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This presley 's no elvis but she's a real angel

31/7/2015

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30th July. The Borderline. Angaleena Pressley. After a series of rock and blues gig recently it’s good to be back at the iconic Borderline, albeit that they have covered up the logo on the wall behind the stage. Tonight is straight shootin country from Kentucky’s own Angaleena Presley.

There’s a good crowd waiting expectantly for Ms Presley who is over here for her first ever London dates to support her debut solo album American Middle Class. She is joined by a four piece scratch band tonight date supplementing the other largely solo acoustic dates. With no fuss or frills she takes to the stage and they launch straight into the set.

The crowd are enthusiastic and are hooked from note one. It’s a good mixture of oldies, newbies, Pistol Annie’s songs, covers and some that have yet to see the light of day on record. The songs are all intertwined with self-deprecating stories of her life and indeed the new album is largely autobiographical in origin.

There’s an amusing story about her son singing one of her songs in the playground and with trepidation she asks which one, the response is ‘Knocked Up’ which is about life with her first husband and how the little boy came to be.

The band are dismissed for a ‘pee break’ and the shows continues in a hushed intimacy with just Angaleena and her guitar stamped with ‘Holler’ on the fret board. She seems genuinely delighted to be here in what is probably a venue the fraction of the size she is used to play in. The crowd are appreciative, laugh in the right places and sing along to a lot of the tunes.

As well as a great voice the thing that sets Angaleena apart from the conveyor belt of female country singers are the songs. They are largely story based focusing on real life and not some schmaltzy showbiz vacuum.

The band is back and we finish with ‘Lemon Drop’ and its over in what doesn't feel like the ninety minutes it was. I won’t be alone in welcoming her back across the pond real soon. Bless her heart.

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A real end of the pier show

28/7/2015

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Wednesday 22nd July. Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion. Moreland and Arbuckle. So it’s a short hop down the A24 to the sunny South Coast for our first ever gig literally at the end of the pier.  It’s a beautiful venue with its 1930’s Art Deco styling and we are welcomed enthusiastically by the usher for a night of rootsy blues.

Moreland and Arbuckle is a three piece band from Kansas formed by Dustin Arbuckle on harp, bass and vocals and Aaron Arbuckle on guitar. They are ably assisted by Kendall Newby on sticks.  It’s an early 8 o’clock start for the first of two sets tonight and the band enters the stage from what must be the most elaborate of entrances down a spiral staircase.

Its straight into Tall Boogie with Arbuckle strapping on a four string cigar box guitar and we rattle through 45 minutes of the finest blues from a tight band with the two leads alternating between harmonica and guitar breaks. With no pre-defined set list, tracks are picked from their back catalogue along with songs from their new album that exist somewhere in their mind and a hard drive somewhere to quote the band. On first listen I can’t wait till the spring when it drops. Highlights of the first half are Quivira from the excellent 7 cities and we even have time for a harmonica solo from Arbuckle as he gets down into the crowd and walks around the room.

An interval ensues and the band decant to the merch stand where I think most of the audience buys something. I duly oblige, have a chat and get some stuff signed.

Back on stage for another blistering 45 minutes with the band shifting through the gears showcasing their prolific talents. It’s a swampy, roots blues masterclass and solos are exchanged between the harp and slide guitar. Lisa Mills, who is playing the same venue tonight, joins the band for an impromptu Jimmy Reed cover and man what a pair of lungs. No warm up and straight in, full tilt, with Joplinesque power.

The band close with the legend of John Henry and an extended jam, Newby getting in on the act with an impressive drum solo and we’re done.

A superb show from these accomplished musicians who managed to rock the pier in this not so rock n roll venue. Can’t wait for their return. Keep on rockin’ y’all.

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Americana rock mini mix

21/7/2015

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Check out my mini mix on the always excellent Americana Rock Mix featuring some of the best live music I have been to this year featuring Drivin N Cryin, JJ Grey and MOFRO and Hiss Golden Messenger. My bits about 47 minutes in but recommend you listen to it all.

http://americanarockmix.com/2015/07/02/episode-268-too-damn-hot-to-cope/
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half Time Report

16/7/2015

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   As we say goodbye to the sixth month I thought I’d list my top ten albums so far this year. Whilst they are technically in no particular order there may be some significance.  
  1. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbours – Medicine. Old school Americana with a touch of Ryan Adams in the vocals. Aah reminds me of Whiskeytown.

  2. The Lone Bellow – Then came the morning. After seeing them on Later I immediately got the album. Genre wise its rock country gospel blues but most of all its great.

  3. James McMurtry – Complicated Game. It’s been a long wait for his new album but worth the wait. Top quality Americana from one its finest.

  4. Charlie Parr – Stumpjumper. The addition of a full band on his new album takes him to a new level with a fantastic swampy, pedal steel slide vibe going on.

  5. The Damnwells – The Damnwells. They’re back and with a bang. Great songs, great guitars, great harmonies, great band.

  6. Dawes – All your favourite bands. A return to form after a patchy last album doing what they do so well. West Coast pop at its best.

  7. Ryan Bingham – Fear and Saturday Night. He just gets better and better whether its solo acoustic or with a full band. Here’s an artist at the top of his game.

  8. Hanni El Khatib – Moonlight. The best album The Black Keys haven’t made for the past five years. Rough and ready blues.

  9. John Moreland – High on Tulsa Heat. Whisky gravel voiced Moreland does it again with a stunning album.

  10. Father John Misty – I Love You Honeybear. With the ooh and aahs of Fleet Foxes a distant memory we find out the true talent in that band. California Sunshine pop.

Special mention to Leon Bridges, The Decemberists, Courtney Barnett, Fraser A Gorman and My Morning Jacket who all just missed the cut.


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    A fifty something musing over the things that matter but mainly gig reviews

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