Featuring Andy Grant Band, Steve Bonham and The Long Road, Root 66 and Rob McHale
We are back at the Lighthouse for one of my favourite events on the musical calendar, Hangover Hill’s “Live & Unheard” a monthly live music showcase. Tonight is a very special occasion in the fact that it is Matt Black’s (cough!!) 25th Birthday and how lucky is his partner Mel Berkhauer to be engaged to this young handsome toyboy (cough again!!). Our host Si Genaro leads the audience in a rousing version of Happy Birthday, before getting on with the job in hand introducing the acts. This evening we have a packed programme with 4 very different acts laid on for our entertainment.
The first of these is North Carolina troubadour “Rob McHale”, a true ambassador for his country’s rich musical legacy. The softly spoken singer/songwriter comes to us from the shadows of the American musical greats Woody Guthrie, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. It is a true privilege to be in his company listening to his wondrous background stories to his socially conscious tunes. Kicking off with “The Ghost of Jesse James” and the title to his recent album “40 Ford Coupe”, it is very easy to be mesmerised by his effortless performance, never have six strings sounded so sweet. “Devil Who Came to Collect His Due” digs into the Blues pioneer Robert Johnson’s story, while “Anne Bonny” tells the tale of the Irish pirate and reign of terror in the Caribbean during the 1700’s. The final number “Common Ground” show’s Rob ending in some style with a beautifully written song about diversity and how dropping your social pretence can provide dividends. The whole audience listened intently and kept a respectful silence during the 30-minute set. Thirty minutes was nowhere near enough to fully appreciate this man’s live repertoire and with fingers firmly crossed, let’s hope he can grace us with his significant presence again sometime in the near future.
Next up are a duo that graced this very stage back in December last year when they debuted this very event. They are back by popular demand and return with the charm that made their previous performance so memorable. The duo featuring Steve Bonham (Guitar/Vocals/Harmonica) along with Christopher Lydon (Keyboards/Percussion) aka “The Vagabond Philosopher and The Bishop” who have embraced the Americana sound and applied their own unique take on it. “The American Wilderness Odyssey” is a legacy that the band have created; which is a collection of songs that accompanies literal guides of journeys through the American wilds. We are treated to a track called “Ballad of Duane and Billy Marie” which was born after Steve found the couple’s name etched into a tree in the middle of nowhere. It is also great to hear once again the epic track “Western Requiem”, a tribute to old Western films and the totally infectious ‘Moonshine Running’ displays what great entertainers these guys are. Though they are both English, there is a rich American vein running through their music with plenty of influential elements spanning all of their original material.
Next up we have a local supergroup made up of a selection of musicians, all of who have performed and released music in their own right. It is an exciting proposition to see them all come together to create something new. The Dorset-based collective Route 66 featuring the two protagonists Amie Knight (Vocals/Acoustic Guitar) and Matt Griffiths (Vocals/Acoustic Guitar) can usually be found performing together as a duo. They have recruited three talented musicians Mikey Ball (Mandolin/Vocals), Steve Faulkner (Violin) and Iain Mathieson (Cajon/Percussion). They have only performed together a hand full of times including a notable performance at the New Forest Folk Festival. They kick off with their opening number “Photograph” and the quartet makes a really pleasing sound that the audience seems to immediately warm too.
“Last of The Buccaneers” is a real upbeat Folk number with a nautical feel and gets the majority of the audience dancing in their seats. Matt & Amie take turns on lead vocals as well as taking some hilarious tongue-in-cheek potshots at each. Apparently, the band are planning to make an album together and from this showing, you cannot help but think that there is a lot more creativity to come from them and this is by no means the finished article. We get treated to a bonus impromptu additional track in the form of Deliverance’s “duelling banjos” and for once there is not a banjo in sight. They leave us on “I Had Your First” with a track written by Amie about some boyfriend trouble that she had in the past. The audience gives them plenty of positive support as they leave the stage and one can’t help but feel that as a collective and with some more new material, we could see them performing at a host of Folk festivals throughout next Summer.
The final band of the evening are the Andy Grant Trio made up of three fine musicians who have great chemistry together on stage. Andy is joined by Simon Rushbrook on bass, who in his oxblood Dr Martens looks a little like Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp; while the engine room of the group is drummer Jack Revy. It’s a pure joy to watch these guys on stage; they not only clearly enjoy performing together, but they also apply their combined creative skills to make some really great music. Being a guitar music fan it is great watching Andy play his guitar effortlessly with some wonderfully executed slides, as well as some nicely delivered melodies. There is mostly a Blues/Rock vein running through their music with various injections of Funk and Soul. The rhythm section is as tight as it gets and I’m sure Andy fully appreciates the significant backing that they give him. There are many standout moments during the set with the excellent “Thursday’s Child”, “Higher Than The Clouds” and the locally inspired “Driving West” about the A35 between Dorchester & Bridport. This ends the evening in some style and the audience gives the band plenty of well-deserved supportive applause.
Set-Lists
Rob McHale
The Ghost of Jesse James
40 Ford Coupe
Devil Who Came to Collect His Due
Anne Bonny
Common Ground
Steve Bonham and The Long Road
Even The Score
Wrapped Up
Ballad of Duane and Billy Marie
Waiting On A Storm
Western Requiem
Route 66
Photograph
Last of The Buccaneers
Departed
Deal With The Devil
Used
Duelling Banjos
I Had Your First
Andy Grant Trio
In My Blood
Thursday’s Child
Heaven Knows
Need
Higher Than The Clouds
Driving West
Let You Go
Videos
Links
https://www.andygrant.net
https://www.thelongroadband.net
https://www.facebook.com/Route66Dorset
https://robmchale.com
December’s Live & Unheard is a comedy special on Thursday 8th at the Lighthouse, Poole featuring Matt Black, Plastic Jeezus & the Edd Bleach Duo. Purchase your tickets here.
Words & Media by David Chinery.
