Three Chords and the Truth UK

Cool music is spilling out of Grey DeLisle at a rate of knots, though this time the billing is shared. When seeking a vocal collaborator to bring a new bunch of songs to life, Les Greene popped up with the ideal voice and a complementary contrasting duet was born. The simple title hints at some sort of hue duality. GREY & GREENE takes the cue and a shade collision of guttural soul and angelic Americana parades nine originals and a fun cover.  Not a breath is wasted in a brief template. Gripping guitar, natural vocal exchange and astute tempo placement steer a half hour spin down memory lane. Two names in the credits jump out to confirm the direction. Rockabilly icon James Intveld is the producer and ace country guitarist Deke Dickerson adds some licks. With input from these two, a sound akin to 1956 is wonderfully brought 70 years up to date.   Les Greene is well known in the wider entertainment field of film and TV as well as a recording artist in his own right. This side...

  www.nikkioneill.com Make an album accessible and sweet sounding and you are half way there. Stack it with interest arousing story songs and its potential starts to unravel. Nikki O’Neill’s soulful driven Americana is just the tonic to brighten up a record collection with a fresh and vibrant bunch of songs. All the classic soul and r’n’ b sounds mingle with a range of tempos. Agreeable vocals and top musicianship tackle personal issues of inclusion and migration, pertinent for a resettled American with a European upbringing. The eleven tracks leave a warm glow inducing further artist delving. Sample lavishly at your pleasure.  Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Nikki O'Neill

The influence of Nashville is not uncommon on the performing floor of the Kitchen Garden and this latest presentation further imported a Music City presence into the Second City. Regardless of the billing giving an edge to Kyshona, this show unwrapped as a bout of equilibrium as the renowned format of ‘in the round’ took hold. Throughout the evening Kyshona and Michael Logen took turns to share fruits from their song repertoire across two roughly equally paced sets. They stayed very much within their own confines thus reflecting a mere snippet of Nashville’s musical diversity.  For Kyshona, this was the fourth straight year of visiting Birmingham, and this venue in particular. A run begun when teaming up with Jen Bostic and Sarah Darling before branching out in a more solo direction while sharing the bill with Robert Lane and the Remedy Club respectively. Each time, this South Carolinian now Nashville resident mightily impressed with a thunderous soulful approach that drew he...

The last time Ross Wilson brought his Blue Rose Code operation to the Kitchen Garden (November 2017 to be exact) a wandering mind could be excused pending the imminent birth of his first child. Fast-forward nearly eighteen months and the update of mother and child doing fine set the scene for another impassioned performance by one of Scotland’s leading singer-songwriters. The format may have changed from a band set up in 2017 to a duo one this time, but the songs, connecting qualities and sweet sound of Caledonian soul planted a guarantee of a top class evening’s entertainment. Prior to these two visits, a solo Blue Rose Code graced the bricked walls of this venue proving that whatever the format:   the control, poise and creative exploits of Ross Wilson evolve into a fascinating show. The 2017 date was part of a wider tour to promote the most recent full-length Blue Rose Code release THE WATER OF LEITH. That album is now in the archives with many other recordings, so it was of l...

Where do you start with Emily Barker? Back in 2009 at an Electric Dustbowl 2 Americana evening in Leicester is one place on a personal front. From that multiple act event at The Musician and onwards over the subsequent decade, this exiled Aussie has barely drawn breath on the UK music scene and there is no sign of letting up. On the back of Red Clay Halo shows, other full band ones, collaboration with pop-up acts like Vena Portae and Applewood Road, and duos with Lukas Drinkwater, a solo one seen can join the list and a rather splendid one to boot. This was her first visit to Thimblemill Library in the West Midlands, in fact an impromptu show as the team behind these Thimblemill Events responded to a social media call to host a few of what were technically warm up dates. The warm up is ahead of a brand new Emily Barker album that is starting to take shape in the form of several new songs moving into prototype status. The opportunity to road test five of these proved a valuable exer...

