What is Americana? Gatekeepers, tastemakers, bedroom bloggers and media movers all grapple with a definition. Some expand it from music to wider culture; others philosophically pinpoint it as a 'state of mind'. Artists are often oblivious to it, rejecting the boundaries of genre constraints. Whatever your take, Americana is a living breathing entity, flowering far from any hinterland. If there's room for one more assimilation, embrace the literary imagination of Wily Vlautin, absorb words from the grounded tones of Amy Boone and let the soundtrack ferment in a combo of instrumental maestros. Maybe the answer lies in The Delines.
Characters from the gritty lanes of real America are given a voice in the songs. Three minute story tellings are a microcosm of a Wily Vlautin novel. Often female and always the underdog, the themes are stark. When The Delines launch into any song from a tight album catalogue, a hush descends on the audience. Honing in on the lyrics goes hand in hand with laying your money down for a show. It helps they are delivered with mesmerising clarity. Blend in a soundtrack reverberating around delicate rock and soothing soul enhances a musical punch. All these ingredients came to the fore in The Glee Club.
Bands that curate an identity sound possess a formidable selling point. The Delines are never going to smash the ceiling of populism, yet there appears an optimum engagement in the numbers they deal in.
Growth has accompanied the band's activity in the UK. Using Birmingham as a barometer, a cosy gathering in the Hare and Hounds' small room greeted a new name in 2014 stated at the time as 'nailing the sound of country soul'. When returning to the venue post-pandemic, it was the large room playing host. Three years down the line a packed main room in The Glee Club doubled previous turnouts putting the talent on a suitable pedestal.
The Delines excel as a unit. Vlautin and Boone interact innately, Sean Oldham and Freddie Trujillo shore up the bass and drums backfield with consummate ease, while Cory Gray magnificently multi-tasks on keyboard and trumpet. The latter's timely blasts ignite any room. The ease of the tempo aches with cultured elegance. The odd raising of guitar intensity is respectful. Boone almost owns the vocal space allowing sufficient room for harmonies to frequently bloom. For an hour and half, The Glee Club left its comedy facade behind filling the air with fragrant sounds of country soul and, yes, Americana.
From the progressive hotbed of Portland Oregon, The Delines chose the southern English roots of singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell to open on this tour. If the main course is a delicious serving, ensure the starter matches the pedigree. A combination impeccably honoured.
Whether it's the fertile imagination, wondrous vocals or esteemed musicianship that seal the moment, take a step back and savour how all the ingredients make The Delines tick. They are a band turning real life travails into a genre defining moment.
