It’s the first of two sold out shows for Tyler Childers, on this short trip to the UK and his first since the pandemic, who was interestingly one of the last acts to play over here in January 2020 before the madness began. It’s Islington Assembly Hall tonight and the audience is definitely heavy on trucker caps, plaid shirts and beards and it would appear the whole of the American ex pat community have turned up.
First up tonight is Tommy Prine and yes if you think the surname is familiar he is the son of the great John Prine. To his credit he does not overtly trade on the name and only references his famous dad when he performs a song he wrote after his death. It would be churlish to compare and vocally I don’t see many similarities but on the evidence of his short set he has inherited some of his dad’s gifts for songwriting. Looking forward to the eventual release of his debut album which was apparently finished in 2021. Sadly, on a side note, there was lots of chat during his set so much so that a few people behind us were told to button it. Why come to a show and then chat through the set.
After a short break Childers ambles understated on the stage, places his fiddle down and then delivers a perfect seven song solo acoustic set. This is pure country with that distinctive lilt to his voice filling the whole room, music at its very simplest.
He is soon joined by his six piece band, three guitarists, bass, keys and drums to really flesh out the sound. There are many similarities between Tyler and Sturgill and this is demonstrated perfectly tonight with this band. We saw Sturgill on the ‘Metamodern Sounds in Country Music’ tour coincidentally at this same venue and that band were stunning in their musicianship and that sixth sense they shared which meant that no beats were missed, no notes were fluffed and its was music from the very top drawer. Tonight was another one of those nights and like Sturgill this was definitevely country at the rock end of the spectrum or rock at the country end of that spectrum. The pair leading what is considered the more maverick side to country are not afraid to buck the rules and Childers demonstrates that tonight eschewing the usual tour format to promote the album by only playing two songs from his new record.
Childers is an artist at the top of his game supported by a superb band. Whilst there is something very pure with a performer and just a guitar this second set with the full band just takes the songs to another level brilliantly and each member was allowed to shine individually within the context of the song from the driving rhythm section to the fast fingers on the keys. There’s a definite connection between him and his passionate fans as they sing back nearly word from the whole set.
Another perfect night with a great band and that’s two five star nights in a week.
Keep on country rockin’ y’all