May Erlewine will no doubt have played to more populous audiences in her lengthy career, but would have to seek widely to find a gathering of more dedicated gig-goers than those frequenting the Kitchen Garden on this January evening. Bestowed with knowledge, experience and a smart ear, they intensely soaked up the divine offerings of our visitor from Michigan USA and duly responded with the warmth and appreciation commonly showed to outstanding touring artists in this intimate venue. From the opening strains of ‘ Wild ’, housed within the 2017 album release MOTHER LION, to the crowning moment of ‘ Never One Thing’ adding to its vast amount of song admirers, May dipped into every nuance of her unrivaled class to spin a magical weave of multi-faceted singer-songwriter music. Ably assisted by her ‘trio’ compatriots, Julian Allan (percussion) and Max Lockwood (bass), the treat splendidly dealt to those taking a chance on an artist still relatively low key overseas, despite a well-sto...

Birds of Chicago start with a basic blueprint before an eclectic and innovative streak stretches the content to wherever you want it to go. The assets begin with the primal rock ‘n’ soul qualities of JT Nero and Allison Russell. The juxtaposition of the rugged and the beautiful blends and twists in epic proportions to bring a raft of boundless songs. Throughout the meandering journey with an open invitation to enrol, a tight production provides the checks and balances to ensure eleven gift-wrapped original efforts flood out to form a third full-length release from this American duo. LOVE IN WARTIME is an album requiring care and attention, but rewards the diligent listener. JT and Allison have kept Birds of Chicago productively active since the inception in 2012. Prior to that, JT and the Clouds and Po Girl ensured both were respectively and individually busy in previous bands. Po Girl in particular spawned at least two later successful follow on careers for Awna Teixeira (solo...

When this blog adopted the slogan ‘music is the voice of the soul’, there was no intention to refer to any particular artist, just to capture a state of mind. However along comes Kyshona and a force of good blows the theory apart.   The injustice of any self-respecting music fan saying ‘who’ is tempered by the privilege of witnessing the embodiment of 'country' soul striving for justice amidst a fiery outpouring of protest passion. This is soul free of trappings, but packed with intent, innate talent and the power to convey a feeling. 4000 miles from Kyshona’s Nashville home resides a duo aspiring to forge a Celtic twist on the increasingly indescribable notion of international Americana. Whatever label, tag or genre alignment applies, The Remedy Club display a cool and classy approach, straddling a few lines while being forever mindful of the road they are heading. The duo consisting of Kieran McEvoy and Aileen Mythen has long left the fledgling status behind, fully resource...

Back in January, the gig year began with a show featuring Emily Barker, and it was a pleasure to welcome her back to the Midlands area as part of a tour that has formally put a seal on her latest album. Although songs from SWEET KIND OF BLUE were previewed on that last visit to the nearby Worcestershire town of Bewdley, which was in a duo format with Lukas Drinkwater, the assembled band format for this Glee Club date gave the tracks the deeper sound that they warranted. Emily Barker is more than the sum of any record she has released and remains one of the most fascinating artists on any circuit that embraces her style. This may be a style forever tinkered with, but a gold leaf streak has been consistently threaded within her releases. Emily is no stranger to The Glee Club and wasted little time in reminding folks how she has become a valued artist who constantly seeks to explore the wider canvas of contemporary roots music. ‘ Dear River’ opened her ninety-minute set and still si...

When Mavis Staples was musically active at the heart of the Civil Rights era, she probably didn't envisage having to make this album in 2017. Regardless of the cause or mission, this icon of the gospel-soul world would have always found a suitable outlet for her talent. Ultimately, songs can only play a small part in repairing society’s ills, but when you have Mavis Staples in unison with Jeff Tweedy, the healing process is made a touch easier. IF ALL I WAS WAS BLACK joins a lengthening list of albums dedicated to voicing a strong opinion against the wrongs afflicting the world and ensures the power of song carves its niche in the discourse of the day. This album is the third collaboration between Staples and Tweedy, with the Wilco frontman being the architect of all ten songs to adorn the record. The Grammys have acknowledged their previous efforts to varying degrees and it would be no surprise if accredited acclaim came knocking again. The sound comes across as a slick an...

