www.mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk
'Tis the season for indulgence, so why not slap on plenty of the self variety as another gig year winds down. In some guise or another, the work of Michael Weston King and My Darling Clementine has featured on these pages consistently for twelve years. In other words the entire existence of this blog. If December 10th is leaving it late for 2023, it was December 22nd in 2019. Now that night was one for the personal memory bank as it was tagged with the epitaph 'our race is run'. Borrowing a My Darling Clementine song title was a little presumptuous as six moths after closing the blog it was magically resuscitated into what has become a supercharged extended second life. What else were you supposed to do in the midst of a global pandemic with loads of good music lapping up onto your shore and plenty of time at hand.
Let's continue this self indulgent run before turning to the Kitchen Garden Cafe 2023. A quick scan over the blog's history reveals 18 posts featuring either the duo, band, collaborative or solo format. It began at the Maverick Festival in 2012 when a curious act starring the known Michael Weston King and unknown at the time Lou Dalgleish created a stir. Their debut album HOW DO YOU PLEAD? was hurriedly acquired. An instant classic born and the scene set for what has proved a lengthy appreciation. Another twist occurred in 2017 when preparing a review for the third album STILL TESTIFYING. A new favourite song clicked when visiting Cradley Heath High Street for the first time in years and thus the renaming of 'Two Lane Texaco' to 'Two Lane Tesco'. If you know, you know. If you don't, listen to the song and put two and two together.
Bringing things right up to date, this exceptionally fine song was the centrepiece of a smashing night in Birmingham. One informal in feel yet structurally compartmentalising the work on offer. Clementine, Christmas, Costello and King was the theme. Spot the odd word out and there's more to that than the simple letter. The order of the three c's is deliberate as the original work of Lou and Michael stands head and shoulders above anything else My Darling Clementine turn their talent to. While the ability to expertly reinterpret the work of Elvis Costello is absolutely appreciated and admired, it still lands in a different field to the plethora of songs from the three other albums. Maybe ownership trumps borrowing in my book.
My Darling Clementine formats have marginally swayed over the years between duo and band. Tonight we had the third dimension option of Preben Raunsbjerg joining on guitar that proved a valuable asset in adding depth to the vast array of songs on offer. Any impish thoughts of the nearby Santa hat enticing the words 'when the snowman brings the snow' could not possibly arise!
For a gig partly tagged 'Christmas Light Show', we had a raft of seasonal delights. All nearly as left field as you would expect from the studious Michael Weston King. Willie Nelson's 'Pretty Paper', 'Rise Up Shepherd' off Nick Lowe's Christmas album QUALITY STREET and 'Winter Song' by Alan Hull of Lindesfarne fame honoured the time of year. Lou shared 'Silver Bells' from her piano to lighten proceedings, a place she appeared to frequent a lot more this evening than usual.
This was influenced largely by dipping into the Costello segment where songs from the 2020 COUNTRY DARKNESS album had their charmed airing. The memory played tricks in the aftermath as four were counted but only three recalled. If the addition to 'Either Side of the Same Town', 'I Felt the Chill Before the Winter Came' and 'I'll Wear it Proudly' comes to light, a footnote will be added. From a personal preference, the latter of this trio was the pick. It was also bliss to return to this record in the run up to the gig.
In 2022 the My Darling Clementine spot was taken by Michael's solo return with THE STRUGGLE album and accompanying shows. This evening three of the songs were shared to shine a light on what is a profound and durable record. 'Weight of this World' with its Trump theme (Oh, please don't you dare 2024) was the highlight joined by 'The Hardest Thing of All' and the nod to Jackie Leven in 'Theory of Truthmakers'.
The next links are too juicy to miss. Back in 2015 Michael teamed with Michael Cosgrove to play a Kitchen Garden show split into two halves celebrating the songs of Jackie Leven and Townes Van Zandt. If you want further confirmation of the Townes link turn to page 246 of the Robert Earl Hardy biography A DEEPER BLUE. Covering a Townes Van Zandt song is not unusual territory and the second half of tonight's show opened with a solo version of 'A song for..'. With authority we learned the three dots replaced the name Shane MacGowan. A poignant and different tribute.
So with Christmas, Costello and King covered. we are left with the cream. I'm fairly confident that ten songs from the three original albums were featured and am 100% certain 'Unhappily Ever After' greeted the near sold out venue at eight and 'Miracle Mabel' bade everyone a Merry Christmas close on half ten. The importance of the latter never diminishes and is up there with 'Ashes, Flowers and Dust' (not played this evening) as Lou and Michael's most emotive songs.
In between, we had two treats from the now legendary inaugural My Darling Clementine album HOW DO YOU PLEAD? 'Going Back to Memphis' is very much a nod to Tom T, Hall and has evolved into a classic, while '100,000 Words' was one of the first instances of a sublime melody drafted to carry a meaningful song.
Two songs from THE RECONCILIATION have already been mentioned as bookending the show, and they were joined by the Tex Mex feel to 'King of the Carnival' and the eternal favourite 'No Matter What Tammy Said' The latter sparkles with part spoof-part serious message and has attracted many uninvited mumbled singalongs over the years.
The last album of sole My Darling Clementine songs was STILL TESTIFYING in 2017. It would be wonderful if a new one emerges, likewise a legacy is intact if the innings was closed on originals at three. Joining the now worshipped 'Two Lane Texaco' was the ever personal 'Eugene', another bout of satire in 'Jolene's Story' and the ultra catchy 'The Embers and the Flame'.
Yes, the image, the humour, commitment to the road and status of never being adrift from your audience remain core to the My Darling Clementine identity. The musical background and varied talent of Lou and Michael will always transmit their output with polish and panache. However, there is one underlying aspect that fires the arrow of personal appeal. Song after song resonates and meets an ideal. Sometimes that is all you seek as a music fan.
Thankfully no epitaph this year as the race still has some legs to run. So cheers for a dozen years of writing inspiration and here's to a continued annual renewal in some format.
