So after the musical and visual cacophony of last nights show with Young Fathers, we are in contrast diving into some good old fashioned country rock and roll. Pick all of the best bits from your favourite country and rock bands; great songs, pedal steel guitar, Hammond organ, twin guitar attack, throw in some ZZ Top swagger and blues, a large dash of Skynyrd and you’ve got 49 Winchester.
Both the band and the packed sweaty crowd are on it from note one and this doesn’t let up for the next eighty minutes. I see lots of gigs across all genres and I maintain that the British country crowd are some of the most passionate and loud, genuinely grateful that these American country bands take the trouble and often expense to come over the pond.
This is the first European headline show for the band who were over here supporting Luke Combs at arena sized venues across the UK over the past week or so. The show was sold out weeks ago and such is their popularity they have already announced a show next May at Koko, more than twice the size of Lafayette and I, like I imagine many here tonight, will be there too.
How to describe the gig itself. I’d argue it was perfect. Good tunes, great band in complete control of their instruments and totally in sync with each other, simple but effective light show and in Isaac Gibson they have a charismatic front man who sings with a smile on his face. What more do you need.
Its often churlish to pick highlights in a consistently good show but special mentions for ‘Russell County Line’ and new song ‘Should have stayed in Tulsa’ more than held its own with the more familiar songs.
A true five star show and more than made up for the effort to trek into town on a Sunday night.
Keep on blues, country rockin y’all