The ceiling fan vigorously tried to keep a sweltering room cool. A task rendered near impossible with the added heat of smokin’ hot pedal steel. We have some fine players of this grand old instrument in the UK but few drive an evening along so sweet and prominent to what was heard in The Folklore Rooms tonight. This compact performance space in an upstairs room of a pub accessed via a steep winding narrow staircase had a very southern feel to it. A touch of the American south came to the English south coast for an evening of country music in the truest tradition. Todd Day Wait honed his style on the streets of New Orleans before seeking the recording outlet of Nashville Tennessee. A slate of originals reflecting a timeless age were interjected by the odd cover from artists such as Hank Locklin and Floyd Tillman. The music seamlessly flowed for 80 minutes before a packed crowd could seek some respite in a still very warm Brighton evening air. When found, the mind was still dancing to the lush tones of evocative pedal steel driven music.
Before the four guests from across the pond took to the stage, early arrivals had the pleasure of locally based singer-songwriter Sammy Harrison. Accompanied by his fiddle playing partner Bella, the style was more folk-Americana than the straight up country music to follow. The 30 minute set was an exemplar in how to open, set the scene and introduce your music to new ears. An Orcadian fiddle tune and a catchy singalong piece helped move the set quickly along in an entertaining fashion as well as paying homage to a patiently located pedal steel guitar in the corner awaiting its twang-laden strings to be expertly picked. Harrison has previously opened for Morgan Wade so no stranger to wooing crowds on a larger scale.
Todd Day Wait is undertaking a second consecutive European summer tour. He once again is scheduled to play the Maverick Festival and this year has secured a slot on the prestigious Static Roots line up in Germany.This time there seems to be a wider reach venue-wise including a booking from Cosmic American in the Midlands, nearer my natural gig habitat rather than seeking one out on a short sports-related break in Brighton. Being able to slot in a first visit to The Folklore Rooms, a rare occurrence of a venue flourishing since opening in 2021, proved a fabulous treat.
Drums and electric bass provided support for the songs of Todd Day Wait to marvellously simmer in the stifling air, creating sufficient breathing space for the pedal steel guitar to sparkle in all its glory. A fair few songs on the set were introduced off the recently released album LETTER FROM THE ROAD and sounded sweet out the wrapper. Titles and names weren’t a feature of the show, thus leaving a mind less cluttered to savour the sonic delights spilling from the stage. Sometimes you need the snippets, other times it’s just blissful sitting back letting the music take the strain.
It may appear a lazy association but remnants of Willie Nelson cut through the air both visually and vocally. Closer to home there was the astute grace of Ags Connolly, a UK artist capably crossing a huge divide. By the end of the show, Todd Day Wait had made a significant impression and successfully sold his wares to a cultured Brighton crowd. A southerner feeling at home for one evening only, though soon to be repeated in many places on a five-week tour.