It was a case of slender evolution as Danny & the Champions of the World set about crowning their activities of 2017. A year when a new album rose from the embers of creative freedom and a tour rolled around the country with a near total domination of fresh material. It has also been a year where a familiar face convened behind the keyboards and faces that are even more familiar set about re-creating an excitement never short of uplifting inspiration. Danny Wilson will forever be the humble front person of a band that has cracked the code of giving an exhilarating live experience. An Oxford gig courtesy of Empty Rooms Promotions on a non-school night is as good a guarantee as you’re likely to get for a top show and a packed Bullingdon rocked passionately until time came to pass the baton onto the disco kids. Friday curfew gigs can work in different ways. An early finish can benefit the long distance travellers and a band can be more focussed on delivering the goods, but you ha...

There was an air of duality in the Hare and Hounds this evening as circumstances led to the pairing of Chastity Brown and Otis Gibbs for a co-headline gig. A raft of common ground splits the obvious sound and vision differences between each artist, headed by an instinctive trait to be able to spin an artistic web around the audience. This is also joined by the underpinning of a very personal take on folk music, albeit Americana style. However to take the contrasts at their most literal, this was Chastity’s first visit to a Birmingham venue, while Otis has made the city a regular stopping off point over the last decade of touring this country. Carrying on with the literal theme, Otis is one of the great story telling artists famed for punctuating highly informative songs with regular personal tales, which never lose their shine. On the other hand, Chastity is driven more from the heart and instinct. This leads to incredibly deep songs such as ‘ My Stone’ . Despite a general observat...

It should never be taken for granted, but it is refreshing for these monthly Bewdley shows to be so well-attended. However the main success is people listening to live music which isn’t soaked in populist expression, yet delivered with such strength and skill to reward an open minded approach. It also helps that the organisers are tuned into an artist network that delivers an endless supply of performers so adept at making top quality organic music. The latest artist to be humbled by the surroundings of St. George’s Hall is American roots singer-songwriter Chastity Brown, who is basing her latest UK visit around the release of the new album SILHOUETTE OF SIRENS. A blended approach to making roots music has been a well used description for Chastity, especially when introducing her to UK audiences over the last couple of years. Essentially, she starts from a folk base and then branches out to wherever her feelings lead, frequently in a soul and blues direction. An earthy vocal charact...

Chastity Brown first came to prominence with the release of her 2013 album BACK-ROAD HIGHWAYS which was met with critical acclaim on the basis of its inherent nature to conquer a multitude of sounds. The good news is that she’s back and in the same dominant form. While there was an impatient wait between the last album release and the inevitable UK dates, this time synchronisation is spot on. As soon as SILHOUETTE OF SIRENS hits the stores, Chastity embarks on a series of dates across the UK and Ireland giving folks an immediate chance to hear a bunch of songs in their purest form. While all the potential credentials of a successful mainstream artist are in place, perhaps it is Chastity’s distance from interference that ensures a totally personal imprint is stamped on her music. She undertakes all the writing duties on a solo basis and is also highly active in the production process. The result is an album of vast substance, deeply personal and sensitive in its mood-driving tende...

Sometimes there is a duet etched in destiny, and such a union has come to fruition in the album release of MOCKINGBIRD SOUL by Brigitte DeMeyer and Will Kimbrough. Their working relationship has stretched back a few years and now the association is sealed with the shared billing on an album capturing intently the intricacies of their compatible styles. The overarching effect of listening to this record is being drawn into a house concert setting and letting two contrasting performers take control of your sub-conscious. This is pure unfiltered roots music dashed with a slice of soul and various other signature sounds from the synonymous American music hierarchy. For Brigitte, this is just over two years on from her last album, the well-received SAVANNAH ROAD which particularly raised her profile overseas with its swampy vocals and southern sensibilities. Delving deeper into the backgrounds of the two artists, it transpires that Will had the archetypal upbringing in the South as o...