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Bob Harris Saturday Show 28/07/07 - a review by Cherskiy

 
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Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:03 pm    Post subject: Bob Harris Saturday Show 28/07/07 - a review by Cherskiy Reply with quote

A couple of live performances took up most of the middle hour tonight, first of all Martyn Joseph, followed by Gary Fletcher. Nearly didn’t get enough time to listen to the show this week – Saturday afternoon was wet so I had a couple of hours to kill with “Listen Again”. I've included notes about what's happening to Bob and his shows over the next few months at the end - Iain Smith take note! Smile

The show kicked off with Donna Hightower’s rendition of “Bob-O-Link” from the “Hands Off! 1950-1956 Modern Studio Recordings” album. Great stuff, equally at home on Parky’s show, Alex Lester’s or even this slot. Originally recorded in 1955 and still sounding good today. And a Bobolink? Well, it’s a bird, isn’t it?
Back to slightly more contemporary recordings, Del Amitri could definitely be classed as one of those bands that didn’t quite make it big, but should have. Their third album was 1992’s “Change Everything” and had amongst its tracks the should-have-been-a-single “Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere”. Justin Currie’s hard-hitting vocals lie on top of some cracking guitar work – of course, this particular album was better known for the inclusion of “Always the Last to Know” which is possibly their best-known work to date.
Two Gallants were new to me, “Despite What You’ve Been Told” coming from their eponymously-titled album. Sounding almost like the Small Face’s “Lazy Sunday” (and therefore by extension Blur’s “Parklife”), Adam Fontaine’s vocals initially sounded strained and forced but eventually they took on a charm all their own. Not sure I could stand an album-full of it, mind you.
“False Starts and Broken Promises” is the title of Last Man Standing’s recently released album, Bob playing the delightful opening track “Variation”. Only ninety seconds long, it’s an instrumental but it’s simple in design and execution – and an unusual choice.
Joe Bonamassa’s “Sloe Gin” album made another appearance this week in the shape of “Ball Peen Hammer”, another demonstration of his craft with both guitar and raw-edged vocals. I’m definitely going to have to buy one of his albums this year and broaden my musical horizons a little. He’s also playing live in the studio next weekend so that’s something to look forward to.
Following on the blues guitar theme, Robben Ford also made a repeat showing tonight with the track “Moonchild Blues” from his latest album “Truth”. Reminding me a lot of Robbie Robertson in terms of the way he lifts notes from the guitar, his vocals could be almost mistaken for Jamie Cullen – a weird combination but one that actually works. A prolific artist, on the strength of this and last week’s offering, his back catalogue should be worth pursuing.
Last week I changed my mind about Stephanie Dosen based on her live performance. Tonight, Bob treated us to “Only Getting Better” from her debut album “A Lily For the Spectre”, another rather beautiful song from this emerging talent. Comparisons to Joni Mitchell on the strength of this track could be forgiven but she’s got a quality all of her own – and this album is now on my Amazon wish list.
Again going back to last week, Bob reeled off a list of tracks on the “Love is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970” boxed set, including “Quicksilver Girl” by the Steve Miller Band. Saying he should dig it out to play as he’d not heard it in ages, Bob was true to his word and it featured tonight. Quite different from “Abracadabra” and “The Joker” in outlook, this song is much softer and mellower – and I hadn’t heard it for a while, either.
Mexican Institute of Sound’s output is growing on me a little: “A Todos Ellos” from this one-man operation’s album “Pinata” was much more quirky than the other tracks I’ve heard on this show. Whilst the radio chatter samples did drag a bit, the underlying beat was infectious – but maybe I’ve been listening to too much trip-hop this last week. Not something I’d ever buy, but I wouldn’t necessarily rush to turn off, either.
“Low Rider” by War is one of the all-time classic tracks – heard everywhere from late 1970s TV adverts to the film “Gone in 60 Seconds”, it’s virtually timeless in its appeal. I defy anyone to sit or stand still whilst listening to this! It came tonight courtesy of the 1987 album “The Best of War and More”
Can’t say I’ve heard of the Plain White Ts before, the track “Hey There Delilah” coming from their 2006 album “All That We Needed”. This five-piece outfit from Illinois currently have the US No.1 slot with this song, and pretty good it is too, feverish acoustic guitar riffs leading into Tom Higgenson’s upbeat vocals. I suspect that this will be making its way onto mainstream R2 airplay very soon, if it hasn’t done so already. A guitar and a voice – nothing more needed.
The Fray are occasional staples of this show, “Over My Head” being arguably their best known effort to date, from last year’s album “How to Save A Life”. Whilst the subject matter isn’t exactly upbeat, the song’s execution is, the arrangement and backing being almost faultless.

