight the playing extended to multiple guitars and keyboards. Tobias Ben Jacob majors on the vocals and a more focussed acoustic guitar. Together they gel really well and never fall short of delivering a fine show.

It is good that these Thimblemill shows are going back to having a local support artist. Michelle Holloway is more known for her role upfront with Birmingham-based band The Bonfire Radicals. However she is keen to progress as a performing a cappella vocalist and used every second of the forty-five minute opening slot to showcase her divine vocal skills and how to source an interesting song. The set went down well with the audience and should encourage this sideline to develop.

Shows like this, and the artists at the core of them, possess the tenacity and adaptability to ride out the challenges life throws at live music. Pandemics, economics and enforced mourning may spring up, but grass roots live music buckles down and continues to sparkle. 

 www.jacobanddrinkwater.com/live for further details of where to catch the pair.