We saw MC Taylor (aka Hiss Golden Messenger) solo acoustic last year and it was a moving, atmospheric set. Tonight he’s plugged in with a full band with Phil Cook sitting in on guitar and organ. The lights dim and we hear a quiet acoustic guitar and voices coming from the back of the hall. The audience turn as one to find the band in a corner at the back opening with ‘Brother do you know the Road’ that until this week had no physical album to sit on. They walk through the crowd to the stage, playing and harmonising and continue seamlessly with the song while plugging in not missing a beat to crank it up and jam out for a full ten minutes. It’s a nice trick and one of the best openings of a gig I have seen for ages.
What follows is 100 minutes of country rhythm n blues, if there is such a genre, from a tight band with tracks largely culled from their latest album. The songs are transformed from the album with an energy you get from ‘plugging in’ with many extended grooves. Phil Cook really is a talented musician both on the slide guitar and the organ and he provides the perfect accompaniment to Mr Taylor. MC reminds me from his mannerisms down to his white telecaster of one of my all time favourite artists Chuck Prophet and thats high praise from me.
The songs are punctuated with asides and anecdotes, a pop quiz and almost a Skynyrd tribute. It’s difficult to pick a favourite tonight but Southern Grammar and Mahogany Dread do stand out. They’re back on just before curfew to run through a Waylon Jennings cover. At the end of the song MC singles me out in the crowd (hey you the guy in the checked shirt) to advise the gathering that they will be reconvening next to me for their final unplugged sing-along ‘Drum’ performed in the round.
It’s a fitting end to a perfect night for a performer at the top of his game in amongst the crowd with us hardy souls providing backup vocals to him and the band. Next up Ryan Adams and he’s got his work cut out to top tonight.