So to the live performances tonight – a double helping! Martyn Joseph was on first, “Proud Valley Boy” from his new album “Deep Blue”, telling of Paul Robeson’s links with the valleys of South Wales. A gifted Welsh singer-songwriter, he’s known for adding depth to the lyrics in his works, ones with emotional punch. Whilst he’s been performing for going on twenty years, he’s still relatively unknown – despite having five appearances in the UK Top 50. With just a guitar for company, his lyrics are easily discerned. Being an independent artist, he’s able to follow his own agenda, not having to keep thinking about whether the record company – and the frequent changes of management in such fields – will like his new projects. Originally signed with Sony, he does credit them with allowing him to reach a wider audience initially, but he relishes his current independence, not having to perform his more famous songs all the time at each gig. He was booked to appear as support for Shirley Bassey four years ago (“why would anyone listening to “Hey Big Spender” want to listen to songs about redundant Welsh miners?”) – but was booted off as he wore jeans on stage, not in keeping with the rest of the gigs. It got him publicity, though. “Kindness” came courtesy of Steve Knightley from “Show of Hands”, and was delightful, just as you’d expect anything from the latter stable would be. His last live offering was “Turn Me Tender”, a slightly more dreamy, more intimate song. Whilst I’m not necessarily going to rush out to buy any of the 18 albums he’s released, his talent in this sort of setting is undeniable. Finally, “Some of Us” from “Deep Blue” completed his live set, another wonderfully performed song.

Next up was Gary Fletcher, who Bob introduced by playing “Payback” from his album “Human Spirit”, giving him a chance to set up after Martyn Joseph had finished his own set. Arguably best known for being the bass player in The Blues Band (with Paul Jones of Manfred Mann and R2 presenter fame), he plays a guitar strung for right-handed people ‘upside down’, since he is left-handed – his first guitar was right-handed and he never let it bother him. “Payback” has drawn comparisons with Mark Knopfler but there’s a distinct style all of his own here. Technically conversant, his initial conversation with Bob centred on the artists that Gary performs with in The Blues Band, and who have helped out on “Human Spirit”. “May You Now Find Peace” offered solace to anyone suffering a tragedy – “it might sound like hippy sentiments but I am of that type of persuasion”, he said. Equally adept with an acoustic guitar, he sounded at home in the more intimate surroundings of Bob’s studio. The new album was a big departure for him – he had released a previous solo album, although it was more of a compilation of rejected demos from The Blues Band. He confessed he was nervous about releasing it, despite his prolific writing (nowhere near Martyn Joseph’s 18 albums, though – “boy, is that impressive”, he said). His last live song was “A Lie is a Lie”, what he described as a ‘short little song about a guy who, if he’s not being turned over by the government, is being turned over by his gaffer, or his significant other’. It was a jaunty little number tinged with the blues, especially in the vocals. Some great stuff here, even though I suspect he’s not always 100% comfortable with being a solo artist.

Never heard of Good Books before, Bob playing “Passchendaele” from their debut album “Control”. Not what you’d probably expect from a young four-piece outfit, this song tells of a young man called up to war and being killed at the infamous battle of the same name, and then his son being killed twenty five years later in WW2, with politicians saying ‘never again’. Despite the subject matter, the backing is rather upbeat, certainly not in keeping with the lyrics. Lead vocals are provided by Max Cooke, who seems to espouse throwaway lyrics in favour of those that actually mean something.
Kendel Carson featured again tonight, but no, it wasn’t “I Like Trucks”! “Ain’t That a Sun” was also lifted from her excellent debut album “Rearview Mirror Tears”. Managing to convert several people to this artist in the last couple of weeks by some judicious CD lending, it hasn’t been in vain when you listen to material like this – all atmospheric at the start before her wonderful vocals slide in.
Lisa O’Kane was another revelation for me, “Misery and Happiness” coming from her new album “It Don’t Hurt”. This Californian artist seems to be comfortable utilising a variety of styles here, from bluegrass to roots – and it definitely works. Wouldn’t mind hearing more from this singer-songwriter – a live session with her is going out on Bob’s Thursday show on 9th August.
Jason Isbell is better known as being the lead singer from the Drive By Truckers (qv), but he now has a solo career having recently split from the band. “Sirens of the Ditch” is his solo debut, and based on the track “Brand New Kind of Actress”, it’s not half bad, confident and assured at every turn.
Bob naturally followed this with the Drive By Truckers themselves, “Lookout Mountain” coming from their 2004 release “The Dirty South”. Putting the rock into country-rock was always the band’s speciality, and this track is no exception, although it’s fair to say it is probably one of their more rockier efforts. No hillbillies or rednecks here, just gritty stories of everyday life and losses laid down over searing guitar riffs.
Mary Gauthier (pronounced Go-shay) often features on Bob’s shows, since he is a fan, as am I, having heard songs like “Same Road” from her latest album “Between Daylight and Dark”. Whilst her voice can take a little getting used to, it’s worth the effort to hear the beautifully cultivated lyrics and the understated backing of her compositions.
Last new artist for me tonight was Uzbekistan’s Severa Nazarkhan, whose regal vocals sat well with her lute and the accompanying doutar. “Bu Sevgi” comes from her second album, “Sen”, which is released towards the end of this month. I can see why there’s a market for such material, but this doesn’t do a great deal for me, I’m afraid. Mind you, she can hold a note….

Joe Bonamassa is playing live in the studio next weekend. Can’t wait!

Bob was diagnosed with cancer a couple of months back. It’s been caught early enough so he says it is not life-threatening, but treatment and recuperation will take two or three months. He is still doing his Thursday show in the meantime, but is having a break from the overnight shows - Steve Lamacq will be sitting in. 4th August will be Bob's last Saturday show for a while, therefore.

Get well soon, Bob – hopefully you’ll be back in the chair for Saturday nights before Christmas.
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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