By my count it’s the eleventh time we’ve seen Chuck and he rarely disappoints. Its country rock at its finest. A new venue tonight, The Haunt with its naff ghostly ...logo. A small room with booths down one side, weird. We are given a wristband at the door to show at the bar that proves we are over 18, like there would be any doubt.
It’s a largely mature audience who have obviously been with Chuck since the start with a smattering of youngsters who are about to receive a lesson in fine music.
Chuck arrives with some sartorial elegance donning a red suit and spotty shirt which is light years away from a 12 bar show where his jeans had more holes than a block of Swiss cheese.
A new very good album Night Surfer to promote, the set does not include anything from any of his 20th Century albums which is a shame as it ignores two of his best, Balinese Dancer and Homemade Blood.
The new tracks blend in with half a dozen from his last album and works to particular effect when he shares lead guitar duties. As ever his wife Stephanie Finch, despite a cold, provides beautiful harmonies and keyboard accompaniment.
Half way through the set Chuck and as reference to Brighton breaks into an impromptu Pinball Wizard slowed down in a Johnny Cash country style. He tells a great Flamin Groovies story before covering their Shake Some Action and ends with the sing-along You Did and we walk back to the car with a Bomp Shooby Dooby Bomp.
As usual an impeccable show from Chuck who is both underrated as a songwriter but also a Telecasting guitar picker